WA School Leavers 2021: Students forced into long wait to secure wristbands in our South West

Teens have had an hours-long wait to have their vaccination status checked off and secure their wristbands for entry into official leavers events in our South West.

Eager revellers in the region to celebrate graduation joined the queue from 4.30am, with some coming with water and snacks but many unprepared for the lengthy hold-up.

One school leaver said people had even been turned away.

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“The lines are massive, there are tonnes of people, yesterday they were turning away people because the lines were too big,” Tara, who with friends has been in line in Busselton since 4.30am, told 6PR.

“We decided to come today to get a wristband.

“There is no food or water, people are really tired, sleeping, people are really frustrated.”

Some 10,000 graduating students are expected to head south for the annual celebrations in Dunsborough.

All will need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to gain entry to official events.

Busselton Mayor Grant Henley forecasted to Gareth Parker that there would be a frustrating wait for School Leavers today.

“Unfortunately quite a fair bit of it (today) will be standing next to a queue several hundred metres long of young people,” he said.

Act-supt Mark Fleskens told 7NEWS: “We want to ensure everyone is vaccinated because that is part of entry into Leavers 2021.”

Police have recorded no major incidents.