Call out for helping youth in justice system

FOR Stuart McCoy, supporting a young person in the legal system can be a fulfilling experience.

Stuart is a volunteer in the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program (YRIPP), which is looking for more members in Ballarat.

As an ‘Independent Person’, McCoy helps children and teenagers at police stations by sitting with them during interviews when no parent or guardian is available.

They also answer questions and connect young people to services.

“Anecdotally, very few kids who are engaged with the youth justice system have had normal healthy happy childhoods,” he said.

“[The] majority I see have been heavily impacted by family violence, and you screen for it and occasionally you’re the first person they’ve disclosed it to and there is a great deal of satisfaction in empowering a fairly downtrodden child to speak up.”

A medical student, McCoy became involved because he sought some real world experience ahead of his career.

“I think anyone from a wide variety of backgrounds would be a real asset,” he said of those suitable for the program.

“But I think those looking to go into police, law, healthcare in any discipline, teachers… I’d really encourage people in those pathways to do it, because you do experience a lot of things.”

YRIPP volunteer support officer Jazmin Zamburro-Migliore said Independent Persons work on call and arrive at police stations when required.

“They explain a young person’s rights in an age-appropriate way while ensuring their wellbeing and fitness for interview,” she said.

She said there was no need for people to come from a legal or social work background.

“Overall, we are searching for people who are have good communication skills, are non-judgemental, have an openness to diversity and other people’s values, and a willingness to be challenged and to learn,” she said.

“We are looking for people from a diverse range of ages, work, education and life experiences.”

More information at yripp.org.au, and inquiries can be made at [email protected]