The Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre will close by the end of the year and its future use is unknown.
Inmates at the centre will be progressively transferred to the new Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precinct and the existing Parkville facility over the next six months.
Minister for Youth Justice, Enver Erdogan, said the staff would be provided with a range of supports including opportunities to transition into other roles, targeted separation packages and incentive payments paid over the next six months.
“Our support package will help give certainty to their future and provide new opportunities to work with people in our justice system,” he said.
Staff first learned of the news through an email sent last week, which was later retracted before an ‘official’ announcement was made.
Nationals MP Gaelle Broad said she felt for the 240 workers who found out the centre was closing after the botched email process.
“This clearly shows a lack of planning and proper consultation by this government,” Ms Broad said.
“I am very concerned for the staff who now face uncertainty.”
The Community Public Sector Union has warned that many of the staff would not be eligible for financial assistance due to a provision requiring staff to work 90 per cent of the next six months.
The CPSU is planning to take the Department of Justice to Fair Work over the financial assistance eligibility.
The move to close the facility has also been criticised after the government spent tens of millions of dollars extending the facility in recent years.
A government spokesperson said future uses for the Malmsbury site would be investigated.
“We’ll look into alternative uses and talk to stakeholders to hear what they think over the coming months,” the spokesperson said.
The ageing Malmsbury precinct has been operational since 1965.
The troubled facility has been the scene of several violent outbursts by inmates in recent years, including multiple attacks on staff and a mass escape in January 2017.
After their escape, 25 offenders were charged with rioting, escape, armed robberies, aggravated carjackings, serious assaults, theft of motor cars, conduct endangering life and other offences.
