An expansion of the Malmsbury Youth Justice Precinct is delivering on the Victorian Government’s plan to build a modern, secure youth justice system that supports the rehabilitation of young people and keeps staff and the community safe.
The 32-bed expansion has been operational since mid-2020 and houses young people nearing the end of their sentence and transitioning out of custody.
In addition to the new beds, the expansion has provided extra education and program facilities; a secure double perimeter fence with a sterile zone; an expansion of the gatehouse; and landscaping around the perimeter, including more native trees.
The expansion of the Malmsbury Precinct has delivered benefits for the local community, including construction jobs, economic opportunities for local business to supply goods and services, and jobs in ongoing operations.
The expansion is an important part of the Government’s plan for a newly configured youth justice system, which will be complete when the new Cherry Creek Youth Justice Facility is opened in 2022.
The Victorian Budget 2017/18 invested $79.6 million to provide an additional 68 beds across the two Youth Justice custodial precincts, including 32 new beds at Malmsbury, and the Victorian Budget 2018/19 provided $73 million over four years to staff the expansions and operate the new beds.
The Government has committed to implementing all recommendations of the 2017 Armytage-Ogloff Youth Justice Review, which highlighted the importance of investing in the transition from custody to community and recommended increasing support for young people leaving custody.
The Government is investing more than $1 billion in Victoria’s youth justice system to support community safety, while providing the programs, education and supports needed to help young people turn their lives around.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Youth Justice Natalie Hutchins
“This expansion not only supports young people to rehabilitate and transition successfully into the community – it’s delivering improved facilities for staff, boosting community safety and supporting more jobs in the region.”
“We’re continuing to make significant investments in the Youth Justice system to meet demand, keep our workforce safe, and to rehabilitate our young people and reduce reoffending.”
Quote attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
“This expansion has helped create local jobs in our area through the design and construction of these improved facilities. I’m looking forward to seeing this investment help rehabilitate young people to return to the community.”
Quote attributable to Commissioner for Youth Justice Jodi Henderson
“The key objectives of this expansion were to meet the expected increase in demand for youth custodial services, address the requirement for enhance safety and security at the precinct and to deliver increased rehabilitative services for our young people.”
Reviewed 18 November 2020