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JUSTICE ADVOCACY SUPPORT PERSON

Liverpool Volunteer Resource Centre
Logo for Liverpool Volunteer Resource Centre

Justice Advocacy Support Volunteers are people from all walks of life who want to give back to their community or provide help to the people around them. They walk alongside people with cognitive impairment by supporting them as victims, witnesses, suspects and/or defendants at police stations, court and legal appointments.

About the Role:

  • Act as a support person for the purposes of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Regulation 2016 (NSW)
  • Assist and support suspects while in police custody to understand and exercise their rights including:
  1. Ensuring the client is able to communicate with a legal practitioner before any investigative procedure takes place, including a police interview
  2. Ensuring the client understands and is able to exercise their right to silence
  3. Observing whether or not a police interview is being conducted properly and fairly and informing the police officer if there is a concern that the client does not fully understand their rights at any stage while in police custody
  4. Requesting a break during an interview if there are any signs that the client is becoming  distressed or is unable to concentrate
  5. Assisting the client in police custody to contact a relative or a friend
  • Identifying whether the client is having any issues understanding what is being said to them or expressing their views and assisting them to communicate with police, court and legal representatives
  • Assisting the client to seek and understand legal advice, including providing instructions to their legal representative
  • Assisting the client to understand their legal orders including bail conditions, Apprehended Violence Orders, diversion orders under the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 and any other order
  • Providing advice for victims and witnesses about how to report crime to the police including providing support to victims and witnesses when making a statement to the police
  • Providing appointment reminders including reminding clients about court appearances and meetings and interviews with police or legal representatives
  • Assisting clients with any paperwork at police stations, court or legal appointments
  • Justice Advocacy Support Volunteers are not to provide legal advice, act as a witness, offer counselling, or have contact with the client outside of their Volunteer role hours and duties
  • No experience required as comprehensive training is provided before commencement of role
  • Volunteers are needed all week days for court and legal appointment support and weekends/early mornings and evenings for police support
  • Supports usually take between 2-4 hours at a time, but may take up to 8 hours
  • National Police and Working with Children Check required for all Volunteers
  • Car and drivers licence required for after hours supports

About You:

  • Passionate about social justice
  • Ability to facilitate understanding and communication with both adults and children with cognitive impairment
  • Patient and calm manner, able to manage stressful situations well
  • Understanding of and adherence to boundaries of the role
  • Willingness to take instruction and supervision from senior staff
  • Ability to interact effectively with police, court and legal representatives
  • All Volunteers must have at least one full days availability each week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
  • Willingness to commit long term to the role

Justice Advocacy Support Volunteers range from retirees to university students to stay at home mums and dads. If this sounds like the perfect role for you then please express your interest, we would love to hear from you!

You can not apply for this role as it is no longer available.