Independent Third Person - Melbourne

Police interviews can be demanding. A person has to take in complex information quickly, understand their legal rights, and communicate with people in positions of authority.

Independent Third Persons provide assistance and support to people with cognitive impairment during police interviews, when giving statements and participating in other police procedures.

Our volunteers are independent of police and of the investigation, and act as a safeguard to ensure a person with cognitive impairment is not disadvantaged when communicating with police.

Independent Third Persons are trained to support alleged offenders, offenders, victims, and witnesses of any age with cognitive impairment at Victoria Police stations.

Independent Third Persons are trained to:

Ensure the person understands their legal rights – by advising the person of their rights, checking the person understands them and asking whether they’d like to exercise those rights

Ensure the person understands procedures – by explaining police procedures and their implications. Independent Third Persons ensure that the person they are supporting understands what they are giving or refusing consent for

Address immediate welfare needs – by ensuring the person has access to food, water, medication, rest, and any urgent medical care

The Independent Third Person Program values the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our Program. The Program encourages applications from people that identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, from the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with lived experience of disability, mental illness or within the justice system.