MELTON young people who find themselves in trouble with the law don’t always have a parent or guardian to support them.
But thanks to volunteers like Melton’s Steve Noonan, there’s someone available to sit with them during police interviews, help them understand their rights and point them to support services for issues with drugs and alcohol.
Mr Noonan is one of the many volunteers in the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program (YRIPP), which is looking for more people to help in Melton and surrounding suburbs.
Mr Noonan say the program helps young people during a very difficult time. “There are some cases that affect you more than others,” he says.
“Sometimes you’d love to wrap them up in a blanket and take them home. But you can’t and that’s not our role. It’s not easy for all concerned, but at the end of the interview I walk away with a great deal of satisfaction knowing that I may have, with the help of YRIPP’s referral process, changed a young person’s life for the better.”
Mr Noonan, who started volunteering last year, said he had received 20 callouts to attend Melton or Sunshine police stations.
Following an eight-week training program, volunteers nominate available times to offer their support.
“It’s great because it isn’t all-encompassing and you can balance it in your life,” Mr Noonan says. “I didn’t have a lot of time because I work full-time, but you can work around it.”
He says he’s lucky to have two great sons who have had a good upbringing. But he knows that’s not always the case. “There are others who haven’t been so lucky. It’s sad to see what they are going through.”
An information session will be held on August 17 at Melton library, corner of Rees and Wilson roads, from 11am-1pm. Details: 93403702 or volunteering@cmv.net.au -Andria Cozza
