Metropolitan Remand Centre

Video: Views of Metropolitan Remand Centre including sports grounds, buildings, common area of remand centre accommodation.

Darren, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“The Metropolitan Remand Centre is a maximum-security men’s prison based in the western suburbs of Melbourne.”

“Most prisons here have been placed on remand, which means they’ve been accused of a crime and have not been granted bail, and they’re now waiting for their case to be heard in court.”

“These men typically stay with use until either being found innocent and returning to the community, or being found guilty, at which point they’ll be transferred to another prison for a longer stay.”

Alec, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“For remandees who are ultimately sentenced to a longer stay in prison, their time here is still really important. We’ve got the chance to start moulding their prison experience so it can be as constructive as possible, to help them make positive changes in their lives.”

Video: Prison officer sitting at outdoor table talking with remandee.

Loretta, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“Yeah, it’s a fast-paced workplace; there’s always something going on here. We currently take around 150 new prisoners a week, with that many prisoners leaving as well. That means as an officer, you meet a lot of different people and have to adapt well to managing their behaviours.”

Video: Prison officers walking around the grounds, having a conversation.

Donna, Senior Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“We deal with prisoners from varying personal backgrounds and ages, so being someone who can find common ground with others quickly and keep them calm is important. Many of these men are entering prison for the first time, and this can be a really distressing experience for them.”

Video:  emandees walking around the grounds.

Daniel, Senior Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“We have a heap of support facilities for prisoners. We have a legal library and video conferencing rooms to help them prepare for and appear in court. We have a multi-faith prayer room and a Koori garden for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners.”

Video: Remandees reading resources and books at the legal library and talking with a prison officer in the Koori garden.

Marnie, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“We also run an industries work program to keep the prisoners’ head and hands busy. We’ve got timber, metalwork, horticulture, gardening and more. They’re turning out real products, earning some money and seeing the benefits of their work first-hand. So, it’s a really positive way of spending their time.”

Video: Remandees participating in metalwork, vegetable garden.

Alec, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“What we say and how we say it can be so powerful in keeping the environment calm, so our dynamic security is critical. That involves walking around the grounds and units, having conversations with these men, making sure it remains a peaceful atmosphere.”

Video:  Remandees and talking with a prison officer in the Koori garden, prison officers walking around grounds talking to remandees.

Darren, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“Although this is a job that has the potential for action, it is quite safe. As prison officers, we’re constantly exchanging information and helping each other out.”

Marnie, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“So, we want to reduce reoffending, so one-on-one case management is a pivotal part of our work.”

Video: Prison officer seated at a table talking with a prisoner as part of case management.

Loretta, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“Prison officers are mentors to the prisoners, and good mentors have to lead by example. If you show respect, you’ll often find you get it back. And because so many of these men have not yet been tried, it’s all the more important we reserve our judgments and listen to them.”

Daniel, Senior Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“If you don’t have the ability to empathise with others, no matter their background, then this job is not for you. Establishing boundaries is important, but we still need to forge respectful, compassionate connections with prisoners.”

“We want their cooperation, and we want them to have confidence they can start having more positive relationships with others.”

Video: Remandees in legal library using computer and encyclopedias.

Darren, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“It’s a bit of a cliché about this job that no two days are the same, but it’s said a lot because it’s true. One minute you could be writing administrative reports and the next you could be defusing a conflict between prisoners or going out on escorted visits. The variety of work really helps time fly.”

Donna, Senior Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“You can come from any personal and professional background and make a great prison officer. We have a good split of men and women, and we have dozens of different cultural backgrounds too.”

“We’re looking for life experience, so the greater diversity of people you’ve come across in your life, the better.”

Video: Prison officers talking in an office.

Alec, Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“MRC (Metropolitan Remand Centre) is in a top location. The CBD (Central Business District) isn’t far away, we’re just off the freeway and we’ve got a large car park. There are a lot of nice family community areas around here and they’ve got good schools and parklands.”

Video: Aerial shot of Melbourne adjacent to centre.

Daniel, Senior Prison Officer, Metropolitan Remand Centre:

“You do get a real sense of purpose out of being a prison officer at MRC. We’re doing two important things for the community; we’re keeping potentially dangerous people safe in a secure facility, and we’re helping many offenders take the first steps to becoming more positive contributors.  We do this job with integrity and compassion and we’re proud of that.”

Video: Prison officers doing a variety of tasks in the office and walking around the grounds.

“If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, then we’d love for you to join us.”

On-screen text: Authorised by the Department of Justice and Community Safety, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne.