Workers at notorious youth justice centre compensated $7m for violence

Workers at a problematic Victorian youth justice centre were compensated almost $7 million for occupational violence that happened in the years before it closed.

Data obtained under freedom of information legislation reveals hundreds of assaults inside Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.

The Victorian government has reopened the centre and Labor is pledging to use it to rehabilitate low- and mid-level youth offenders.

Justin White had been working at a youth justice centre unit in Victoria for a matter of weeks when he was violently assaulted by a group of inmates armed with a plastic cricket bat.

He said the life-altering attack at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre in October 2019 happened on a day when the mood had been "deteriorating quickly".

"I clearly was the target and then that descended into what became a gang assault, which I'm still living with today," Mr White said.

"I genuinely thought I wasn't going to come out of it. It's only because of the actions of others that I did."

Mr White is still unable to work due to severe PTSD.

Mr White sustained spinal fractures, as well as a traumatic head injury that has affected his cognitive functioning.

He continues to battle post-concussion syndrome.

Three of his colleagues received bravery awards for trying to intervene and stop the attack.

The inmates, two aged 18 and the other 19 at the time, were charged and moved to an adult prison.

The assault is one of hundreds that took place at the notorious youth justice centre in central Victoria before it closed in December 2023, following riots and escapes.

Twelve weeks before it closed, seven staff members were held hostage during a riot where a worker's keys were stolen and used to unlock parts of the prison.

Data released to the ABC by the Department of Justice under freedom of information laws shows almost $7 million in compensation was paid to workers at the centre for occupational violence incidents that happened in the three years before it closed.

An occupational violence incident was logged every 2.6 days on average between January 2020 and December 2023.

There were 326 physical assaults reported, 114 verbal assaults, 21 assaults with biological material and 95 exposures to aggression or violence.

Of the incidents, 60 resulted in WorkCover claims by staff members.

The Victorian government reopened Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre in April, initially announcing 30 beds would be recommissioned, before adding a further 45.

Youth Justice Minister Ros Spence told Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad that 22 young people were at the centre, with more than 150 staff employed as of September 9.

Ms Broad told the ABC the figures reflected an "extraordinary" amount of waste.

"It seemed crazy to me. The government spent millions on it, then closed it, and then they were going to do something else with the land, and then they announced it's reopening," she said.

"The staff didn't see it coming, and then trying to recruit and find people, and incentives to get people to come back."

In her statement, Ms Spence said operations were being ramped up in stages to allow time to recruit and train staff and "stress test operating processes".

She said the Malmsbury site had been maintained "in a reasonable condition" during its closure so it could be reopened if required.

That was despite a group of residents workshopping ideas for a new, alternative use of the site with a belief the community would be consulted.

The capital works to reopen Malmsbury this year were budgeted at $17.6 million, according to the department's annual report.

Ahead of the state election, Labor has pledged to introduce rehabilitation detention for low- and mid-level youth offenders, including at Malmsbury.

Law firm Grainger Legal said it had seen the "life-changing" damage sustained by some youth justice workers from working at Malmsbury.

Lawyers Caroline Grainger and Laura Paterson said it was not uncommon for payouts to be in the six figures if a worker was seriously injured and could establish negligence.

"The workers we've assisted have experienced injuries including concussions, lacerations and broken limbs, and psychiatric injuries such as PTSD, major depressive disorder, insomnia, stress and anxiety," the lawyers said.

They said the reopening of Malmsbury brought concerns about staff safety, "having seen physical and psychological injuries occur in high numbers".

"In the past we have heard complaints including insufficient staffing, reliance on casual or agency staff to fill gaps, and staff feeling under-trained, unsafe or unsupported," they said.

"Our hope would be that these issues had been addressed prior to the centre re-opening."

Government data shows Victoria's youth justice facilities were at 63.5 per cent capacity combined as of November 2, with about 224 detainees across three precincts.

Mr White said he was concerned to hear about the reopening of Malmsbury "for the people who have to step back into that environment".

He is calling for more support for corrections and youth justice workers, particularly in dealing with occupational violence.

"Seeing the supports that other frontline staff have and what we don't have, I'm not saying it's perfect in any role, but you'd like to see more for what people navigate every day," he said.