Independent Inquiry into abuse at Dilworth School

In 2021, the Board announced it would commission an Independent Inquiry, which would seek to provide an understanding of the nature and extent of abuse at Dilworth School, the School’s response to complaints of abuse at the time, including the adequacy of actions taken, and the factors that caused or contributed to the abuse occurring.

The Independent Inquiry, led by The Hon. Dame Silvia Cartwright with Frances Joychild KC as Co-Inquirer, commenced its work on 1 July 2022.

The Independent Inquiry into abuse at Dilworth School is now complete and was released by the Inquirers on 18 September 2023.

You can read the Report here.

The Report sheds light on events and behaviour that should never have happened. The Board apologises to all those who suffered abuse while students at Dilworth School, as well as to their families and whānau.

Responding to the Inquiry Report

The Dilworth Trust Board fully accepts and is acting on all nineteen of the Inquiry Report’s recommendations.

The Board is committed to implementing its response to the recommendations as quickly and effectively as possible. It has established detailed action plans for each of the nine themes outlined by the Inquirers within the Report, which can be accessed via this Implementation Dashboard.

The Implementation Dashboard will track progress made by the Board, the School and Dilworth Response. It will be kept regularly updated to provide the Dilworth Community with transparency of the actions being taken.

The video below shares more information about the Board’s response to the Independent Inquiry Report.

A message from the Dilworth Trust Board Chairman and Dilworth Headmaster

About the Independent Inquiry Chair and Co-Inquirer

The Hon. Dame Silvia Cartwright ONZ PCNZM DBE QSO DStJ led the Dilworth Inquiry as Inquiry Chair. Dame Silvia was joined by Frances Joychild KC as Co-Inquirer.

The Terms of Reference for the Independent Inquiry were finalised by Dame Silvia and Ms Joychild, following completion of an extensive feedback process by the Board on the proposed terms involving former students who have been abused, others affected by abuse and the wider Dilworth community. Legal representatives of survivors have also contributed to the Terms of Reference.

Timeline

Date

Activity

15 March 2022 – 13 April 2022

Feedback received from former students who have been abused, others affected by abuse and the wider Dilworth community on the proposed Independent Inquiry

1 July 2022

Registrations open for former students who have been abused, others affected by abuse and the wider Dilworth community to register to participate in the Inquiry

18 September 2023

Delivery of the Independent Inquiry into abuse at Dilworth School Report

18 September 2023

Independent Inquiry Report into abuse at Dilworth School published.

31 October 2023 onwards

The Dilworth Trust Board accepts and is acting on all 19 recommendations. You can read more here.