8 April 2024
Statement from Dilworth Trust Chairman Aaron Snodgrass
Response to The Lost Boys of Dilworth
The screening by TVNZ of The Lost Boys of Dilworth docudrama provides another window into the historical abuse at Dilworth and its impact on former students.
We apologise to all those who suffered abuse while students at our School, and to their families and whānau, and remain steadfast in our resolve to support healing among them.
We acknowledge the right of former students who were abused to provide their accounts of what happened to them at a time and in a way of their choosing, and have their voices heard and respected.
We also reaffirm our commitment to protecting the privacy of all former students who were abused, and minimising any further stress for them – and for these reasons will not comment on The Lost Boys of Dilworth now that it has screened.
Over the past four years, we have reset Dilworth’s culture, putting students’ education, safety, care and development at the centre of everything we do. Safeguarding commitments are now part of our DNA and in 2022 Dilworth became the first New Zealand school to gain Child Wise accreditation. Further information is available at Dilworth School’s website here.
Any former Dilworth students in New Zealand and overseas who need assistance can contact our fully funded, confidential, and independent Listening Service for access to professional counselling and psychological support by emailing [email protected].