mmg.com.au

Volunteers from the Tatura area are being sought to assist a program which helps young people while they are being interviewed by police.

The Youth Referral and Independent Person Program arranges for an independent person to attend police interviews with a young person when a parent or guardian is not available.

The program’s northern Victoria regional co-ordinator Duncan Blandford is looking for volunteers over the age of 18, with good communication skills, an openness to diversity and other people’s values, and a willingness to learn.

Mr Blandford said it is a legal requirement for a person under 18 to have a person present during a police interview.

Volunteers are required to undergo two days of training and will also need their own transport and phone.

The role of an independent person is to provide support, legal information and referral options for the young person in custody.

It offers an opportunity to support young people at a critical time and helps divert those at risk of further offending.

An information night is being held at Tatura Community House in Casey St, Tatura tonight, February 17 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

For more information phone 93403777 or visit www.yripp.org.au

The program is funded by the Victorian Government and is run as a partnership with Victoria Police, the Centre for Multicultural Youth and Uniting Care Cutting Edge.