From content creator to prison officer: what it’s like behind the wall

From generating social media clicks, to a place where mobile phones aren’t allowed, Blue Taylor made a surprising career change and has never looked back.

For the past eight years, the former content creator and journalist has worked as a prison officer at Marngoneet Correctional Centre, a medium-security men’s prison in the Barwon South West region.

“People think working in a prison is like the films and TV – locking doors and canteen fights all the time – but that’s not the reality,” she said.

“Our job is to be a positive role model. We help people, rehabilitate them and ultimately make sure the local community is safe.”

After a short career in the media industry, Ms Taylor wanted to try something new.

“It can be difficult to imagine yourself in the role because most people will never step foot inside a prison.

“But after working as a content creator in Germany for three years, I wanted a change and a more stable career.

“I moved back to Australia and was keen to find a role where I could give back to the local community.

“After searching online, I spotted the job advert for a prison officer and focused on the transferable skills in the job description.”

She said prison officers needed to be resilient and have grit, be able to communicate and show compassion and care for others.

“I completed the training and have been at Marngoneet Correctional Centre for the past eight years.

“There’s no such thing as a typical day but the focus of my role is on rehabilitation and giving prisoners the skills to prepare for eventually being released.

 

“One of the strangest rewards is never actually seeing a prisoner again, because you know you’ve helped them to get their life back on track.”

It’s more people like Ms Taylor that Marngoneet Correctional Centre and its neighbour Barwon Prison are looking for.

As the Victorian government recruits for prison officers across the state, Ms Taylor has urged people to think about the skills they could bring to the role.

“Just like there’s no such thing as a typical day, there’s not a typical prison officer either,” she said

“Whether you’re a hairdresser, tradie or work in retail, it’s likely you’ll have relevant practical and interpersonal skills.”

She acknowledged that working in a prison could be challenging, but she could not imagine doing anything else

“This isn’t just a job, it’s a career,” she said.

“In the past few years, I’ve progressed to Senior Prison Officer, we have a good work-life balance and a collaborative and supportive team environment.

“But above all, there’s no better feeling than going home at the end of the day knowing you made a difference.”

Looking for something different? New prison officers are now eligible for a bonus of up to $5,000. Find out how you can be part of a team reshaping lives at: justice.vic.gov.au/prison-careers

 

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