WHEN Val Green is asked to visit Werribee police station, she knows it’s because there’s a young person in trouble.
For five years, the Williamstown resident has been sitting in on police interviews at Werribee and Wyndham North to support minors in the absence of a parent or guardian.
As a Youth Referral and Independent Person Program (YRIPP) volunteer, Mrs Green also sits in on interviews at Altona, Footscray, Williamstown, Laverton and Sunshine.
She ensures the young person being questioned knows their rights and understands what’s going on, referring them to support services such as Legal Aid and drug and alcohol counsellors.
Mrs Green heard about the program through a relative who works with Legal Aid.
She decided she would volunteer when she retired.
She’s been called out to Werribee police station about 20 times over the years and has made countless visits to other police stations in the west.
“Over the five years of supporting young people at police interviews, I’ve come across many different situations, young people and indeed police officers,” she says.
“Each experience is different and I learn something every time. My motivation is to help vulnerable young people at a difficult time in their lives.
“It would be nice to know how the young person fared after the interview, but that isn’t my role. I can only hope there will be others to help him or her further down the track.”
The youngest person she had been asked to help was 13.
YRIPP state co-ordinator Marie Holmes says more volunteers are needed for Werribee and Wyndham North.
Volunteers complete 20 hours’ training before being placed on a call-out roster.
She says volunteers provide an invaluable service to young people at “a really scary time”.
Details: yripp.org.au -Laura Little
