By Tanya Steele
A local Justice of the Peace (JPs) speaks highly of the role as the Department of Justice and Community Safety look to appoint new JPs in the Casey and Yarra Ranges local government areas.
Ann Flockhart of Dixon’s Creek has been a JP for over ten years and said it is a rewarding community role.
“It’s been fun and it’s been interesting, you meet all sorts of people from all walks of life,” she said.
“You hear some interesting stories too, which are quite nice, and some of them quite sad.”
Justice of the Peace volunteers play an important role in the justice system and provide a valuable and accessible authorised witnessing service to all members of the community.
Ms Flockhart was originally interested in the role to fit alongside her job as a civil marriage celebrant.
“There was the training that I did in town and then went to the Ringwood police station to be sworn in,” she said.
The JP even continued her community service even throughout Covid.
“I did drive through drive-thru JP, people were still buying houses and people were still needing to get documents signed,” she said.
“It was good to be able to still offer a service during that time to really lock down so people within that 5km limit could come and get these documents done.”
Ms Flockhart has occasionally networked with other JPs but is currently the only person operating in her area.
She currently operates in her role once a month and signs documents for people at the Lilydale Police Station.
“It’s once a month, I’m down at the Lilydale police station, I take my book and a cup of tea,” she said.
“And it’s really interesting how many people come in on that day, they know the service is there.”
Ms Flockhart has no plans to stop in her role and said it’s not just for older people, anyone can volunteer.
“It’s a community thing and I don’t see myself stopping for a very long time,” she said.
The Department of Justice and Safety is holding a one-hour online information session to provide more detail about the role and give people the opportunity to meet JPs and staff from the Honorary Justice Services Support team.
People of all cultural and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply and attendance at an information session is mandatory to proceed to the application and recruitment stages.
You must first register to be able to join an online information session.
The website link is as follows:
https://justice-vic-gov-au.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_O2MyIWf_RDqeKtSOiY_d6Q#/registration
Links will then be sent to you via email before the session.
If people have any queries about the information sessions they can email candidatecare@justice.vic.gov.au
The information session will be online on Thursday 6 July at 6pm.
