Joan (not her real name) has been working as a volunteer with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre for almost two years. She is one of a number of volunteers who attends the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) at the Rotunda Hospital.
The unit examines victims of rape and sexual assault for forensic purposes where there may be a possibility of prosecution.
"For every minute of every hour of every day of every week, there is a volunteer on call for the SATU. Generally speaking, each of us takes one 12-hour shift a week or occasionally two a week. The obligation is for one 12-hour shift a week."
The shift may involve a number of calls from the SATU, or there may be none.
"The whole point of us being there is to offer extra support over and beyond what the person has. Sometimes the person has someone with them and sometimes they don't. One of the reasons we're there is to talk through whatever fears or concerns or issues we have before they go into the exam.
"It's very important that we try to get there before they go in. The other side of it is that the doctors are very gentle and thoughtful and they explain all that's involved to their patient.
"We would always try to tell them about the centre and the services that it offers. It offers one service in particular that is specifically designed for recently assaulted or raped people. It provides six counselling sessions without the person having to go on a waiting list, so it's very important that that information gets communicated.
"We put an awful lot of value on our training," says Mairéad Mallon, head of volunteer services at the DRCC.
The centre will shortly be recruiting new volunteers. Anyone interested should phone the centre at 1800 778888 for an application form. Potential volunteers must be aged 25 or over.
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