The Navigator Service — a survivor-led pilot programme to support the continued mental health and wellbeing of Dilworth survivors is launched.
Dilworth acknowledges and is committed to fully confronting the sexual and other abuse that occurred at our School, openly and honestly.
As part of our response, the Board of Dilworth Trust established a confidential and fully funded Listening Service in 2019 for former students and their whānau who wanted access to professional psychological therapy or support.
The Board also commissioned an Independent Inquiry in 2022 to establish an understanding of the causes, nature and extent of the abuse experienced by former students at Dilworth School, the School’s response to complaints of abuse at the time, and the adequacy of the policies and procedures in place at the School today
The Independent Inquiry Report was published on 18 September 2023 and can be accessed here.
The Dilworth Trust Board accepted and has acted on all nineteen recommendations of the Independent Inquiry Report, which have been implemented and embedded across Dilworth governance, operations, policy and practices, and organisational culture. A detailed summary is available to show Dilworth's response against each recommendation.
Separately, the Board also established an independent Redress Programme in 2022 for any former Dilworth student subjected to sexual abuse or serious physical abuse committed by a Dilworth representative, or a person who had access to the former student through a Dilworth representative. It is also available to any former student who was sexually abused by another student. The estate of a deceased former student who was abused can also apply for redress. The Redress Programme Panel commenced issuing determinations in March 2024.
The final report of the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI Report) was made public 23 September 2023. You can read the RCI Report here.
The government has established a website about its response to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission.
The Dilworth Trust honours the courage of those former students who were abused who provided testimony to the Commission.
The Board apologises to all former students who were abused, their families and whānau.
You can read the Dilworth Trust Board’s media statement in response to the release of the RCI Report here.
Dilworth Trust encourages former students who have not applied to the Dilworth Redress Programme and who were abused while at the School to register their interest in making an application for redress, if they wish to do so, by visiting the Programme’s website.
Any former Dilworth student in New Zealand or overseas who needs assistance can contact our fully funded, confidential, and independent Listening Service for access to professional counselling and psychological support by emailing [email protected]
Support is available to all former students who were abused at Dilworth through the following pathways:
For all former Dilworth students who want to access fully funded professional psychological therapy or support.
Email: [email protected]
To support former students who experienced sexual abuse or serious physical abuse by a Dilworth Representative through various types of redress including financial awards, access to fully funded therapy and psychological support, an apology, and other forms of personalised redress.
Visit: www.dilworthredress.org.nz
The following options are available for former students, their families/whānau and families of deceased former students who are not eligible for redress under the Terms of the Dilworth Redress Programme.
Email: [email protected]
Former students who were abused are encouraged to follow the work of the Royal Commission of Inquiry Into Abuse in Care in State and Faith based Institutions and consider making a claim under any resulting government scheme.