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AN INDUSTRIAL officer is negotiating with staff and management after the second assault at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre within a week.
A worker was taken to hospital after an assault at the centre on Monday night.
A Community and Public Sector Union representative said the assault happened as the worker was checking doors were locked.
He alleged an inmate came out of a room and used a mop handle as a weapon.
The representative said the staff member was okay.
Earlier
POLICE are investigating an assault against a worker at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre on Monday night.
A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson confirmed a worker was taken to hospital by ambulance after the incident.
The assault took place about 9.30pm.
The spokesperson said assaults at youth justice centres were unacceptable, and the safety of staff and young people was paramount.
"New laws are now in effect that strengthen consequences for young people who assault youth justice custodial workers, damage property, and escape or try to escape," the spokesperson said.
"This includes a presumption they will serve their sentences on top of an existing period of detention."
Workers at the Youth Justice Centre called a strike in October, after a number of assaults at the facility.
A Community and Public Sector Union representative said he was aware of 311 assaults on staff at the centre in the first 120 days of 2019.
Workers returned to work a few days later, after agreeing on new rules about offender behaviour and expectations, including "zero tolerance" for violence against staff.
In October WorkSafe charged the Department of Justice and Community Safety for alleged health and safety breaches, after am assault at the facility in January 2018.
Worksafe has been contacted for comment.
More to come.
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