Become a prison officer at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC) and help women in custody achieve the skills and confidence to make better choices in their lives.
We are now recruiting full time prison officers to work at DPFC.
Being a prison officer at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre
As a prison officer, you will play a crucial role in supporting the rehabilitation of women in custody and preparing them to return to the community. You will also help keep the women in our care, our team and the facility safe and secure.
Many women in our care have experienced significant trauma prior to coming into custody. As a prison officer at DPFC, you will learn about and apply trauma-informed practice in your work. Trauma-informed practice is an approach that recognises the impact of trauma on how people behave and the choices they make. It is key to understanding the experience of trauma on women in custody and to guide them toward a more positive pathway in future.
You will be a role model to the women and undertake extensive case management. You will help the women in custody access services and resources to address risks both while in custody and when released. You lead them in developing:
- self-respect and respect for others
- appropriate and pro-social behaviours
- constructive goal setting
- ownership of their actions
- integrity and honesty.
$5,000 sign-on bonus
New prison officers are now eligible for a bonus of up to $5,000. 6 months after commencing, you will receive a payment of $2,500. Then, after one year’s full-time employment, you will receive an additional payment of $2,500. Conditions apply, see below for details.
What we are looking for
We are looking for people who have a desire to empower the women in custody to become positive community members. We work with women in complex situations, so it is essential you can relate to people of different backgrounds. You:
- are resilient, empathetic, and patient
- communicate clearly and de-escalate challenging situations
- have a genuine desire to help people make positive changes.
There are no specific qualifications required to become a prison officer. It is your life experience that counts in this role.
Eligibility
You must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or hold Australian permanent residency to apply. You must also have your Australian driver’s licence (minimum P2). You will be required to undertake certain pre-employment checks. You will also need to pass a health and fitness assessment.
What’s in it for you
Being a prison officer is a secure role with great benefits and career progression opportunities.
- Earn up to $88,546 with a base salary $61,620 (80-hour fortnight) plus standard penalty rates and overtime
- Annual salary increases
- $5,000 sign-on bonus (see criteria below)
- 41 days comprehensive paid training (full time)
- Generous leave entitlements with 5 weeks annual leave and 3 weeks personal leave
- Long-service leave of 3 months on full-pay, or 6 months on half-pay after 10 years of service - access accrued long service leave on a pro-rata basis after seven years
- Well-being facilities and access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- A focus on professional development and learning opportunities
- Complete a Certificate III in Correctional Practice (Adult Custodial), which, when completed, increases base salary up to $65,374.
Download the position description (External link)
About Dame Phyllis Frost Centre
Dame Phyllis Frost Centre is a maximum-security prison for women based in Melbourne’s western suburbs. It accommodates all security levels including reception, remand, sentenced, management and protection.
Address: 101-201 Riding Boundary Rd, Ravenhall VIC 3023
Full conditions and eligibility criteria of the $5,000 sign-on bonus
To be eligible for the $5,000 sign-on bonus, you must:
- have applied to become a trainee prison officer after 13 September 2023
- not be an employee of the Department of Justice and Community Safety when appointed as a trainee prison officer
- have completed your probationary period and had your employment confirmed in accordance with the provisions within the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024
- not be subject to formal under performance processes or proven misconduct
- be employed as an ongoing prison officer* after 6 months of continuous service† (to receive the first bonus)
- be employed as an ongoing prison officer after 12 months of continuous service (to receive the second bonus).
* Part-time employees will be paid a pro-rata value, based on the percentage of full-time hours they’re contracted to work.
† Continuous service means the total time you have spent working as a custodial officer (including time as a trainee prison officer).
Apply now
Information sessions
Join a free online information session to learn about the role, the recruitment process and have your questions answered by current prison officers.