FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions - YRIPP
| How does the YRIPP roster work? |
| How long do I spend at the police station? |
| What does the training program include? |
| What if i have already worked as an Independent Person? |
| Who cannot be an Independent Person? |
| What about Police Checks and Working With Children Checks? |
| Who runs the Program? |
| What are the results of the Program? |
How does the YRIPP Roster work? |
| Independent Persons work on a 24 hour on-call roster which is split up into 2 shifts (6am to 6pm and 6pm to 6am). We usually require volunteers to be available on call for a minimum of one shift per week. This doesn’t mean that you will be volunteering for the whole 12 hours; it just means that you would be available if a young person requires an IP in that time. The roster is flexible and you have choice about when and how often you are on roster. For example, you may choose to be rostered on three shifts per week, a Wednesday from 6pm to 6am, a Sunday 6am to 6pm, and a Monday 6am to 6pm. Even though you are on three shifts, you may only receive a call-out about once a month, depending on how busy the nearest police stations are. You can still work, rest and play during your roster shift, you just need to have access to your phone and car and be ready to travel to the police station on your roster within 20 minutes. Some areas are not busy for YRIPP. The more shifts you are on, the more likely you are to get callouts. You will be rostered onto all police stations that you live close enough to. The number of police stations near you will also increase your chances of receiving regular callouts. |
How long do I spend at the Police Station? |
| The length of a callout to a police station varies but the average is about 3 hours. How many callouts you receive a month depends upon the days and times you are rostered on and how many other volunteers on the roster. If you cannot accept a callout at a particular time the request will go to the next available person as a back up. Volunteers will only be required to travel to all police stations that are within 20 minutes of their home. |
What does the Training Program include? |
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What if I have already worked as an Independent Person? |
| We recognise the skills and experience of volunteers who have many years experience working as IP’s and/or Independent Third Persons (ITP’s). These skills and experiences are valuable and we have designed the training program to draw out and build upon these skills, rather than re-teach them. We do not want to waste trainee’s time by teaching things they already know. Competency based training allows all participants to demonstrate their current skills and contribute to the group learning by sharing and discussing experiences. It recognises that all people come to the training with many existing skills. Some are qualified youth workers and some have extensive legal training already. Participants can treat the YRIPP training program, not only as an induction into YRIPP, but as an opportunity to develop their existing skills. The YRIPP training offers the most up to date and comprehensive training in the continually developing role of the IP. It incorporates the latest local and international research, and understandings of the role according to the Victoria Police and peak youth agencies. Furthermore, it incorporates specialist aspects of the role such as working with refugee, migrant and Indigenous young people and providing post interview referral and support which, generally, were not a part of existing IP trainings. Thirdly, the training program itself acts as an induction into the YRIPP program, covering YRIPP’s particular safety, legal and policy considerations which are likely to be different to other IP training in the past and are different to current ITP policies and procedures. Due to the specialist nature and level of YRIPP specific detail, all sessions are considered mandatory to attend, but please let us know on the Application form if you have worked as an IP or ITP before and feel free to contact the Training Coordinator on 03 9340 3777. |
Who cannot be an Independent Person? |
| A serving Police Officer or a currently practicing lawyer cannot act as a YRIPP Independent Person. There are some other roles within the justice system, such as Bail Justices, that present a conflict with the role of the Independent Person. These conflicting roles cannot be performed with the same young person. It is not advisable to act as a Bail Justice and an IP at the same police station. Under some circumstances, retired or former police officers may apply as Independent Person where YRIPP believes that no conflict is present. A person is not excluded from participating in YRIPP training based on a role conflict. If you are currently working in a voluntary or professional capacity within the criminal or youth justice system, YRIPP will discuss possible conflicts with you and make an assessment of whether participation in the program is appropriate. If you are unsure please feel free to discuss this with us on 9340 3777 or contact your Regional Coordinator. |
What about Police Checks and Working With Children Cards |
| All applicants will be required to undergo a Police Check and Working with Children check. |
| Prior convictions do not necessarily preclude selection, but YRIPP retains the right to exclude applicants on the basis of prior convictions. Police and Working with Children Check information will be treated with utmost confidentiality by the program. Due to our policy, Teachers who are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching will still be required to obtain a WWC for their volunteer role with YRIPP. Both checks are free for YRIPP volunteer applicants, apart from the cost of obtaining a passport photo for the Working with Children Check. A national Police Record Check is required for each new application, even if you have had one recently. Applicants will be asked to download, complete and print the online ‘Consent to check and release National Police Record’ form. Take your completed application form, 100 points of identification and photocopies to a post office along with the Working with Children Check. Your documents and signature must be witnessed and certified at the Post Office. Return your completed form to YRIPP (not the police). You can access the online form here. |
| If you already have a Victorian Working with Children Card, you will be asked to complete a Change of Personal Details form to include YRIPP as your listed volunteer organisation. New Working with Children Check Application Guide and Forms are available from your local post office. However, all forms and instructions for both these checks are provided at the Information Sessions. |
Who runs the program? |
| YRIPP is a unique partnership between community agencies and the Victoria Police. It is funded by the State Government and is a partnership of the Centre for Multicultural Youth, the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, UnitingCare and other agencies. For more information about YRIPP click here. |
What are the results of the program? |
| See Features and Results |
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