Organisation : The Department of Justice and Community Safety
Location : Melbourne
Work type : Various
Sector : Government
Salary type : Volunteer
Salary : Volunteer
Application closing date : 8 Oct, 2019
About the organisation
At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.
We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.
The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.
We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?
If you’re having any trouble viewing this ad and would like it or any attachments in an accessible format (such as large print), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on the ad.
About the role
- Help your community by witnessing important legal documents in person.
- Applications now open for new Justice of the Peace volunteers (unpaid community services volunteers).
- People of all cultural and professional backgrounds encouraged to apply.
The Department of Justice and Community Safety is now recruiting new honorary justice volunteers across Hobson’s Bay, Dandenong, Melton and Wyndham. If you’re good with people, consider attention to detail as one of your strengths and enjoy helping others, you might make a great justice of the peace.
What is a Justice of the Peace?
Justice of the Peace (JP) volunteers are a vital part of our justice system. In Victoria, JPs have the power to witness many legal documents, including statutory declarations and affidavits, and to certify true copies of documents and a person’s identity.
These documents can be required for a wide array of personal situations – in one appointment, a JP could be sitting alongside an excited couple signing the contract to buy their first home; in the next they could be witnessing a statement that will be rushed off to court immediately, or certifying visa documents with new Australians.
“I enjoy it. Justices of the Peace offer an important service and it’s a great way for me to give back to the community. It’s a nice feeling helping people out.” – Ravi, Justice of the Peace, Melbourne
The role of a JP volunteer is primarily focused on:
- attesting to the execution of a document
- witnessing a statutory declaration
- witnessing an affidavit for use in court
- certifying true copies of an original document
- certifying a person’s identity.
Where would I be doing this work?
As a justice of the peace, you can provide service from an office in an official document signing station, or from your own workplace or home, without major disruption to your day. JPs make themselves available to the public and stakeholders on a regular basis and the workload and times can be flexible.
Typically, members of the community requiring your services will book an appointment and then come to you. Most appointments take just a few minutes.
There are document signing stations (DSS’s) located across Victoria. DSS’s operate out of local sites such as police stations, libraries, community hubs and more, and members of the public attend to have their documents certified.
All JPs who would like to volunteer on DSS’s are warmly welcomed. This is a great way to feel part of the life of a community.
What qualifications will I need?
There are no specific qualifications required to become a justice of the peace in Victoria. However, to be eligible for appointment as a JP, applicants must:
- be of or over the age of 18 years
- be an Australian citizen
- not be an insolvent under administration.
Applicants must also satisfy the Attorney-General that they:
- have satisfactorily completed the course of training prescribed for appointment as a JP
- have sufficient proficiency in the English language to perform the duties of a JP
- ordinarily reside in Victoria
- are a fit and proper person to be appointed as a JP.
What kind of people make great JPs?
While this is an administrative role, you will be working face-to-face with people and not every signing is straight forward. That’s why the personal traits listed below are so highly valued when choosing new JPs.
Self confidence
Initiative and accountability
Self-control and discipline
Service focus
Conflict management
Decisiveness
Drive and commitment
Empathy and cultural awareness
Apply today
It’s important that our Justices of the Peace are representative of the residents of our state, so we strongly encourage people of all cultural backgrounds to apply.
How to apply
Applications not allowed for this job listing.
Please quote in application: Justice of the Peace via Pro Bono Australia.
Sector: #Government
