Dilworth School media statement in relation to charges against persons formerly connected to the School

14 September 2020

Statement from Dilworth Trust Board Chairman Aaron Snodgrass

"We encourage any Dilworth Old Boy to contact a confidential Listening Service if they would like to discuss their experiences with an independent clinical psychologist.  Please contact: [email protected] We fully support any Old Boys wanting to contact the Police and the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care about any experiences from their time at Dilworth."

"We understand that criminal charges have been laid against persons formerly connected to Dilworth School relating to allegations of historical sexual abuse.  As the matters are currently before the courts, we are unable to comment on specific details relating to these charges or the criminal proceedings.  

The Dilworth Trust Board is saddened some of our Old Boys have suffered abuse while in our care and we apologise to any Old Boys who have been affected by abuse of any kind at our school.  The Board considers all forms of abuse, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse unacceptable. 

Dilworth has sought not to have the school's name suppressed in connection with the proceedings as we want to discuss our response openly within our school community and Old Boys. 

The current Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care and learnings from similar inquiries overseas were pivotal in the School's decision to proactively address historic abuse with our Old Boys and our wider community. 

In 2018, the Dilworth School Trust Board commissioned an independent review by leading psychologists and experts from New Zealand of the school's student care and wellbeing, education systems, policies and programmes and make recommendations to enhance the safety for our current students, including: 

  • Commissioning an independent clinical psychologist to advise the Board and prepare a set of protocols, which have been peer-reviewed by independent experts both here and in Australia. The protocols set out best-practice abuse prevention and outline processes to follow should a former or current student come forward with a complaint about physical, emotional or sexual abuse;   
  • Appointing a special management committee to oversee and implement the programmes and institutional culture required to give effect to the protocols; 
  • Forming a panel of independent, expert clinical psychologists (the Panel), to provide responses and support as required by any current or past students;   
  • Making safety improvements to our buildings to ensure that all movements around the Dilworth campuses are monitored, as well as updated our existing policies and processes; 
  • Providing specific educational training for staff and students on the protocols reinforcing that abuse in any form, be it physical, emotional or sexual, is not tolerated or permitted at Dilworth; and 
  •  Becoming the first school in New Zealand to apply for Child Wise accreditation, a new initiative based on the 10 principles that came from the Australian Commission of Inquiry regarding Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse. 

We have reached out to all our Old Boys and have made support services available to them through the School, including access to a confidential, free Listening Service and counselling for those wanting to discuss their experiences with an independent clinical psychologist.

We encourage any Dilworth Old Boy to contact this confidential Listening Service if they would like to discuss their experiences with an independent clinical psychologist. We fully support any Old Boys wanting to contact the Police and the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care about any experiences from their time at Dilworth.

These are historical allegations and none of the individuals charged continue to have any connection to Dilworth School. The Board has full confidence in all of Dilworth School's current employees. 

Our attention will be centred on the wellbeing of our current students, supporting our Old Boys and our wider Dilworth community."

ENDS