Experience from Dubbo shows that Carenne review will be a Snowden 'snow job'

Staff and parents of Dubbo College have expressed concern at the management review into Carenne Special School being ran by Peter Snowden. They allege that Snowden led the review team which looked into Dubbo College in 2007, which was nothing more than a snow job and stopped just short of blaming teachers for the department's mess.

A teacher said "It's a joke, you have this review in 2007 that says that there isn't that much wrong and it's a problem with staff needing to adapt, yet the headlines in the paper show different."

A parent said "I was told what the outcome of Snowden's snow job at Dubbo College was in 2007 and nothing which should have been looked at was, he is snow job Snowden."

A senior staff member at the department's regional office said "I can assure you that the review report has already been written, Snowden is one of those people the department sends in to look like they are doing something and to make it all go away. They will say that the problem is that a former employee has significant support in the school and that he and his supporters are destabilising it."

Victimisation against staff who speak out emerges in other Western Region Schools

Allegations that staff who speak out against the Department of Education and Training in the Western Region of NSW are victimised having done so have emerged following incidents at Kelso Public School, West Bathurst Public School and Dubbo College. They claim that those close to regional director Carole McDiarmid are responsible for the victimisation.

Staff at West Bathurst Public School were told they face possible disciplinary action if they speak out about a number of serious issues at that school.

At Dubbo College, the NSW Teacher's Federation claimed that there was a better chance of being listened to rather than being dismissed as a group of people who were complaining for the sake of complaining when the minister became involved than when they were dealing with senior DET officials. As with the Carenne Special School, those who speak out against the department at Dubbo College must remain anonymous to avoid retribution from senior DET officials.

It appears there are very serious problems with the Western Region DET.