Arabic version: قضاة الصلح في فيكتوريا يسعون إلى متطوعين مع تزايد الطلب

According to ABC News, demand for justice of the peace services is growing in Victoria while active volunteer numbers have fallen to concerning levels. JPs can witness statutory declarations and affidavits and certify true copies of documents.

Loretta Cormack, who has volunteered as a JP for 51 years, now provides services at Bunnings in Altona, Melbourne’s west. The store is the first Bunnings location to offer Victorians access to a JP while shopping, with volunteers available six days a week. Ms Cormack said the retail setting is more open to the public than a police station and has brought “booming” demand.

Victoria has 3,699 registered JP volunteers, but Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices president Rodney Lavin estimated that about 2,000 are active. He said many registered volunteers are in nursing homes, unwell, elderly or have died. By comparison, Queensland has 80,000 JPs, New South Wales has 65,000 and South Australia has about 7,000.

The association is seeking government funding to train 5,000 new recruits after the November 28 state election, followed by 500 additional recruits each year. Mr Lavin said Victoria had not received government funding to train JPs since the 2021–2022 budget. The Department of Justice and Community Safety said its 2022 to 2025 recruitment campaign appointed 800 new JPs.

In Mildura, volunteer Sue Mason said 20 volunteers at the local signing station were meeting demand after an intake added 15 JPs about three years ago. However, she said retirements could quickly reduce those numbers.