good things festival - what you should know

Emily Brown
Nov 23
5 min read

it's warming up here in Australia and festival season is approaching fast. with one of our favourite metal & alternative festivals just around the corner, here are some helpful facts, tips and tricks for your safety & everyone's enjoyment at good things festival.

this blog contains your guide to the important ins and outs of festival safety, accessibility and what you can/can't bring to good things.

good things mobile app

did you know good things has a mobile app? available on the app store & google play. there are so many features that come in handy once downloaded.

create your own schedule that will send notifications of the next band you're wanting to catch, with their set time & stage.
use an interactive map to find stages, bars, food vendors, toilets and first aid.
the emergency chat feature!! a closed wi-fi network dedicated exclusively to connect with the event team in case of emergency.
emergency alert system!! this can activate a vibrate & strobe flash setting on your phone to ensure rapid response from first aid, staff and security.

first aid

one of the most important services at a festival is the first aid team with fully qualified medical staff. the first aid tents will be located next to or close by the main stages.

please be mindful prior to the festival that more than 50% of first aid calls are related to cut feet, blisters & sunburn. this can be avoided by wearing appropriate footwear & sunscreen, to allow the medical staff to attend to serious illness and injury.

so a tip from me to you, don't treat this day as a prime opportunity to break in those brand new doc martins that we all know will rub your ankles raw.

dancewize

dancewize is a service dedicated to festival goers harm reduction & peer support. all dancewize volunteers are trained in:

knowledge of drugs and their interactions.
identifying signs and symptoms of intoxication.
harm reduction strategies.
first aid.
mental health first aid.
de-escalation and dispute resolution.
drug overdose prevention education
understanding the appropriate response pathway for reports of sexual assault.
safe handling and disposal of needles and syringes.

i personally have visited the dancewize tent at a festival and received the most respectful, calm and appropriate treatment that i needed at the time. the volunteers were passionate, caring and helpful to myself and the other patrons in the tent. they offered somewhere comfortable to sit, sensory fidget toys, snacks, water and companionship.

outside the tent they usually have large tubs of water and electrolytes, while team members walk around the festival offering sunscreen & checking in to ensure patrons are safe.

dancewize is a judgement free safe zone for anyone in need of support throughout the day.

accessibility

good things is committed to providing a festival experience that supports the diverse access needs of patrons. this includes:

clearly signed accessible entry points.
accessible viewing platform.
accessible toilets.
limited accessible parking.

good things also accepts companion cards!

the festival will allow a valid ticket holder one free entry for their legitimate carer. after purchasing your good things ticket, you must email info@oztix.com.au with your companion card information, or written proof of your status as a carer and they will issue you a free ticket.

pre-booking for the accessible viewing platform is essential! after purchasing your ticket, you will need to complete the form here

each patron who receives a ticket for the accessible viewing platform will receive 2 wristbands so you can enjoy with a friend!

it is also required to pre-book for the accessible parking as it is limited due to space at each venue. a valid, government mobility parking permit (or equivalent) must be clearly displayed in the vehicle at all times. to pre-book your accessible parking space, email your details to accessibility@goodthingsfestival.com.au

service animals are also permitted to good things festival! ensure that your service animal wears their official i.d badge or medallion at all times.

sensory spaces

festivals can be overwhelming. it's loud, crowded and hard to catch a break sometimes. however, good things festival offers a quieter, safe and friendly sensory space with low lighting and comfortable seating. this will also be a judgement free-zone where you can relax for a while and regain your comfort so you can continue enjoying the festival.

what can/can't i bring?

you can bring a bag smaller than a4 size! upon entry it will be searched to ensure you are not bringing in prohibited items.

so... what should i bring?

your ticket! but i doubt you'd forget that.
your i.d! you will need a valid form of identification such as a drivers license, proof of age card or passport.
sunscreen! i'd highly recommend bringing a small bottle of unopened sunscreen. you can find these in the travel section at your local supermarket. (can not be a spray bottle)
a portable charger! these come very handy when at a festival. it's the start of summer, our phone batteries can drain pretty quickly in the heat while using the camera app throughout the day.
an empty plastic waterbottle! it is essential you stay hydrated throughout the day. there are free water stations located around the festival so you can fill your bottles.
your bank card! good things festival is entirely cashless, including food vendors. should you wish to purchase anything on the day, you will need a form of electronic payment. carrying your card is also handy incase your phone goes flat or you don't have it in your mobile wallet.
rain poncho! you never know what the weather will bring.

if you take daily medication that you need to bring to the festival, leave it in it's original packaging with your details on the prescription box.

so we have now covered the priority bag list.

what can't i bring?

drugs and alcohol... speaks for itself.
glass/metal water bottles. while it personally pains me to be separated from my emotional support double-walled frank green water bottle, they are not permitted into the festival and will be confiscated at the gate.
photography equipment. professional cameras, go-pros, drones and recording devices are not allowed. leave it to the amazing media teams! (mobile phones and point/shoot cameras are accepted)
camping furniture. unfortunately chairs and umbrellas are prohibited.
aerosols such as deodorant & mozzie repellant. make sure you put this on before heading to the festival!
bags bigger than a4 size.
full drinks. yes, even plastic water bottles. they will need to be empty upon entry into the festival.

under 18's and passouts

good things festival is a 16+ event, this is the first year every state is open to patrons age 16 and up. anyone under the age of 18 will need to provide details of an emergency contact for a parent or guardian.

it is not required this year for a parent or guardian to attend with under 18's!

like most festivals, there is strictly no pass outs. if you choose to leave, you will not be permitted re-entry!

i hope this blog answers some questions you may have. for more in depth information, check out the good things website

stay up to date with the hot and heavy show as each of us is gearing up for one of our favourite days of the year!

good things, we can't wait to see you again!