At the beginning of this year, Dick Spears lost his Oberon bus run to Carenne Support. With the 2012 school year coming to an end, Spears is attempting to shore up support with the Assisted School Travel Unit so he can be awarded the run for next year.
A whistleblower in the ASTU told Carenne Gate that Spears had been getting parents to complain about Carenne Support driver Lawrence and Travel Support Officer Gerri after he lost some $310 per day this year.
The ASTU whistleblower told Carenne Gate that Spears lost the run after serious allegations of a sexual nature were made against him. Despite evidence that the student in question had been sexually interfered with inquiries by JIRT were unable to establish whether the offender was Mr Spears or another person.As a result there is a cloud of suspicion over Mr Spears.
While Carenne Gate believes Spears should not be in a position where he is around children, he should not be given a run out of the urban area where there is less oversight of his behaviour.
Showing posts with label dick spears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dick spears. Show all posts
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Carenne Support, Peter Williams breach SNTS rules
The Department of Education and Communities needs to explain to other SNTS operators how Carenne Support and Peter Williams are able to get away with not having suitable relief vehicles as required by the SNTS guidelines.
According to Carenne staff, both Carenne Support and Peter Williams run the most unreliable vehicles to the school. Carenne Support has routinely had to hire vehicles when its Oberon and Lithgow buses broke down. Both Ford buses used by Carenne Support have had a plethora of issues this year from failing transmissions to blown turbos to major electrical faults.
Peter Williams' Toyota has also had its share of problems, with Williams falling back on his old vehicle. According to nedkelly, Williams has sold his old bus and now has no relief vehicle.
The allowed beach of the rules is a slap in the face to contractors like Dick Spears, Cheryl Chaplin and Capebase who always have sufficient relief vehicles. When the department review its contracts for next year it should look at those who have not complied and offer them nothing.
According to Carenne staff, both Carenne Support and Peter Williams run the most unreliable vehicles to the school. Carenne Support has routinely had to hire vehicles when its Oberon and Lithgow buses broke down. Both Ford buses used by Carenne Support have had a plethora of issues this year from failing transmissions to blown turbos to major electrical faults.
Peter Williams' Toyota has also had its share of problems, with Williams falling back on his old vehicle. According to nedkelly, Williams has sold his old bus and now has no relief vehicle.
The allowed beach of the rules is a slap in the face to contractors like Dick Spears, Cheryl Chaplin and Capebase who always have sufficient relief vehicles. When the department review its contracts for next year it should look at those who have not complied and offer them nothing.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Dick Spears breaches ASTP guidelines further
Carenne Gate has been alerted to breaches of the Assisted School Travel Program guidelines by parents and staff at the maligned Carenne Special School. Mr Spears has a past history of breaching departmental guidelines - having transported Geoff Salmon's son to an unapproved address making his run much shorter than claimed for a number of years.
In mid-April, an audit carried out by the Assisted School Travel unit discovered that Mr Spears had been overdeclaring the distance of his run by 10 kilometres per day, resulting in significant overpayments. Spears is now being forced to repay the department for his fraudulent claims.
Carenne Gate can reveal a possible student safety breach by Mr Spears involving the escort on his vehicle. Under ASTP guidelines, the escort is required to travel in the rear of the vehicle with the students being supported. Parents and staff claim that Spears' escort travels in the front of the vehicle.
When questioned by one parent, Spears said that he couldn't have his escort in the back of the vehicle because there wasn't enough room. Spears told the parent that an escort wasn't really needed on the bus and that he only wanted it so he could claim the 15% escort bonus on top of his normal pay.
The parent reported their concern to Neil Moon who told them that he was aware of the issue and that it was being addressed.
If Mr Spears is using a vehicle that isn't up to the task then the department should require that he supply one that is or assign his run to another contractor.
In mid-April, an audit carried out by the Assisted School Travel unit discovered that Mr Spears had been overdeclaring the distance of his run by 10 kilometres per day, resulting in significant overpayments. Spears is now being forced to repay the department for his fraudulent claims.
Carenne Gate can reveal a possible student safety breach by Mr Spears involving the escort on his vehicle. Under ASTP guidelines, the escort is required to travel in the rear of the vehicle with the students being supported. Parents and staff claim that Spears' escort travels in the front of the vehicle.
When questioned by one parent, Spears said that he couldn't have his escort in the back of the vehicle because there wasn't enough room. Spears told the parent that an escort wasn't really needed on the bus and that he only wanted it so he could claim the 15% escort bonus on top of his normal pay.
The parent reported their concern to Neil Moon who told them that he was aware of the issue and that it was being addressed.
If Mr Spears is using a vehicle that isn't up to the task then the department should require that he supply one that is or assign his run to another contractor.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Neil Moon hiding issues from senior officials
Neil Moon has come under notice for failing to follow department policy when dealing with serious issues by failing to report them to senior departmental officers. Knowing that his ability to manage Carenne would be called into question if more issues surface, Moon has instead covered them up.
Neil Moon was made aware of serious issues involving Dick Spears racially discriminating against an indigenous student which became so serious that the student refused to travel on Mr Spears' bus, having to be transported home by Ros Luther against department guidelines. Instead of reporting the issue to Peter Harvey and the Assisted School Travel Unit, Mr Moon decided to deal with the matter "in house", despite it clearly being a matter which was more appropriate to be dealt with by senior officials and which contained allegations of reportable conduct.
It is not the only recent issue that Neil Moon has covered up in order to save his own reputation, which is rapidly declining among senior departmental officials due to his inability to resolve serious issues at the school.
Neil Moon was made aware of serious issues involving Dick Spears racially discriminating against an indigenous student which became so serious that the student refused to travel on Mr Spears' bus, having to be transported home by Ros Luther against department guidelines. Instead of reporting the issue to Peter Harvey and the Assisted School Travel Unit, Mr Moon decided to deal with the matter "in house", despite it clearly being a matter which was more appropriate to be dealt with by senior officials and which contained allegations of reportable conduct.
It is not the only recent issue that Neil Moon has covered up in order to save his own reputation, which is rapidly declining among senior departmental officials due to his inability to resolve serious issues at the school.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Manager of Assisted School Travel ignores serious complaints
Catherine Naismith, the manager of the department's Assisted School Travel Unit has ignored serious complaints about issues involving the travel program at Carenne Special School. This week, departmental whistleblower Save Carenne informed Naismith of a number of issues involving the program at Carenne to be told:
Savecarenne alleged that unapproved escorts had been used by Cheryl Chaplin, Capebase, Carenne Support, Dick Spears and Peter Williams and that the only vehicles meeting department standards were operated by Carenne Support.
Of particular concern was the unapproved use of medically retired assistant principal Lee Churches on Capebase's run given that she was retired due to cognitive and mental health problems. She was subsequently approved despite being a person on the department's Not To Be Employed list.
Savecarenne's complaint raised both safety and child protection issues and has been flatly rejected by the manager of the Assisted School Travel Unit who presided over the unit when 700 students were left stranded at the beginning of the year. It's time the department take action and sack Naismith for gross incompetence.
Obviously, Naismith is not aware of the culture that exists within the department in Western NSW from Carole McDiarmid down. Those who complain and speak up routinely face harassment, intimidation and other reprisals. For Naismith to refuse to investigate what are serious issues against a number of people is frightening.
I also note that you claim to be an employee of the Department which therefore places obligations on you in regard to your employer and how you notify the Department of complaints. I strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with the complaints handling processes of the Department and the Code of Conduct. If you believe that your complaints are of such a nature that the Department ought to take them seriously, then please provide them in the appropriate manner.
If you hold concerns regarding identifying yourself in making a complaint, please familiarise yourself with the Department’s policy Public Interest Disclosures - Internal Reporting Policy
Savecarenne alleged that unapproved escorts had been used by Cheryl Chaplin, Capebase, Carenne Support, Dick Spears and Peter Williams and that the only vehicles meeting department standards were operated by Carenne Support.
Of particular concern was the unapproved use of medically retired assistant principal Lee Churches on Capebase's run given that she was retired due to cognitive and mental health problems. She was subsequently approved despite being a person on the department's Not To Be Employed list.
Savecarenne's complaint raised both safety and child protection issues and has been flatly rejected by the manager of the Assisted School Travel Unit who presided over the unit when 700 students were left stranded at the beginning of the year. It's time the department take action and sack Naismith for gross incompetence.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Another scamming bus operator at Carenne
Carenne Gate can reveal that the bus operator who was falsely claiming for taking a Carenne Support director's son home to Oberon instead of to Kelso where he had been taken, Dick Spears has been performing another scam for the best part of 18 months.
Some 18 months ago, when another student was allocated to his Oberon district bus run, Mr Spears re-negotiated his contract with the Department of Education and Communities (then the Department of Education and Training) so he could purchase a larger vehicle. He told the then manager of Special Transport, Gail Vasic that he needed a larger vehicle and that his expenses (such as fuel) would go up because he had to use a different vehicle.
Despite claiming this to the department, Mr Spears uses his new vehicle only once or twice per week, using his old Ford Spectron van the rest of the time, despite being paid by the department to use his other vehicle.
Besides scamming the department, Mr Spears' Ford Spectron is unroadworthy and full of rust according to parents. One parent told Carenne Gate "I have concerns about him using that old bus of his, it has rust everywhere, what happens if he hits something, my son is dead."
The parent claims to have made a complaint about the vehicle to Neil Moon, principal of the Carenne Special School only for nothing to be done about it. "As usual with Mr Moon, nothing gets done, I'm treated like an idiot by him," said the parent.
It's time that the department, Mr Spears and Mr Moon realise that the money going to these operators belongs to the NSW taxpayer and that we expect a decent level of service for disabled student transport, not for them to be riding around in deathtraps like Mr Spears' Spectron.
Some 18 months ago, when another student was allocated to his Oberon district bus run, Mr Spears re-negotiated his contract with the Department of Education and Communities (then the Department of Education and Training) so he could purchase a larger vehicle. He told the then manager of Special Transport, Gail Vasic that he needed a larger vehicle and that his expenses (such as fuel) would go up because he had to use a different vehicle.
Despite claiming this to the department, Mr Spears uses his new vehicle only once or twice per week, using his old Ford Spectron van the rest of the time, despite being paid by the department to use his other vehicle.
Besides scamming the department, Mr Spears' Ford Spectron is unroadworthy and full of rust according to parents. One parent told Carenne Gate "I have concerns about him using that old bus of his, it has rust everywhere, what happens if he hits something, my son is dead."
The parent claims to have made a complaint about the vehicle to Neil Moon, principal of the Carenne Special School only for nothing to be done about it. "As usual with Mr Moon, nothing gets done, I'm treated like an idiot by him," said the parent.
It's time that the department, Mr Spears and Mr Moon realise that the money going to these operators belongs to the NSW taxpayer and that we expect a decent level of service for disabled student transport, not for them to be riding around in deathtraps like Mr Spears' Spectron.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Spears breaks SNTS rules again
Another bizarre set of circumstances involving Carenne Support Director, Geoff Salmon's son and his transport provider Dick Spears was observed today. In the past, Mr Spears has been reported on this blog as making special arrangements for Mr Salmon and defrauding the department.
It is well known that the only days Mr Spears takes Mr Salmon's son back to Oberon is Friday. For the rest of the week, he uses an extra vehicle driven by his wife to take the student to Kelso. Today, in breach of SNTS rules, Mrs Spears was observed driving around Kelso with Mr Salmon's son in the bus.
It is obvious that on this occasion that Mr Salmon was using Mrs Spears as a babysitter until the student's carer was home. Under SNTS rules, if there is not an appropriate person to meet the bus, the special transport unit must be contacted and alternate arrangements made. Instead, Mrs Spears drove around until the carer was home.
It is well known that the only days Mr Spears takes Mr Salmon's son back to Oberon is Friday. For the rest of the week, he uses an extra vehicle driven by his wife to take the student to Kelso. Today, in breach of SNTS rules, Mrs Spears was observed driving around Kelso with Mr Salmon's son in the bus.
It is obvious that on this occasion that Mr Salmon was using Mrs Spears as a babysitter until the student's carer was home. Under SNTS rules, if there is not an appropriate person to meet the bus, the special transport unit must be contacted and alternate arrangements made. Instead, Mrs Spears drove around until the carer was home.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Mary Housler's financial incentive to post on this blog
With the tender process for runs under the Special Needs Transport Service underway, Carenne Support's administrator Mary Housler has a financial incentive to post on this blog.
Carenne Support gets the bulk of it's funding from the SNTS. In an e-mail leaked by Michael Auld to a number of Carenne Special School staff, Christine Porter told an employee that without the bus runs at Carenne there would be no Carenne Support. Without Carenne Support, Mary Housler would be out of a job and wouldn't be receiving the income she is as the company's administrator.
If you look at many of Mrs Housler's postings on this blog, many of them have to do with other SNTS operators at Carenne such as Peter Williams, Dick Spears, Cheryl Chaplin and Les Ross. It would seem as though Mrs Housler is trying to discredit them to make Carenne Support look better in the eyes of the department. Surely the department has to see that "Mary H" as she posts on this blog is in fact Mary Housler and is speaking on behalf of Carenne Support.
Carenne Support has a documented history of breaching SNTS guidelines, fraud, corruption, breaches of industrial law and violence against whistleblowers. With this in mind, Carenne Support must be terrified of the current tender process.
Carenne Support gets the bulk of it's funding from the SNTS. In an e-mail leaked by Michael Auld to a number of Carenne Special School staff, Christine Porter told an employee that without the bus runs at Carenne there would be no Carenne Support. Without Carenne Support, Mary Housler would be out of a job and wouldn't be receiving the income she is as the company's administrator.
If you look at many of Mrs Housler's postings on this blog, many of them have to do with other SNTS operators at Carenne such as Peter Williams, Dick Spears, Cheryl Chaplin and Les Ross. It would seem as though Mrs Housler is trying to discredit them to make Carenne Support look better in the eyes of the department. Surely the department has to see that "Mary H" as she posts on this blog is in fact Mary Housler and is speaking on behalf of Carenne Support.
Carenne Support has a documented history of breaching SNTS guidelines, fraud, corruption, breaches of industrial law and violence against whistleblowers. With this in mind, Carenne Support must be terrified of the current tender process.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Dick Spears allows unapproved adult on his bus
One of the bus operators and drivers at Carenne Special School identified on this blog as being corrupt and making special arrangements for Carenne Support director Geoff Salmon has been reported as breaching departmental guidelines by allowing an unapproved person to travel in his bus.
A parent with a child on Mr Spears' bus raised the alarm after observing the adult traveling in the front of the bus on Friday. Inquiries by Carenne Gate revealed that Mr Spears had in fact had an unapproved adult in the vehicle while children were on board.
According to DET Snitch, DET regulations require that transport operators only transport persons approved by the department. "These include students and travel support but nobody else," said the whistleblower.
It appears as though Mr Spears has once again broken departmental guidelines which he obviously has no regard for.
A parent with a child on Mr Spears' bus raised the alarm after observing the adult traveling in the front of the bus on Friday. Inquiries by Carenne Gate revealed that Mr Spears had in fact had an unapproved adult in the vehicle while children were on board.
According to DET Snitch, DET regulations require that transport operators only transport persons approved by the department. "These include students and travel support but nobody else," said the whistleblower.
It appears as though Mr Spears has once again broken departmental guidelines which he obviously has no regard for.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Carenne Support director continues to get special treatment under the SNTS
Geoff Salmon, a director of the corrupt organisation Carenne Support who took matters into his own hands when he attacked a whistleblower has once again been given special treatment under the Special Needs Transport Service under which Carenne Support receives most of its income.
It has been reported to Carenne Gate that the arrangement between Mr Salmon and the driver of his son's bus Dick Spears has been restarted after ceasing as a result of its exposure on this blog last year.
In the past, Mr Spears was defrauding the department by claiming he was taking Mr Salmon's son to and from his home near Oberon every day despite on most days taking him to Kelso. It reportedly led to overclaims of around 50 kilometres a day.
Mr Spears has today used his wife as a driver on a second bus to transport Mr Salmon's son too and from Kelso so he can complete his run in a shorter amount of time. Carenne staff have also raised concerns about how Mr Spears uses an old bus which is not roadworthy on these days.
It has been reported to Carenne Gate that the arrangement between Mr Salmon and the driver of his son's bus Dick Spears has been restarted after ceasing as a result of its exposure on this blog last year.
In the past, Mr Spears was defrauding the department by claiming he was taking Mr Salmon's son to and from his home near Oberon every day despite on most days taking him to Kelso. It reportedly led to overclaims of around 50 kilometres a day.
Mr Spears has today used his wife as a driver on a second bus to transport Mr Salmon's son too and from Kelso so he can complete his run in a shorter amount of time. Carenne staff have also raised concerns about how Mr Spears uses an old bus which is not roadworthy on these days.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Special arrangements for transport of Carenne Support director's child
It has been reported that a special agreement has been struck between Geoff Salmon, director of Carenne Support Ltd and a Special Needs Transport Service operator Dick Spears to make special arrangements regarding the transport of his son. These arrangements allow Mr Spears to over declare the number of kilometres traveled and receive overpayments from the NSW Department of Education and Training.
Mr Spears operates what Carenne Special School staff call the Oberon run. He runs his minibus in the area around the town of Oberon. Mr Spears is paid to take Mr Salmon's son to his home near Oberon, but an arrangement has been struck between Mr Salmon and Mr Spears to drop the student off at a home in Kelso when requested. It is alleged that Mr Spears does this without knowledge of the special transport unit and still declares the full kilometres of taking Mr Salmon's son home. This can result in over declarations of around 50 kilometres per day.
On some days when this arrangement is carried out Mr Spears uses another minibus with his wife as a driver and transports Mr Salmon's son to Kelso while he continues his own route. A number of staff allege that the department has not approved the splitting of the run in two as they did not know that Mr Spears had been transporting Mr Salmon's son to Kelso instead of Oberon.
Staff at Carenne Special School are well aware of this arrangement and have said nothing about it until now.
Mr Spears operates what Carenne Special School staff call the Oberon run. He runs his minibus in the area around the town of Oberon. Mr Spears is paid to take Mr Salmon's son to his home near Oberon, but an arrangement has been struck between Mr Salmon and Mr Spears to drop the student off at a home in Kelso when requested. It is alleged that Mr Spears does this without knowledge of the special transport unit and still declares the full kilometres of taking Mr Salmon's son home. This can result in over declarations of around 50 kilometres per day.
On some days when this arrangement is carried out Mr Spears uses another minibus with his wife as a driver and transports Mr Salmon's son to Kelso while he continues his own route. A number of staff allege that the department has not approved the splitting of the run in two as they did not know that Mr Spears had been transporting Mr Salmon's son to Kelso instead of Oberon.
Staff at Carenne Special School are well aware of this arrangement and have said nothing about it until now.
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