A corrupt culture at Parkville Youth Justice Centre Guards at a Melbourne youth prison are bribing teenage inmates with drugs, pornography and extra phone time to protect themselves from violent assaults by its worst offenders. Two of our clients, former staff at the Parkville Youth Justice Centre, came forward to share their story with The Herald Sun. They have launched legal action against the Victorian government for exposing them to a litany of assaults by inmates and forcing them to delete incident reports about violent attacks. They claim a top-down culture of “bullying”, combined with chronic understaffing and a lack of support, has left some guards so fearful for their own safety that they rely on the most hardened young men in custody to help keep fellow inmates in check. One of our clients, who recently received a half-million-dollar settlement, said traumatised staff were affected for the rest of their lives by being made to play down major mental health concerns and being physically assaulted. He was asked “on several occasions” to mislead WorkSafe representatives and alter official documentation. Zoe Sinadinos, Mary’s lawyer from Arnold Thomas and Becker, said her client would suffer lasting trauma as a result of her time at Parkville. “There is an undeniable culture of fear at the Parkville Youth Justice Centre,’ Ms Sinadinos said. “Going to work should never feel like a daily battle, where employees are left in constant uncertainty about what they might face.” Read the full story at The Herald Sun. Contact us If you have been injured at work, we’re here to help with your compensation entitlements, and if you don’t win, there’s no fee. To speak to a lawyer for a confidential, no-obligation discussion, call us on 03 9034 8433 or email [email protected]