Prison Officer, Western Plains Correctional Centre

Location: Geelong

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Justice and Community Safety

**Salary**: $58,358 - $74,941

Occupation: Prison and Corrective Services

Reference: DOJ/WPCCMARO22

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we are looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers

We are proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?
- Put your life experience and people skills to work
- Be proud of doing a job that makes your community safer
- Enjoy job security as part of the founding team of an all-new custodial facility.

The new state-of-the-art Western Plains Correctional Centre (Western Plains) in Lara is now recruiting a squad of prison officers.

Western Plains harnesses innovative approaches to rehabilitation and uses advanced technology to achieve better outcomes for prisoners and the safety of all Victorians.

Western Plains is located in the Barwon Precinct, alongside Barwon Prison and Marngoneet Correctional Centre.

**Put your life experience to work**

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a start-up team dedicated to re-imagining what a prison can do for its prisoners and the wider community. If you want to help people make a more positive contribution when they get a second chance, you should consider becoming a prison officer at Western Plains.

You will draw on so many skills you have developed in your life and career. You will equip prisoners with the capabilities they need to build a better future for themselves. You will provide case management, which includes facilitating prisoner participation in work and learning programs, and will also support prisoners to improve connections with family, community groups and other vital organisations.

Prison officers also maintain the safety and security of Western Plains and everyone within the facility. This is achieved through searches, escorting duties, observing and assessing prisoner behaviour, operating security equipment, collating information, preparing reports and effectively responding to prison incidents.

**Put your people skills to work**

To be a great prison officer, you will have exceptional communication skills. This includes the ability to actively listen and to engage in respectful conversations. You will be action-oriented, with a focus on being helpful, finding solutions and remaining optimistic. You will know how to negotiate effectively, understand the importance of acting with integrity and will have a willingness to make a positive impact.

You will be an enthusiastic team player with an understanding of your own work style and insight into the skills you bring to the group. You will value team camaraderie, will be naturally self-motivated and will be able to maintain a calm demeanour when needed.

You will also be a consistent role model who enjoys seeing others progress.

Prison officer applicants with experience in human services, case management, criminal justice or leadership (who are new to the Victorian corrections environment) will be provided with customised prison-related training and learning.
- We want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. One of the ways do this is by recruiting a diverse workforce - we welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and cultural background. We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector._
- The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)._
- Therefore, there is a requirement that all DJCS employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to undertake duties outside of their homes._
- Prior to commencement of employment with the department you will need to provide evidence that you are vaccinated against COVID-19. Acceptable evidence includes:_
- 1. COVID-19 digital certificate (available via your myGov account)_
- 2. Your immunisation history statement (available via your myGov account)_

**Applications close at mi