Corrections Victoria is looking to hire 60 prison guards for Langi Kal Kal Prison, northwest of Ballarat, as Victoria’s prison population grows higher than ever. As part of a recruitment drive called “Find the Potential Within”, the department is looking for 160 employees for the medium-security Hopkins Correctional Centre in Ararat.
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The drive also aims to change perceptions about working in prisons, which Corrections Victoria Commissioner Jan Shuard described in a statement as “safe and engaging place(s) to work”.
“When it comes to prisons, people have preconceived ideas about the work and the environment, which are often based on stereotypes you might see in movies or on TV.
“They don’t match the reality of Victoria’s modern prison system, so we want people to look beyond the stereotypes and see the benefits of this rewarding career,” she said.
Victoria’s prison population grew 14 per cent in the year to December 2013, and to accommodate the hundreds of new prisoners, 871 new beds were announced in the May state budget, at a cost of almost $500 million.
The application process includes a written test, physical evaluation and standard background checks, as well as interviews. Corrections Victoria is looking for casual and full-time employees, with salaries ranging from $46,336 to $59,503.