Experienced prison staff forced out despite the state government desperately trying to recruit new staff

Experienced prison staff are being shown the door despite the state government launching a major recruitment drive to deal with an influx of prisoners.

Experienced prison staff are being forced out of the job despite the state government launching a major recruitment drive to deal with an influx of prisoners.

Guards facing unemployment amid the closure of the privately run Port Phillip Prison say they are being rejected transition into the public prison system despite years of experience.

As part of plans to close Port Phillip Prison the government foreshadowed opportunities for staff, employed by private operator G4S, to take up roles in the public system.

The process was to involve completion of a training course.

But they say they are now being forced to apply and undertake a full job interview process with dozens reporting they have been rejected.

“At last count in excess of 30 staff members have had their applications rejected and with no reason given as to why,” one prison source said.

“Good staff many with over 10 and in some cases 20 years of experience being told they do not meet the criteria.

“How is this possible? To work in any jail in Victoria all staff must have their accreditation approved by Corrections Victoria.

“How are we able to work for G4S but not good enough to work for any Corrections Victoria jails.”

Corrections sources said tougher standards were in place throughout the public system and that some guards who had been rejected had failed physical and other tests.

Guards are facing unemployment amid the closure of Port Phillip Prison. Picture: Goggle Maps

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson said about 130 former G4S staff had been offered new roles.

“Recruitment for our growing corrections system is on track and we have helped officers from Port Phillip Prison to apply for roles within Corrections Victoria,” she said.

“All Corrections Victoria prison officer applications are assessed on merit and subject to strict vetting processes – we make no apologies for upholding these high standards.”

It came after Shadow Corrections minister, David Southwick, this week wrote to minister Enver Erdogan to raise the issue and demand urgent intervention.

“Despite repeated assurances that staff would experience a smooth and respectful transition into the public corrections system, the reality has been nothing short of disgraceful,” he wrote.

“Dedicated officers many with more than a decade or two of frontline experience have been cast aside without explanation or support.

“These same individuals were deemed qualified to uphold security at one of our largest prisons, but apparently not good enough for Corrections Victoria. It makes no sense.

“At a time when our corrections system is under significant strain, with the government offering $8,000 sign-on bonuses to new recruits, why are we not retaining the skilled officers we already have? This is not only an insult to these professionals but a shocking waste of taxpayer funds.”

Government data released on Friday showed 192 new prison officers had joined Corrections Victoria since May.

Dozens of guards have been rejected from new roles. Picture: Tony Gough

More than 400 prison officers were expected to be recruited by the end of the year.

“Prison staff recruitment is on track to meet increased demand across the system – we’ve already seen almost additional 200 people join the corrections system in the past two months alone,” Mr Erdogan said.

“Prison officers play a vital role in helping to keep the Victorian community safe and support people in custody to turn their lives around.

“I congratulate our latest recruits and wish them well as they embark on their rewarding new careers.”

Prison sources have long complained that safety concerns and resourcing issues have made it difficult to attract and retain corrections staff.

An initial $5000 sign-up bonus introduced in September 2023 was subsequently increased to $8000 in a bid to attract more staff.

Latest data shows Victorian prison guards are being attacked, sexually assaulted and hospitalised by the state’s most dangerous criminals.

The official Corrections Victoria data showed 442 attacks had been recorded in the 12 months to April, including 10 sexual assaults on staff and six attacks causing hospitalisation.