Staff at Parkville Youth Justice Centre attacked by inmates

Fears for the safety of staff at Parkville Youth Justice Centre are growing after another three workers were assaulted.

On Monday, two Parkville Youth Justice Centre staff were assaulted. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Two staff were taken to hospital after being punched in the head and a manager was chased and attacked by detainees at a youth jail.

The incidents have raised fresh concern among workers about the level of violence in the state’s juvenile justice facilities after a relatively quiet period.

On Monday, two Parkville Youth Justice Centre staff were assaulted in the facility’s Emerald unit.

They were taken to hospital and discharged after being assessed by doctors.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, an acting manager was chased by a group of inmates at Parkville.

The Herald Sun has been told they caught the worker and assaulted him.

There have been alarm in recent years among staff about the levels of assaults by inmates at Parkville and the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre in central Victoria.

A Community and Public Sector Union spokesman said: “There’s still a lot of work to do at these sites to improve safety and end this ongoing violence against staff.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice and Community Safety confirmed two staff were taken to hospital “as a precaution” and released soon after.

She said the matter had been reported to police and that the safety and security of staff and young people was taken seriously.

“Violent behaviour or assaults at youth justice centres are absolutely unacceptable,” the spokeswoman said.

“Two incidents occurred at the Parkville Youth Justice Precinct earlier this week which were immediately reported to police.”

“Staff members were taken to hospital as a precaution and were released shortly afterwards. “