Career change creates positive impact

This is branded content for Corrections Victoria.

It's always been Eloise's dream to turn her passion for true crime and psychology into a career. Three years ago she made that dream a reality when she left her retail job to become a prison officer.

The now-26-year-old studied a Bachelor of Criminal Justice and a Graduate Diploma in Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University.

"As a prison officer, I explore my interest in true crime every day. The most fulfilling part is encouraging positive behaviour change and supporting people in custody to make better choices when they are released into the community, which has a positive impact on their lives," Eloise said.

While prison officers are highly skilled and receive job-specific training, real-life experience is invaluable and there are a range of transferable skills from other industries.

For Eloise it's the communication skills she mastered in her years working in retail that help her build relationships with the people in custody in her unit at Hopkins Correctional Centre.

As someone with close friends who experience high levels of anxiety, Eloise shares coping mechanisms and tools to support people in custody with their own mental health challenges.

"COVID-19 was difficult for everyone, including people in custody. I supported one man through a panic attack by encouraging him to breathe in and out, which is a technique I also use to help friends with anxiety. To help him re-focus, we spoke about his children and the distraction calmed him down," Eloise said.

Corrections Victoria recognises the vital role prison officers like Eloise play in society by sharing their stories with Victorians and challenging common misconceptions about the job.

"When I first joined Corrections Victoria, my friends were supportive, but my mum was a bit nervous. Now that she knows more about the work I do and that I have never felt unsafe, she's a lot more comfortable," Eloise said.

These stories and more will also be shared on the limited podcast series with I Catch Killers which tells real life stories from behind the wall.

Eloise's workplace, Hopkins Correctional Centre, is a huge advocate for attracting new prison officer recruits and regularly holds career expos to showcase opportunities with Corrections Victoria.

The expos allow Ararat locals a first-hand look of life inside an operational prison and the chance to speak with Hopkins prison officers and other prison staff.

If you want to know more or apply for a position as a prison officer go to Prison Careers.