The New Prisons

Addressing changing needs in Prison Services

With the Victorian State Government providing $334.5 million over four years, the Corrections Long Term Management Strategy seeks to address the changing needs in prison services. This strategy spearheads the introduction of a range of rehabilitation and prison diversion programs, upgrades to existing infrastructure, implementation of state-wide cell safety and fire safety programs and the construction of three new prisons.

In September 2002 the Victorian State Government announced the site locations for the new facilities – the 300 bed Marngoneet Correctional Centre at Lara, a 600 bed Metropolitan Remand Centre at Ravenhall, and a 120 bed Correctional facility at Beechworth. With these prisons commencing operations, there is a significant growth in the Corrections workforce as new staff members are employed within the Correctional and rehabilitative environment across the State. Approximately 300 entry level Prison Officer vacancies, and over 100 positions in clinical and administrative services have been created as part of this growth.

The Metropolitan Remand Centre

Located in Ravenhall, approximately 20 kilometres west of the Melbourne CBD, this 600 bed facility is the State's major remand centre for adult male prisoners. With remand prisoners separated from the sentenced prisoner population, this facility will allow Victoria to better meet the United Nations standards and recommendations.

The operating philosophy of the Remand Centre is designed to achieve a balance between the need for a safe and secure environment with one that recognises the particular needs of unconvicted prisoners. As such, the prison has been designed to allow for the greatest degree of ‘normalisation' for remand prisoners, while ensuring high levels of security and safety for the community.

The staffing of this prison will consist of a mixture of the following types of roles:

• Prison officers of all ranks, from the entry level role to Prison Operations Manager level. These prison staff have responsibility for the custodial management of prisoners
• Clinical services staff including psychologists, case workers and welfare workers, who are required to do a variety of tasks including prisoner assessments, delivering individual, and group therapy programs, and providing counselling
• Administrative staff including human resources and finance staff, along with staff who work as Stores and Property officers. These staff members are responsible for maintaining the prisoners' property and ordering stock for the prison location
• Staff who are responsible for the supervision and training of prisoners while they produce a variety of goods in a safe workplace environment. These staff are referred to as ‘industries' staff, and are also trained as prison officers. The range of industries offered varies among individual prisons but common examples include metal fabrication, manufacture of wooden products, agriculture and horticulture programs and catering services

The Marngoneet Correctional Centre

This 300 bed facility is located near Lara, approximately 65 kilometres south west of the Melbourne CBD. Bringing together major intensive treatment programs for drug and alcohol issues, sexual and violent offences - Marngoneet Correctional Centre marks an Australian first.

The operating philosophy of the Marngoneet Correctional Centre is focused on addressing a wide range of prisoners' offending behaviour and reducing the likelihood of prisoners returning to custody after release.

This prison has been designed to allow for the greatest degree of normalisation for prisoners, while ensuring high levels of security and safety for the community.

• The staffing of this prison is similar to the Metropolitan Remand Centre, but with a stronger emphasis on prisoners and staff working together in programs to achieve long term rehabilitative goals. The staffing has a mixture of the following types of roles:
• Prison officers of all ranks, from the entry level role to Prison Operations Manager. These staff have a high level of group involvement in working with non custodial staff in the delivery of programs and services within the therapeutic context
• Clinical services staff including psychologists, case workers and welfare workers, who are required to do a variety of tasks including prisoner assessments, delivering individual and group therapy programs, and providing counselling
• Administrative staff including human resources and finance staff, along with staff who work as Stores and Property officers. These staff members are responsible for maintaining the prisoners' property and ordering stock for the prison location
• Staff who are responsible for the supervision and training of prisoners while they produce a variety of goods in a safe workplace environment. These staff are referred to as ‘industries' staff, and are also trained as prison officers. The range of industries offered varies among individual prisons but common examples include metal fabrication, manufacture of wooden products, agriculture and horticulture programs and catering services

Prison Officer Job Description

• Prison Officer (COG 2a)
• Senior Prison Officer (COG 2b)
• Prison Supervisor (COG 3)

For more information about career opportunities within Community Correctional Services, please visit www.careers.vic.gov.au. By selecting the Current Vacancies menu option, and conducting a search by Department/Agency (select “Department of Justice”), you will be able to access up-to-date vacancies.