As a former boxing trainer, Pharrell Shaymar is quick on his feet and did not expect to be worried about his physical safety as a youth justice worker.
He recently completed two months of paid training as a new recruit for the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety and was excited to begin a new career as a youth justice worker.
But Mr Shaymar lasted just three days on the job at the Parkville Youth Justice Centre.
"I had no issues with young people, it was the staff," he said.
Mr Shaymar said he was threatened by a young boy with a pencil on one of his shifts "shadowing" more experienced staff.
"No-one said anything," he said.
"He [the young person] said 'have you been here before?', I said no, and he said, 'good, it's the first time you're going to get stabbed'."
Mr Shaymar said he witnessed unprofessional behaviour from other staff including provoking young people about other inmates.
He considered buying a stab-proof vest on the internet but ultimately decided to resign.
"Some staff are great, they've got boundaries, they've got respect, but the vast majority didn't," he said.
"I thought it's better that I go."
Spate of violence sees youths shifted to adult prison
Victorian Children and Young People's Commissioner Liana Buchanan believes the department's training and recruitment of youth justice workers is not working.
"I don't think we have the right mix in the youth justice centres of staff of different disciplines, of different skill sets to bring the right sophistication to work with those young people, and ultimately I think that's why we are still seeing some deeply concerning incidents in our centres," she told the ABC.
There have been more than 1,000 assaults on staff and young people at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre since 2016.
Two weeks ago, there were three assaults at Malmsbury — two on staff members and one on a young person who was taken to hospital.
In April, four young people seriously assaulted two senior managers at Malmsbury, one of whom may never work again.
The ABC understands two of the four young people, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, have been transferred from youth justice to the maximum-security adult jail, Port Phillip Prison.
It is the first time a 16-year-old has been housed in an adult prison since 2012.
Victoria Police said the investigation continues and no charges have been laid.
Ms Buchanan said she had written to the Minister for Youth Justice, Natalie Hutchins, to express concern about the transfer of the teenagers to adult jail.
A spokeswoman for the minister said she couldn't comment on decisions made by the Youth Parole Board.
Concern isolation results in more aggression
The ABC understands the young people who allegedly attacked the two managers have claimed frustration around being locked down in their cells in "isolation" as an explanation for their behaviour.
The Victorian Parliament's Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) has heard that in January to March this year, young people in youth justice were locked into solitary confinement for "security reasons" 5,412 times.
"Staff make the decision on the ground whether they believe that, depending on the staff numbers, whether it's safe to unlock or not," Youth Justice Commissioner Jodi Henderson told the committee.
The department said the 2022 figure of 5,412 isolation incidents was a significant improvement.
The year before, from January to March 2021, young people were placed into isolation for security reasons 10,330 times.
"Isolation is always a last resort, and it is authorised in accordance with relevant legislative and policy requirements," a Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson said.
"Where isolation is authorised, Youth Justice continues to support young people during their isolation to ensure they remain safe."
Ms Buchanan said there was a correlation between low staff numbers, locking young people into isolation, and increased aggression.
"There are not enough staff to come on-site and open up the units and operate the centres in the way everyone wants them to be operated," she said.
Department officials told PAEC that youth justice staffing levels had "never been more consistent" but, like many workforces, had also been affected by COVID-19.
Independent visitors dedicate time to listen to young people
While the issues facing youth justice are serious, efforts such as connecting young people with people independent of the facilities can play a part in improving the situation.
Ms Buchanan has called for more volunteers to sign up for the Independent Visitor Program.
Under the program, people like 26-year-old marathon runner and nurse Clovis Karabagega go inside youth justice centres and meet with young people once a month.
"The whole philosophy for me is to give back to the community," Mr Karabagega said.
It is an opportunity for young people to raise any concerns and the volunteers can directly speak to the centre's senior management.
Mr Karabagega said he tries to inspire the young people he meets.
"I share my running story, my talent and my hope. I share how I feel and think. I share how lucky we are to be in Australia," he said.
Belinda Miller-McBeth has been an independent visitor to youth justice centres for nearly a decade.
"It definitely can be confronting ….it's a volatile environment, but I've never felt unsafe in the nine years I've been out there," she said.
"Young people are generally welcoming and polite, and I feel very privileged to be there."
The former social worker and mother-of-three said it was important young people behind bars had independent scrutiny.
