A BOOST to beds at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre is expected to create up to 30 new jobs.
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Two new 16-bed units are planned for the precinct, following the announcement earlier this week of expansions to the state’s two existing youth justice precincts.
Thirty-two of the 68 new secure beds will be built at Malmsbury.
The other 36 will be situated at Parkville Youth Justice Precinct.
Planning is understood to be underway on the design, placement and configuration of the new units at Malmsbury.
A principal consultant has yet to be appointed, and a community advisory group will be established.
“This critical investment will improve how our youth justice system operates, and improve safety for staff, young offenders and the Victorian community,” Minister for Families and Children, Jenny Mikakos, said.
Artist’s impressions of the development, supplied by the minister’s office, also show new fencing around the existing secure area and the proposed expansion site.
With the additional beds will come up to 30 new ongoing positions at the precinct.
It is understood that staff might work across both Malmsbury and Parkville precincts, and that the number of staff rostered on any given day might depend on the number of young people in each precinct, their security level and rehabilitation needs.
A ‘youth justice jobs’ recruitment campaign elicited more than 1000 applications, as of the end of September.
The government has funded and filled 41 new ongoing staff positions since December, as well as adding 21 new members to the Safety and Emergency Response Team.
“We’re employing new staff at Malmsbury and giving them the equipment, training and support they need to do their job effectively,” Ms Mikakos said.
The first new squad of new staffers are understood to have started at Malmsbury Youth Justice Precinct.
Another new squad is expected to begin in coming months.