The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring Victorian prison staff and specialist officers have access to the very best facilities as part of a new state training complex at Ararat.
Minister for Corrections Ben Carroll today officially opened the $4 million purpose-built complex, which will be used to train prison staff and officers from the Security and Emergency Services Group (SESG).
The SESG is a tactical operation unit that provides specialised security, emergency responses and other services to Corrections Victoria facilities including private prisons and Community Correctional Services, as well as youth justice facilities.
The new complex is located next to the Hopkins Correctional Centre and includes a tactical training area, dog kennels and dog training area, classrooms, overnight accommodation for SESG officers and correctional staff when required between shifts, office space and amenities.
The complex took eight months to build and followed the demolition of a previous training facility to enable the construction of the nearby Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre.
The training complex is the second one of its kind in Victoria, with another complex located at Lara.
SESG units are based at four prison locations around Victoria including Barwon Prison, the Metropolitan Remand Centre, Loddon Prison and the Hopkins Correctional Centre.
They can be deployed to any Corrections facility across the state to conduct searches, patrols or respond to emergencies, and include Passive Alert Detection and multi-purpose canine teams.
The first of two multi-purpose canine teams will begin training at the complex from April, and up to 300 prison staff are expected to use the facility throughout the year.
As noted by Minister for Corrections Ben Carroll
“This new complex means our hard working and dedicated staff and specialist officers working in our prisons have access to the very best training and facilities.”
“Around 300 prison staff are expected to train at this new facility over the next 12 months – and we’re giving them the tools they need to keep our prisons safe.”
