Response team: Yasmin Sungkar, Freeman Trebilcock and Cordelia Prowd take part in an emergency response role-play at The Cave last week. Picture: Ari Hatzis
YOUNG people from diverse faiths and backgrounds were trained in emergency relief management in Ascot Vale last week.
Co-ordinated by youth network InterAction, the training program is designed to ensure there is an adequate supply of counsellors from various faiths should they be needed in a large-scale emergency.
Eventually, a volunteer 'youth rapid response team' will be created that can be sent to emergency situations across the state.
Volunteers in the program — run in partnership with Praxis Christian youth network and the Islamic Council of Victoria — are trained to provide physical and and psychological aid.
The program is using The Cave youth centre in Ascot Vale as its base. Organisers hope to attract volunteers from across Moonee Valley.
Activist priest Bob Maguire, who has lent his support to the cause, said the launch of the group showed religions could work together to do something good.
"I've been talking about the need for religions to work together for years — it's great to finally see it happening."