Training

What type of training is provided?

All newly-recruited Prison Officers receive seven weeks of Pre-Service Training, which is a combination of theoretical and practical learning, plus a two-week, on-the-job placement. You will complete the training with other recruits as part of a squad. This allows you to create strong and lasting work relationships with your colleagues.

After this, there will be a period of close supervision combined with further self-paced, competency-based learning and on-the-job training to allow you to build on your skills gradually. Typically, as you acquire more complex skills and training, you will be given more challenging work roles.

As part of your ongoing development, Corrections Victoria provides new recruits with opportunities to continue acquiring skills and you will be encouraged to achieve a Certificate III in Correctional Practice (Custodial).

Work as a Prison Officer is diverse and may entail a number of different duties on any given day, so training cannot prepare you for every possible situation that may arise in the corrections environment. In these situations, you will be guided by senior staff and trained specialists and the legislation of Corrections Victoria. You will also develop a high standard of security awareness through the Pre-Service Training course.

Physical requirements of Pre-Service Training

Prison Officer Pre-Service Training includes various training modules with a physical component. These include:

Tactical response:

  • Self-defence
  • Restraint techniques
  • Breakaway techniques
  • Application of handcuffs

Fire awareness:

  • Use of breathing apparatus (including timed assessment)
  • Use of water hoses and fire extinguishers
  • Search and rescue techniques in hot, smoke filled areas, including confined spaces

Searching:

  • Cells and accommodation units
  • Work and recreation areas
  • Prisoners, visitors and contractors
  • Vehicles, mail and other deliveries

Security Patrols:

  • Frequent internal and external patrols throughout prison buildings and around the prison perimeter

On-the-job placement (two weeks)

Daily exposure to all areas of the prison, including:

  • Visits
  • Employment, programs and recreation areas
  • Searches
  • Patrols
  • Case management
  • Security posts
  • Medical units
  • Barrier control

As a Trainee Prison Officer, you must be able to successfully complete the physical components of Pre-Service Training before you can be appointed as a Prison Officer.

How is the Pre-Service Training run?

Learning modules are delivered as a combination of lectures, group exercises, role-playing and on-the-job experience. You will be formally and informally assessed throughout the program, with progress interviews carried out in Week 3 and 7, plus daily and weekly assessments so you can keep track of how you are doing.

Week 1

  • The Organisation
  • Security Awareness - including the identification of posts within the prisons
  • Report Writing (including identifying the different types of reports to be prepared)
  • Prisoner Programs
  • Occupational Health and Safety, First Aid, Fire Awareness
  • Privacy
  • Ethics, Values

Week 2

  • Tactical Options
  • Incident Scene Preservation
  • Conducting Searches and Patrols
  • Prisoner Visits Program - explains the types of visits prisoners are allowed, and the procedures to ensure security is maintained during visits

Week 3

  • Conflict Management
  • Urinalysis & Breath testing
  • Prisoner Communications
  • Prisoner Escorts

Week 4

  • Placement

Week 5

  • Suicide and Self-harm Prevention
  • Cultural Awareness
  • Offender Management
  • Professional Boundaries

Week 6

  • Placement

Week 7

  • Fire Awareness
  • Effective Communication
  • Indigenous Awareness
  • Graduation

Other topics covered in the Pre-Service Training?

  • Clinical Services
  • Movement Control and Escorts – training in safe and secure methods for transporting prisoners
  • Infection Control – this includes raising awareness of common diseases and the process for cleaning bodily fluid spills
  • Prisoner Rights and Privileges – understanding prisoner rights and privileges, plus prisoner requests and complaints procedures
  • Victorian Public Service and Corrections Victoria Code of Conduct

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