An animated music video called Pool Party has been created in Newcastle to raise awareness about the risks of binge drinking.
It's a story about young people told by animated Australian wildlife characters, including a crocodile, cockatoo, koala, emu, pelican, platypus and kangaroo.
It begins with a text invite to a pool party at the house of a cockatoo, whose parents are away.
"The day starts off peachy and happy. Everyone's drinking and enjoying the sun and spending time together," said Dr Kylie Bailey, a senior clinical psychologist at Hunter Primary Care.
As the day progresses, characters drink too much and a fight breaks out. Police and ambulance officers - played by a platypus and kangaroo - are called.
Dr Bailey said the animation highlighted the problem of binge drinking, which is defined as consuming four or more standard drinks in a short period of time.
She said binge drinking placed older teens and young adults more at risk of alcohol-related injuries, family conflict and legal issues.
It also increased the risk of them being perpetrators and/or victims of physical and verbal violence.
Over the past 20 years, Dr Bailey has seen binge drinking cause young people to lose their driver's licence, be sentenced to community service, get injured and lose relationships.
The injuries she has seen include cases of "glassing", in which people are attacked with a glass or bottle used as a weapon.
"Binge drinking typically occurs on weekends and at parties, barbecues and celebrations, but it can also occur when people are alone or feeling upset," Dr Bailey said.
While it is common for young people to experiment with alcohol and other drugs, they are less likely to seek support and treatment. The animation aims to help change this by "connecting emotionally with young people".
Hunter Primary Care produced the animation and song as an innovative way for staff to develop and test new health initiatives.
"We felt that young people would need stories, so we worked with a young musician and turned the story into a song," she said.
The team collaborated on the animation with the University of Newcastle's School of Creative Industries and Headspace.
It will be released online and through social media on December 11.
Original article written by Damon Cronshaw for the Newcastle Herald.