The lockdown at a central Victorian youth correctional facility will be gradually lifted today following an agreement on new rules aimed at reducing offender violence towards staff.
The Malmsbury Youth Justice Facility was placed into lockdown last week after two alleged violent attacks on staff in as many days.
Workers walked off the job after three men allegedly attacked a staff member with a plastic cricket bat last Thursday.
Two men aged 18 and a 19-year-old were charged over the attack and faced counts of intentionally and recklessly causing injury, assaulting an emergency worker and affray.
The three men appeared in Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Friday and were being sent to an adult prison.
It was the second alleged attack on staff at the facility during the week, after a security officer was allegedly attacked with a makeshift weapon on Wednesday.
A cease-work was in place over the weekend and the centre remained in partial lockdown on Monday.
After talks with the Department of Justice on Monday, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which represents the prison workers, said an agreement had been reached to gradually unlock the facility unit by unit, throughout the day.
There will be new rules regarding expectations around behaviour and there will be zero tolerance of any violence, union spokesman Julian Kennelley said.
Staff will also be given new powers to "resecure" offenders in the event of trouble.
"Previously decisions were made by managers not operating in the unit. So when there was trouble, the staff would have to seek permission before exercising any authority," Mr Kennelly said.
"If there were poor behaviours being shown, young offenders bullying [or] assaulting other young offenders, they normally had to get clearance before acting.
"Now they've removed that level of decision-making, empowering them [staff] to make those calls."
Mr Kennelly said staff were returning to work given the new assurances and a new intake of staff was on its way.
"We've also reached agreement to continue to discuss ways to maximise staff in units," he said.
WorkSafe Victoria also issued notices under health and safety laws against the department.
The Department of Justice and Community Safety has been contacted for comment.
