Youth Referral and Independent Person Program

Earlier this month the Rotary club of Southbank hosted Lyndon from the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program (YRIPP).

YRIPP is funded by the Victorian Government and is based at the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY), YRIPP is delivered in partnership with the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, Community Legal Centres and Victoria Police.

YRIPP is the first program in Victoria to set up a state wide infrastructure for the provision of Independent Persons to young persons.

Through calling a single telephone number, police can be provided with a trained Independent Person to attend the police station usually within 30 minutes.

Through the same number Young people in custody can also receive free telephone legal advice from a rostered solictor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, provided by Victoria Legal Aid.

During the presentation we learnt that Aborignal youth are underrepresented and account for approximately 20% of young people that YRIPP supports.

Around 170 police stations utilise YRIPP's services and that YRIPPs takes a strengths based approach to supporting young people, with a large number of youths having cognitive and or mental health issues.

YRIPP also links young people in with local health and welfare support services, aiming to reduce the risk factors and increase the protective factors associated with youth offending. 

YRIPP is always looking for dedicated and diligent volunteers. If you have a passion to help young people and important part of a youths life in their time of need, you can contact YRIPP on 03 9340 3777 or visit their website at www.yripp.org.au.

If your volunteer application is successful, you will undertake extensive training and will need to commit to rostered call out (based on your availability) and make a 12 month commitment