Melissa Westin, Deputy Commissioner of Custodial Operations and Ashlee Briffa, Director of Cultural Reform and Workforce Strategy will present on an ambitious program of cultural reform at Corrections Victoria. At the heart of the reform effort has been working with staff in prisons to modernise the way Corrections Victoria approaches safety, relying on the latest research and data-driven approaches, and emphasising the power of the working alliance between staff and people who live in prison. It has also involved setting a clear primary organisational mission to create a skilled and supported workforce and moving away from outdated notions of correctional practice that often see security and rehabilitation as competing objectives, instead of complementary aims.
The presenters will talk though key initiatives that have been implemented to meet these strategic aims, including a deep dive evidence-led project that delivered an approximately 50% reduction in occupational violence at one of Victoria’s maximum-security prisons. The presenters will also talk through some of the challenges Corrections Victoria has faced in implementing this ambitious program of work, including staff resistance to new approaches like using person centred language to refer to people in prison.
Moderated by Diane Williams, Treasurer, ICPA, United States
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Melissa Westin
Deputy Commissioner, Custodial Operations, Corrections Victoria, Australia
Melissa is the Deputy Commissioner for Custodial Operations in Corrections Victoria. Corrections Victoria is the public body responsible for operating adult prisons in Victoria, Australia.
Mel is responsible for leading operations across all adult prisons. She has more than 25 years’ experience working in the justice sector and has worked across many aspects of the Victorian prison system. Melissa has held the position of General Manager of several prison locations and previously lead the Security & Intelligence Division.
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Ashlee Briffa
Director, Cultural Reform and Workforce Strategy, Corrections Victoria, Australia
Ashlee is the Director of Cultural Reform and Workforce Strategy at Corrections Victoria. Corrections Victoria is the public body responsible for operating adult prisons in Victoria, Australia.
The Director, Cultural Reform and Workforce Strategy is Ashlee's first role in corrections, having previously had over 14 years’ experience in public policy and law. In previous roles, Ashlee has led the implementation of large-scale reforms in the justice sector, including reforms relevant to policing, courts and human right protections.
