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Whistleblower reveals the Victoria prison program teaching inmates how to rap and make coffee - while officers don't even have access to a clean shower
Staff also angry at a workplace culture of bullying, favouritism and poor security
Anti-corruption body IBAC is investigating the allegations

By Marie-antoinette Issa For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 20:21 EST, 4 November 2018 | Updated: 20:30 EST, 4 November 2018

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Victorian prisoners are being given barista training and taught how to rap, as part of a taxpayer-funded ‘prison perks’ program.

Meanwhile, frustrated staff are left to fend for themselves in a workplace marked by favouritism, bullying and inadequate security standards.

Speaking to The Herald Sun, an anonymous whistleblower said correctional officers at Melbourne Assessment Prison (MAP) and the County Court of Victoria were angry that the standard of care given to prisoners far exceeded that offered to staff.

Prisoner officers are angry that criminals are being treated to rap lessons and coffee making classes, while they deal with work place bullying, favouritism and poor security

'They are happy to pay for DJs to come in and teach the prisoners how to rap about raping women, but they aren't prepared to pay the money to make sure two prison officers can escort a prisoner,' the whistleblower said.

The whistleblower raised additional examples of the poor conditions endured by staff, including one officer who was racially abused by an inmate, who later also threw semen on a prison guard, and others who were provided plastic bags to cover their shoes and forced to walk through human excrement following a sewerage leak at the country court.

And unlike the prisoners, it appears that officers at the County Court do not even have access to washing facilities.

'It is an absolute disgrace. They treat the prisoners better than they treat the staff.' said the source.

Unlike prisoners, officers at the County Court of Victoria don't even have access to showers

Favouritism and bullying among employees were also a concern, with allegations that some senior staff were involved in sexual relationships with juniors, and allowing their judgement to be clouded as a result.

Guards who complained about any perceived injustice, including unfair job promotions, were labelled 'cowards'.

Perhaps most worrying, however, were revelations by the whistleblower of a number of unaddressed safety breaches at the MAP and County Court.

Some of the issues included use of out out-of-date entry cards to access high security jails by some prison officers, and unarmed prison officers escorting prisoners alone.

A Corrections Victoria spokesman defended the barista and rap training programs as practical solutions designed to help prisoners return to the community and find jobs.

He also said Corrections Victoria had no evidence to support claims of bullying, favouritism or security concerns.

'We always expect all staff to uphold the highest levels of professionalism and ethics, and provides comprehensive training and education to ensure they are aware of expectations,' the spokesman said.

Nonetheless, it is understood that the anti-corruption watchdog Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) has been notified of the issues. However, a spokeswoman said 'For legal reasons, IBAC is unable to comment on this matter.'