Staff member allegedly stabbed with fork during assault at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson confirmed an incident occurred at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre on the afternoon of Wednesday 8 September.

They said it was quickly contained by staff.

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"One staff member received a minor superficial injury that did not require off-site medical treatment. Malmsbury Youth Justice Precinct is not in lockdown," the spokesperson said.

"The safety of staff and young people in youth justice is our utmost priority. The Department of Justice and Community Safety takes a zero-tolerance approach to violence and assaults in youth justice centres.

"All incidents and allegations are referred to Victoria Police.

"Recent safety initiatives have driven down the number of serious incidents in custodial facilities by 42 per cent and reduced serious assaults by 59 per cent over the past three years."

To improve safety within youth justice centres, the spokesperson said they had introduced dynamic risk assessments, additional behaviour support specialists, targeted behavioural programs and an Intensive Intervention Unit for the most high-risk young people in custody.

Thursday, 3pm

The Bendigo Advertiser understands the staff members involved did not receive significant injuries during the assault.

A source, who wished to remain anonymous, said one member of the safety and emergency response team was however stabbed with a fork in the back.

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"There were minor indentations and the fork didn't break the skin due to the layers of clothing the staff member was wearing," the source said.

The Community and Public Sector Union spokesperson said the union continued to remain concerned about the staff working at the centre.

"The union remains extremely concerned about the highly volatile situations continuing," the spokesperson said.

"(The situations) that occurring that have the potential to cause injury or maybe get someone killed."

Earlier

TWO men have been assaulted at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.

Police are investigating the incident that occurred on Wednesday at 4.20pm.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said the two men - one in his 40s and one in his 50s - were assaulted at a correctional facility in Malmsbury.

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The spokesperson said neither man was seriously injured.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

The assault is the latest in a number of incidents at the youth justice centre.

Four incidents were reported in four weeks between July and August, prompting staff at the centre to discuss a possible cease work action.

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