By Esther Lauaki
Victoria’s all-female prison officer squad is ready to go after completing tactical training at Hoppers Crossing.
The 29-member squad graduated earlier this month and will be deployed to the state’s maximum-security women’s prison, the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Ravenhall.
Corrections Minister Ben Carroll said the new squad includes women from a diverse mix of professional backgrounds, including an egg farmer, medic, singer, Disney World team member and a Braille producer.
“A prison officer does a lot more than just guard prisoners, they’re social workers, they’re teachers and they’re highly trained in tactical response – playing a vital role in preventing reoffending and improving community safety,” Mr Carroll said on a visit to the tactical training site last week.
“Our corrections officers go through extensive training so they’re ready to handle anything that might be thrown their way in a job where no two days are the same.”
Graduates earned an escort officer qualification, where the squad was taught the advanced techniques needed to manage potentially complex incidents in prisons or while providing prisoner escorts.
Corrections Commissioner Emma Cassar said tactical training gives the recruits the communication skills and response strategies they need to respond to incidents.
“A career as a prison officer is incredibly rewarding, as you have an opportunity to turn around people’s lives and contribute to a safer Victorian community,” Ms Cassar said.
“The new recruits demonstrate all the qualities needed to work in our corrections system, and I wish them all the best in their future careers.”
The first all-female recruitment campaign attracted more than 900 applications for the 29-member squad. Across Victoria’s prisons, about 30 per cent of prison officers
are women, while women make up almost 60 per cent of staff at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
