Dalwood Parents Action Group

Dalwood News

GREAT NEWS FOR COUNTRY KIDS

On Thursday last week (26 May 2011) Angela Brown and Michelle Bolte,

representing DPAG, were invited to Parliament House to meet with the

new Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli, Member for Dubbo, Troy

Grant and senior staff of the Minister's Department. Mr Piccoli

informed us that after months of discussions we had had with them,

they have decided to reinstate the Dalwood Service as we have requested.

Details on how this new service will be delivered will be revealed in

the next few weeks but at present we can confirm that the successful

four week residential program will be reinstated with the first intake

commencing in July 2011 at Royal Far West at Manly. This program will

also include an option for parents to participate in the initial week.

DPAG welcome this inclusion of parents to the programs delivery.

The geographic restrictions imposed on the service by the previous

Labor Government have been removed by the Coalition, with regional

centres such as Bathurst, Tamworth, Orange, Lismore, etc. again being

eligible for the service . The population within a 200km radius of

Sydney are not eligible for this service. It is now once again devoted

to rural and regional communities who are geographically isolated from

Sydney.

Other issues of governance and bureaucracy that impede the effective

delivery of this vital service will continue to be looked at by DPAG

to ensure our vulnerable children are not disadvantaged and are able

to make the most of their earlier educational years.

Further discussions were held with the Member for Tamworth, Kevin

Anderson and Member for Barwon and Minister for Western NSW, Kevin

Humphries in relation to their support for this new service.

It was a pleasure to meet an enthusiastic Government who are devoting

their energies into getting this right for regional and rural kids

with learning difficulties.

DPAG

31 May 2011

Dalwood revival

Education22 Mar 11 @ 04:52pm by Brenton Cherry

FOR nearly 18 months parents of children with severe learning difficulties in rural and remote NSW have fought to revive the Dalwood education model.

Today their pleas were heard with the Coalition announcing it would restore the assessment centre and four-week residential program at Royal Far West at Manly should it win Saturday’s election.

The announcement follows the State Government’s 2009 axing of the Dalwood school at Seaforth, which hosted assessment and residential programs run by a multi-disciplin- ary team of teachers and health professionals.

The State Government split the team up, sending assessment and outreach to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and housing a greatly reduced live-in program at Royal Far West.

The Coalition announcement will see all services once again be in one place.

Michelle Bolte, whose daughter Kate attended Dalwood, has fought to have the model reinstated since late 2009.

“It’s a huge relief,” she said. “My daughter went through the four-week residential program. In that time, and the 16-week course after, her reading level improved two years.

“It is most important for other rural kids to get the same chance as my daughter because we now have a girl who can’t keep her nose out of a book.”

Shadow Education spokesman Adrian Piccoli said he was petitioned by hundreds of parents to reinstate a “great program” with “great outcomes”.

COMMENTS

Debbie Baylsis writes:Posted on 23 Mar 11 at 10:40am      Michelle Bolte has fought long and hard for this well after many like myself gave up. I wholeheartedly admire her tenacious spirit in fighting for all rural kids including my own.

Cathy writes:Posted on 22 Mar 11 at 08:57pm      Thank heaven someone has finally listened to the people of the bush, we have been crying out for this service to be reinstated for too long, our children need this service.

Angela writes:Posted on 22 Mar 11 at 07:53pm       As a country parent who has used this wonderful service (with it's fabulous staff), I am thrilled that finally we are being listened to. The service was not broken and did not need fixing, if anything it just needed expanding so that more children could receive the help our child did. Well done Coalition.

Doug writes:Posted on 22 Mar 11 at 07:20pm       This decission is the right decission for the students and parents of NSW. It was a ONE STOP Centre of excellence that SHOULD never have been closed. Shame on the health and Dept. of Ed officials who could sort out their differences. This is the perfect example of people power demonstrating that Government Service entities need to be open and functioning! Go Michelle and supporters

Fi writes:Posted on 22 Mar 11 at 07:12pm        About time they saw what needed to be done. Dalwood is a fantastic program - it's only problem is that it can't help more kids.

ICPA welcomes changes to Dalwood service

Posted March 16, 2011 07:06:00

The Isolated Children's Parents' Association says there have been positive changes to a service for rural students with learning difficulties.

The Dalwood Assessment Centre has been replaced by the New South Wales Centre for Effective Reading, which will include regional campuses in Dubbo and Wagga.

The Department of Education will provide further details at the ICPA's annual conference in Lightning Ridge today.

The Association's Vice President, Anne Milliken, says the new centre will provide a second layer of services for students with literacy problems.

"ICPA New South Wales sees this as a huge positive if we can bring services out into rural areas rather than having to travel to Sydney to access them that is fantastic and they're actually employing additional staff in the regional areas," she said.

Ms Milliken says the referral process has been streamlined.

"They are then placed at the regional campuses instead of having to wait and go directly to Sydney and so what you're doing you're making those services a lot more accessible for regional people.

"It's a lot easier to travel to Dubbo than it is to travel to Sydney," she said.

Local parents say the Coalition's Dalwood promise is a vote winner - by Kelly Fuller

 For more than two years local parents have been involved in the battle to save the Dalwood Assessment Centre and the Palm Avenue School.

The school was based in Sydney suburb of Seaforth and provided support for country students who had severe learning difficulties.

Last year the state government closed the school and announced it would provide similar services at a children's hospital in Sydney.

Today the Nationals announced that Coaltition government would reinstate the Dalwood Assessment Centre and offer the service from Royal Far West

in Manly.

We spoke the Nationals candidate for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson about the election promise this morning.

We also spoke to local woman, Angela Brown, whose son attended the school and has been part of the campaign to have the school reinstated.

 LINK TO ABC AUDIO http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/03/21/3169239.htm?site=newengland LINK TO ABC AUDIO

NSW Coalition's promise to restore Dalwood Assessment Centre

Posted March 22, 2011 06:40:00

The Nationals are vowing to reinstate the former model of a Sydney-based school for rural children with severe learning difficulties, if elected to government.

The Coalition says it will restore the Dalwood Assessment Centre's four week residential program and move it from Westmead Hospital to Royal Far West in Manly.

It is also promising to set up an advisory panel to introduce the changes.

Michelle Bolte from the Dalwood Parents' Action Group says the old model is better for students.

"It ticks all the boxes and it does more than that as well because they're committing to put money back into this service," she said.

"They're also committed to reinstating the geographical areas that Dalwood used to service before.

"If we stick to the Labor party's policy children in different areas along the coastline especially will be excluded."

The proposal would be funded by money which has been set aside for the new Centres for Effective Reading in Dubbo and Wagga Wagga.

Michelle Bolte from the Dalwood Parents' Action Group says the changes introduced by the State Government aren't working.

"The damage that this government, this Labor government has done to this service is certainly not going backwards by changing anything or putting back the old service.

"If anything we're going to improve the service, we're going to make it more efficient because you didn't need to reinvent the wheel on this situation."

Reading centre’s tight timeframe

11 Nov, 2010 04:00 AM

The Dubbo campus of the NSW Centre for Effective Reading will operate out of Buninyong Public School where students will be assessed before being sent back to their home schools that will deliver the necessary “intervention”.

The office of NSW Education Minister Verity Firth yesterday released details of the centre and its three campuses that are replacing the Dalwood Assessment Centre and Palm Avenue School in Sydney.

They include confirmation the schools have only until November 26 to refer children to the centre for 2011.

Country families fought long and hard against the state government’s decision to shut down the Seaforth-based facility.

The grassroots campaign eventually faltered as the government pushed ahead with its plan and set up an “expert advisory panel” to determine replacement services.

In August Ms Firth announced the centre would have two regional campuses, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga.

“In addition, a new intensive residential clinic will also be provided at Royal Far West for those children with the most complex reading problems,” she said.

Yesterday a spokesman for the minister said the Dubbo campus at Buninyong Public School would open at the start of the 2011 school year.

It would be manned by a special education teacher, speech pathologist, educational psychologist and Aboriginal community liaison officer, he said.

The campus would cater to “rural NSW” and schools were able to refer students to it, but in preparing a referral were required to “work with parents”.

The spokesman said the campus would conduct assessments across “one or two days”, depending on specific reading difficulties.

“Following the assessment and if deemed appropriate, a reading intervention will be offered by the centre and delivered by the student’s home school under the guidance and support of specialist staff from the centre,” he said.

The spokesman said parents concerned about the progress of their children in learning to read should be talking to their teachers and/or school principals.

“Schools can make referrals for 2011 to the centre up to 26 November 2010,” he said.

A mother’s message: ‘Dubbo deserves better’

KATE COWLING

10 Nov, 2010 04:00 AM

The mother of a seven-year-old Dubbo boy with a learning disability has vowed to take her son’s case to Parliament House.

Laurinne Campbell’s son, Kris, still can’t read or write and the distressed mother-of-three said she’s tired of waiting for a verdict on his condition.

“Our mission, by Sunday night, is to have 2000 flyers in mailboxes and shop windows to let people know that Dubbo deserves better,” she said.

“We’ll also be setting up a petition at one of the major shopping centres.”

Mrs Campbell said she felt regional cities were being overlooked when it came to learning disabilities. Kris was referred to the Dalwood Assessment Centre earlier in the month, but wasn’t presented with any new advice. The case was dismissed without sufficient explanation, she said.

“As taxpayers, we’re funding that centre in Sydney and it’s not delivering for our kids,” Mrs Campbell said.

“Kris has been brave enough to put a face to these issues, but we know for a fact he’s not the only boy in the area with this condition,” she said.

A spokesman for state Education Minister Verity Firth said the Centre for Effective Reading in Dubbo will open its doors in early 2011.

In regard to Kris’ case, Ms Firth’s spokesman reiterated the first port of call was the school.

“Parents should contact their child’s teacher and school to discuss the child’s progress and interventions specifically tailored for the child,” he said.

“The intervention for the child will be significantly enhanced when there is open and strong collaboration, shared planning and support for the child that involves both the school and the family.”

In terms of further assistance, the minister’s spokesman said there were a number of programs available in government schools.

“The NSW Department of Education and Training offers a range of specialist services to support the specific learning needs of students with difficulties in the basic areas of learning through its Learning Assistance Program,” he said.

“Additionally each school has a learning support team. The learning support team meets regularly to assist student learning by facilitating planning between teachers, parents, support personnel and where relevant, students,” Mr Firth’s spokesman said.

Since publishing Mrs Campbell’s story yesterday, the Daily Liberal has been inundated with responses from concerned residents.

One mother, who preferred to remain unnamed, said she’d experienced similar issues with her children and suggested the Royal Far West Children’s Health Service in Manly. Another three women recommended support services in the Dubbo area.

COMMENTS:

I fully support the maintenance of Dalwood support services. Lets hope it is bigger and better in its new form. I also support the suggestions about having his visual problems diagnosed, but I'm sure his family would have already done that. There are some optometrists in Dubbo who specialise in this field.

What does amaze me is that his Catholic school suggested his parents enrol him in a Public School so that his needs could be better met. I would have thought that with all the squillions of dollars of taxpayers money the Catholic system gets from both state & federal governments that they would have a top knotch special education system in place - especially in a city the size of Dubbo.

Since when was it the Dept of Education's problem if a child isn't in the Public System? This smacks of the Catholic education system abrogating its responsibilities & attempting to rid itself of someone who won't score well in the NAPLAN tests.

The whole situation is a disgrace. I hope Kris and his family find answers soon. Good Luck.

Posted by Toby, 10/11/2010 8:24:32 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Right on Toby, thanks for your support.

Kris"eyes have been tested as well as his hearing etc etc etc.

Its a sad game of political football and guess whom they are using as the ball?

Posted by Laurinne Campbell, 10/11/2010 9:20:13 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Listening and reading about the plight of the Campbells in trying to get some assistance for their son broke my heart. I rang Mrs Campbell and shared my encouragement for her to keep fighting for her son. She was so encouraging herself and believes her battle is about more then Kris, it is about all children with special needs that are being let down by the State government - I for one will be walking the streets of Dubbo with the Campbells giving out flyers - i wish it was how to vote cards and Labor would definatly be portrayed for what they are - cost shifting mongers with a lack of vision and common sense. go the Campbells. Come on Dubbo lets stand up for the kids in our community, for the kids right across the state, lets get out Labor and vote in the mob with some common sense about supporting our kids.

Posted by Go for it gal, 10/11/2010 9:24:33 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Labor government you are appalling. Your spokes persons comments around transferring children with special learning needs to government schools - that indicates the catholic schools are only there for the kids that have no problems with literacy and numeracy skills - YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING.. .... Come on Catholic schools where is your backbone - tell the State government there comments in todays liberal are unacceptabel, tell them you want to support ALL children regardless of their skill base, and the Catholic system is just as good as the public system .....................or is Toby correct in his comment around the NAPLAN testing showing poor results putting a bad taste in the catholic system mouth...............

Posted by discusted in the Labor Government, 10/11/2010 9:28:38 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

The spokes person for the Minister of Educatioin & training office - is he seriously implying if Kris, the little Warrior pilot, was transferred to a public system he would get all the help he needs - Get real Labor government if that was the case why do we have so many children that cannot read and write. I certainly hope the catholic school system take offense at these recommendations/implying of the state governemt of the state system being better then the catholic system.....or would they prefer vulnerable kids such as the little man brave enough to stand up and ask for his right to be able to read and write are in fact ousted from the flock? Furthermore, i support the model of Dalwood - it is an apprently proven model that has worked for years. Michelle Bolte and the many other mothers and fathers across the state are testiment of it working - why change it...................................Get Serious Labour Government, Get Real Verity Firth this is a crying shame for our future, you are letting down our kids, letting down country communities and breaking the hearts of so many families...

Posted by Are You Serious, 10/11/2010 9:34:18 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Oh for goodness sake, how very sad, devastating for the many families of children whom rely on services that assist children with severe learning needs such as dalwood and they are closed down

lets close down the Labor government good luck Campbells we are backing ya

Posted by and the answer is ....., 10/11/2010 9:36:01 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

I bet this wouldn't happen in N.S.W. (Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong) or in a Labor seat just before an election.

Posted by ratepayer, 10/11/2010 10:23:56 AM, on Dubbo Daily LiberalMy child could not read or write similar to kris at that age. Like his mother I was extremely worried. I changed schools because I was told by the school he would never read. My child was at a public school. The move to a catholic school was the best thing I ever did. The support from his teacher was amazing. Within a year my child had gone from not being able to read to above his year in reading. It is not fair to put so much blame on the Catholic Schools. There are many dedicated teachers in this system. As a teacher's aide in a Catholic school I spent many hours looking for answers to reading problems for children like Kris. Hang in their Kris! My child will shortly graduate from university. You can achieve what you want to achieve! Never give up!

Posted by Concerned, 10/11/2010 10:31:15 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

I hear every word you are saying Laurinne. We are in a very similar situation with our child. It breaks your heart that services cannot be accessed. We have travelled many miles to get assistance with our child and at our own expense (IPTAS - hardly covers anything) Good Luck...

Posted by Concerned, 10/11/2010 11:02:53 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

For some of the people posting comments, I'm amazed at how many basic spelling and grammar mistakes there are. If you are going to argue, at least get it right.

Posted by MISSING THE POINT 10/11/2010 11:21:23 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

In the last ten years there has been more understanding of learning difficulties. When I first realized my child had problems there was very little understanding and help. It does not matter what government is in power the problem has been around for many years. I know of children who have grown up in a Liberal Government and still can't read or write. The fight is not about what government is in power. Instead the fight should be about addressing the problem so all children grow up able to read and write. If you think this won't happen under a Liberal Government you are wrong!

Posted by Concerned, 10/11/2010 11:21:23 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

I would like to know which planet Verity and the DET are on? I moved my child from public education to the Catholic system to get helpafter years of struggling with no answers. We have not looked back.The problem is the teachers do not have the time or funding or expertise to deal with kids with severe learning disorders. The Government refuse to fund these kids even though they have the disorder for the whole of their learning life. Verity, don't shift blame back to the Catholic system look at the big picture. This state's children needs a consistant educuation plan, access to collaborative teams , access to best practice programs like the Dalwood program that had been running well for 30- years.Schools need more support and more professionals on the ground who can help.We not only lost this service but more importantly lost the expertise of its staff who were the best. Parents know as we have been everywhere else to try and find answers.

We don't ask much its just a child's right to an education.,

Posted by Michelle Bolte, 10/11/2010 12:18:16 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Ms Campbell, your comments around Kris just wanting to be a little boy and you just wanting to be his mum, not a special needs teacher is so important. Hang in there, keep up the fight - hopefully someone in DET, and the state government is listening and will let common sense avail. I note the previous blog around the Liberal government support for children with severe learning disabilities and hope they will do more WHEN they get in - i dont see how Labor could even hope they have a chance with shameful actions of closing down centres that have proven themselves to help children with reading and writing. SHAME SHAME SHAME Verith Firth and SHAME on you Kristina Keneally for allowing her to do it......... Bring on the elections, bring on the help for little warriors like our Kris. Dont give up Kris we are rooting for you mate. I think you are incredibly brave little man.

Posted by A Dubbo Warrior boy supporter, 10/11/2010 12:39:29 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Why is it that we give away millions upon millions of dollars overseas when we have this sort of thing in our own back yard. Its about time we fix up our own home before helping anyone else. To the little boy and his mom, keep your chin up , you will get there.

Posted by Gee, 10/11/2010 3:57:56 PM, on Dubbo Daily LiberalI read all the comments and i feel sorry for Mrs Campbell and young Kris but the fact of the matter is that the catholic education system does not have the disability support teams in place to look after young Kris that is why they suggested they send him to a government school so as he can be tested properly and then the right program can be put in place and can be given the individual attention he so rightly deserves,dont ask me why these teams cannot move between the systems you would have to ask the DET and Private Systems about that.Dont go banging on about the teachers they are trying their hardest to get these children up to speed but after listening to what goes on in the classroom i dont know how they teach the kids anything especially when they can not discipline the the kids because if they did it would be all across the news and parents would be up in arms, it would be great if the parents would teach the children a bit of respect for the teachers and adults in general.

Written by a person who went to boarding school and learnt to respect or suffered the consequence for my actions.

Posted by watching, 10/11/2010 5:12:02 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

It is so encouraging to see a family willing to stick their neck out and rattle the cage of our government on this issue. All Dubbo residents should be getting behind them and sign the petition that is being circulated... for the children and future children of regional NSW.

Thank you Kris for putting a face to this issue, and to Laurinne for driving the campaign! You guys are local heroes!

Posted by Go the Campbells!, 10/11/2010 6:25:23 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

No one here would ever blame the teachers. We blame the system that does not address this problem. There are so many parents with children in the public school system who are struggling to find help. The problem is that the expertise is not on the ground. It is hard to understand each individual case with these children. I am a parent of a child with a severe learning difficulty. It has taken me years to understand and I live with her 24 hrs a day. All that I can tell you is that parents go to great lengths to find the right environment and understanding that is required for the child to learn. Then you need to find the right person at the school who understands. Its hard. The Dalwood centre gave us support, answers and a program that is now seeing my daughter read her 4th novel. All I ask is that this program be restored and spread accross NSW and these children with severe learning difficulites be funded.Having these kids in large classes with no help does not work .I would imagine it would be very difficult for the teacher and child involved.

Posted by Michelle, 10/11/2010 9:55:43 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

At the end of the day, The Minister and her Techno Crazies have got it wrong, instead of properly investigating why the Dalwood Centre had issues, sorting them out and if necessary relocating the centre to a neutral building, they have STUFFED things up. Dalwood was the "Last Stop" Service that Verity is saying is not required and these "Pie in the Sky" centres are going to be a be all end all. Where are the specilaist staff coming from, schools whether State, catholic or independent struggle to attract individual specilaist teachers now. How are we going to find enough staff in the country, will there be medical professional available as there was previously???? for referred and to ensure a wholistic approach, probably not! Dalwood had all of that plus more. Labour is on the nose and got to go!

Posted by bellair, 10/11/2010 10:25:18 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

to "Spelling" get a life, you clearly do not have children with difficulties, are frustrated at government employees or are not capable of telling the truth, or have a total distrust for the combined education/health system to provide ongoing assistance when there is no other avenues of assistance available!

Posted by bellair, 10/11/2010 10:27:15 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

I have to agree with Watching. I am sorry for any hardship a family faces. But the Public system is not all horrors and are better equipped and resourced. I have a son who is attending a public school who has special needs. Last year I thought I would be looking at home schooling him. He is now reading and writes his name and loves learning. The school community, the principal and his wonderful teacher have been the wonderful. We can't into words what we owe them. I am proud of him and the school. Sending him to a private school never entered my mind. I wish you all the best, but don't make the public system sound like a kind of lesser option as I believe it is the best for children with special needs.

Posted by listener, 10/11/2010 10:38:52 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

My son had exactly the same experience. He is now 11 and has changed 3 schools. He went from Catholic School to Public School and now back to another Catholic School and he is only in year 5. We secured all the LAP funding and learning programs that both Catholic and Public Education has to offer. In the end what has helped him read was Dalwood and Palm Avenue School and caring teachers. The education system is not equiped to teach children with learning problems and the blame falls on our useless government who have shut down the only service that existed that was able to help our children. Re-open Dalwood and Palm Ave School. Verity Firth should be ashamed of herself. She has sold out our most vulnerable children...the very people she was elected to serve!!!

Posted by Shut down Labor not Dalwood, 10/11/2010 11:44:37 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

My son has achieved great things after his time with the former Dalwood Assessment Centre and Palm Avenue School (be careful not to call this new system 'Dalwood', it's not). I can't believe that the Government are now telling this family that the school has all the answers. WE TRIED EVERYTHING before going to Dalwood. Sometimes these kids need specialist help and that's what Dalwood was!! Now all those great staff have been lost and families are wandering in the wilderness SURPRISE SURPRISE. Sack the people who did this!

Posted by Carol, 11/11/2010 8:25:39 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

NOWHERE TO TURN: Young boy let down by new model for Dalwood centre

KATE COWLING

09 Nov, 2010 04:00 AM

Seven-year-old Kris Campbell wants to be a pilot when he grows up, but as he approaches his eighth birthday, he still cannot read or write his own name.

Test results have shown the “little warrior” has an average-to-high IQ and “incredible strengths in other areas”, but when it comes to simple words, all he sees is squiggly black lines, his mother Laurinne Campbell said.

It’s a problem the family’s been dealing with since Kris was in kindergarten and Mrs Campbell said her young son has been let down by both the school and the education system.

Kris, 7, and his mother Laurinne Campbell sought help from the Dalwood Assessment Centre for Kris’ learning disability but were offered no help. Photo: AMY GRIFFITHS

 

“He’s in a class of around 32 and he’s just completely disengaged,” Mrs Campbell said.

“The (Catholic) school he goes to even suggested we re-enrol him in a public school so we can get funding for his learning issues.”

At the moment the Dubbo family are paying $120 per week for a speech therapist and have had no government assistance because Kris lies in the “grey area”, between extreme disability and average Year 2 literacy expectations.

After receiving a string of disappointing responses from her son’s local school, Mrs Campbell was delighted to hear Kris was accepted into Dalwood Assessment Centre - a remediation facility for children with learning difficulties - just over two weeks ago.

“We were really hopeful that the end could be in sight and were looking forward to meeting the consultant paediatrician, who’s supposedly one of the best in the state,” she said.

The Campbell family spent three days at the Sydney centre, didn’t see the specialist once and were dismissed with no new information.

“We were basically told to go home and do what we’ve been doing all along ... we were all just devastated,” Mrs Campbell said.

“On the way home Kris said ‘Mum I’m not going to be a pilot anymore because you have to be able to read and write.’”

In August, it was announced the Dalwood Assessment Centre would be closed and reopened as the NSW Centre of Effective Reading, which would offer assessment and intervention services at three locations including one at Dubbo.

Mrs Campbell said she wasn’t holding her breath.

“We did speak to the staff at the centre about that and they weren’t sure if and when the move would take place,” she said.

In the meantime, Mrs Campbell said she had contacted the NSW Minister for Education Verity Firth for assistance and advice regarding Kris’ difficulties.

A spokesman for Ms Firth told the Daily Liberal a letter from Mrs Campbell was received last Friday and the minister was looking into the matter now.

“We just don’t know what to do next,” Mrs Campbell said.

“We want our son to be a valuable member of society but feel like we’ve let him down.”

The school was not able to comment yesterday.

COMMENTS:

If the State Gov listened to parents earlier this year the topic of funding children who have severe learning difficulties would may have been on the table. Today the reality is that teachers do not have the expertise and schools do not have the resources to fund and support these children. The resultant factor of this is that children become disengaged with school, drugs, youth suicide or gaol. This costs the State more money than giving them assistance in the classroom.

Our Juvenile justice centres are full with more being built around the area. Its time our children are given help rather than locking them up.

Posted by pat, 9/11/2010 7:59:12 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Have they thought of getting his eyes tested. He might just neeed glasses as the mother quotes the letters are squiggly lines.

Posted by dubvegas, 9/11/2010 8:10:54 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

A Typical example of the "peoples" labor government run by self serving Tall poppys who have never ventured west of the Concord bridge in Sydney who are widening the gap in so many areas. I have written three letters to Minister Firth's office this year and best response was "thank you for raising your concerns" with no tangible acknowledgment that what they are doing is SIMPLY Wrong and possibly Criminal!

Posted by bellair, 9/11/2010 8:23:13 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Most of the kids leaving our high schools, are the same way.

Posted by john, 9/11/2010 8:25:44 AM, on Dubbo Daily

LiberalOnce again Ministers Verity Firth and Carmel Tebbutt should hang their heads in shame! Just last week Minister Firth was in my home town making promises for our children who have learning difficulties, now we all know she's all talk no action. As for this little fella Kris, you already fly!

Contact your local member mate, you may not vote yet, but your voice matters. Don't give up, on learning and your dream to be a pilot!

Posted by Gomeroi Girl, 9/11/2010 9:21:59 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

This story is so disappointing after all the empty promises from the Keneally govt and Verity Firth that nothing would change!! Those of us that protested against the closure of Dalwood were scoffed at by govt and the expert panel as trouble-makers. My son attended the old Dalwood just last year and has completed a Palm Ave program. He saw numerous doctors and his progress has been amazing. This family and others trying to access the new service deserve more!

Posted by Maria, 9/11/2010 10:08:39 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

So many young families are trying to get help for their children with learning difficulty,so where is all our moneys that Ms Gillard has been throwing away,is she throwing it in the wrong direction.

Posted by bluedog, 9/11/2010 12:07:26 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

OMG, the tradgedy is this situation is so devastatingly common - too many of our kids are in the same boat - cant read nor write, get left behind without any hope of catching up - rather they just drop out and lose hope. Rather, lets drop the labor governemtn out and keep our kids hopeful....Go get em Kris, you keep flying little man.

Posted by had enough of the Labor government, 9/11/2010 12:07:33 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Why close a centre such as Dalwood School that has proven to work, proven to meet the needs of our children such as Kris whom obviously desperatly requires intensiveand consistent learning assistance to help him read and write - his fundamental right - come on lets get rid of this governement and vote one in that cares about our kids

Posted by our kids are worth more then empty promises, 9/11/2010 12:11:17 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

my grandchild also is experiencing major issues with his reading and writing and we have also hit the same brick walls as the Campbell family. Thank you for insprining us to keep going and fight the fight we need to have to get the labor government to listen and fix this mess they have made of the system which is suppose to be there for the most vulnerable members of our society - children with special learning needs. The old saying, it takes a community to raise a child is so true, let me help out anyway i can to inluence support for Kris and the many many many other children with special needs.

Posted by grandmothers view, 9/11/2010 12:14:43 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Surely this is evidence the Minsiter for Education has failed the children of NSW, closing down a resource for children with special learning needs. A cost shifting exercise that will devastate many vullnerable and despearte families. Come on Minister Verity Firth this is SHAME SHAME SHAME.

Thank you to the Liberal for letting us know about this, we hear all the promises and now know we cant believe them.

Posted by out with the Labor government, 9/11/2010 12:20:33 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Are we really that surprised that this government has made yet another bungle!! We've had the "Batman" bungle where 4 people lost their lives, we have the MDBA water bungle, where whole communities will be shut down, we have the ongoing Health system inadequecies and of course why leave out education! The government would have broken their track record if they had of kept Dalwood and Palm Avenue school intact! Shame Shame Shame! Look after our kids - reopen Dalwood!!!!!

Posted by Had enough of Labour..bring on the election!, 9/11/2010 1:24:39 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

I went through this with one of my own children with a Liberal Government in tow. The Education Department didn't even bother to answer my letter. It would be a good idea to get Tony Burgham to check Kris over in respect of eyes. He has some great equipment there for learning difficulties.

Posted by Concerned, 9/11/2010 2:50:47 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Thanks Liberal for printing the tragic plight of the Campbell family. We too have struggled to get assistance for our son whom is also in primary school and cannot read and write. We are also on the list for the new assessment centre and had great hopes but each day we are hearing stories and piecing the puzzle together - the State government have made an absolute mess of the sitaution and our hope for any help is quickly disolving - lets get rid of this government and get help for kids in regional NSW to have the same access to opportunities to ensure their dreams and aspirations can come true. Keep going Kris you are our hero - i would fly in your plane anyday mate....

Posted by never give up, 9/11/2010 3:03:31 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Kris, you legend!!!!!

Hey you fellas in state government you should be ashamed of yourselves - your cost shifting is screwing our little men's lives, breaking mothers hearts and destroying families dreams of a future for their children with opportunties to make choices. Open up the Dalwood Centre, give that little Kris man a hand to read and write and a fighting chance at mbeing a pilot......

Posted by Go little man - fly you plane, 9/11/2010 3:07:07 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Disgraceful - what else can you say!!As a parent who has gone through the same thing with her own child but was lucky enogh to get help through Dalwood. I will never understand why they discontinued a program with such great sucess. Mu motto has always been ïf it ain't broke dont fix it" When will the government wake up and understand the great loss we have suffered by allowing Dalwood to close.

Posted by Hacoch, 9/11/2010 5:27:52 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

My heart goes out to the whole Campbell family. learning problems effect the entire family. Undue stress is created and festers out of sheer frustration. We have been there, done that.

Fortunately we were a lucky family. Our son completed his Dalwood program at the end of Term 3 with great results. It is hard to believe how much the Dalwood Program helped and truly made such a difference in our sons life, and ours.

He also has so much confidence that he himself did not even know could exist.

It is so sad that polititians have so much control over our lives. Sad to think that because of votes/dollars, our children cannot be taught such an important and fun thing, as reading. These kids miss out on so, so much.

Wake up pollies. Forget your egos, and think of Australias' future. OUR CHILDREN.

Posted by lucky one, 9/11/2010 7:15:45 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Its time that our pollies listen to the people they serve. No more grassing the Harbour Bridge. Lets be the first state in Australia that gives its children with severe learning difficulties a chance. After all its a childs life and yes they all matter.If other countries like the US and Britain have been helping kids with learning difficulties for years why is it ignored here? Our education system here is just peaking out of the cave while other countries have moved on and developed the wheel. Well done Campbell family for speaking up. Kris you little champion, you will be a pilot you have a great mum who will fight for you.

Posted by Michelle, 9/11/2010 8:31:24 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Dalwood and Palm School are not the only ways to help children with learning difficulties. Personally I found the programs that were set for the children at the school I worked at were never updated to ensure the child's full success at reading. We had to constantly remind these schools that new programs needed to be sent. There are good Special Education teachers at Dubbo. Contact some from the public school system. There are also other avenues in Sydney for assessments.

Posted by concerned, 9/11/2010 9:54:59 PM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

A truly disappointing story I must agree. But the teachers are so under valued, in every story you hear the blame go right onto the teacher. I don't have kids but my mother, who is a teacher and has dealt with these kinds of situations before, sometimes she could not be there as a Mother so I would help raise my younger brothers and sisters. The teachers should have a medal! Every kid that they teach could have a disability that we aren't aware of. The Government should WAKE UP, and more energy should be put into education, health and safety, roads etc. I believe kids can learn some are slower than others, but it takes three parties, The first is the PARENT, second is the TEACHER, and the third is the CHILD. Kris keep going you CAN do it.

Posted by Saint, 10/11/2010 1:32:54 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Our son also had his world turned around by the old Dalwood. Where are all those old staff now? They were gold and should have been used in this new centre. The new centre sounds so good on paper but obviously they haven't worked it all out BEFORE shutting down the valuable place they had. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THIS GOVERNMENT!!!

Posted by Carol, 10/11/2010 7:09:40 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

I fully support the maintenance of Dalwood support services. Lets hope it is bigger and better in its new form. I also support the suggestions about having his visual problems diagnosed, but I'm sure that would have already been done.

What does amaze me is that his Catholic school suggested his parents enrol him in a Public School so that his needs could be better met. I would have thought that with all the squillions of dollars of taxpayers money the Catholic system gets from both state & federal governments that they would have a top knotch special education system in place - especially in a city the size of Dubbo.

Posted by Toby, 10/11/2010 8:12:30 AM, on Dubbo Daily Liberal

Concerns about application process for new look Dalwood Assessment Centre

There are concerns that some children may miss out on a place at a Sydney-based school for students with severe learning difficulties because there are less than two weeks left to apply.

The deadline for referrals to the New South Wales Centre for Effective Reading is November the 26th and parents say it will not give pupils enough time to complete the tests which are a necessary part of the application process.

It has been set up to replace the former Dalwood Assessment Centre from next year.

Coonabarabran mother Michelle Bolte from the Dalwood Parents' Action Group, says the former referral process wasn't as complex.

"It wasn't as strict," she said.

"It appears that this application form seems to have a lot more detail to it.

"There seems to be more testing and more information required from teachers and past experiences before a child can actually get into this centre.

"In the previous centre it was a bit easier to put the application in, even though there was a waiting list."

Ms Bolte says the introduction of a 'placement panel' also complicates the process.

She says while there needs to be certain criteria, the new guidelines are too limiting.

"Definitely there needs to be some hoops that parents need to jump through first.

"You know if it's as simple as having a pair of glasses on a child to get them to read, you know that is great.

"There are definitely some tests that should be done but in regards to speech pathology to get access to them is almost impossible in a short frame time."

The next round of applications is next November.

Dalwood to be open for business by end of year

06 Aug, 2010 04:00 AM

A location in Dubbo has been selected for services to replace a Sydney-based school for rural children with learning difficulties.

The yet-to-be-publicly identified building will offer assessment and intervention previously available through residential programs at the Dalwood Assessment Centre and Palm Avenue School.

Controversy has surrounded moves to close the long-time Dalwood facility and an expert advisory panel set up by Education Minister Verity Firth has recommended a new tiered delivery approach with regional services in Dubbo and Wagga Wagga complementing

Sydney programs at Royal Far West and specialised facilities at Westmead for children requiring treatment for psychological reasons.

Ministerial spokeswoman Samantha Wills yesterday revealed the government was moving full steam ahead with the new Dubbo facility.

“A location has been organised but the final boxes need to be ticked before an announcement is made in the next few weeks,’’ Ms Wills said.

“The Dubbo centre will be staffed by a psychologist, Aboriginal liaison officer, speech pathologist and special education teacher. Staff will be recruited and transition from the old to new model will see services fully in place by the beginning of 2011.

“There is a possibility the Dubbo centre could intake students later this year.’’

Ms Wills said the Department of Education would oversee campuses operating under the banner of the NSW Centre of Effective Reading.

She said children would come to Dubbo for up to two days of assessment. Parents would be able to access funding through the Isolated Families Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme.

“Each child will have a personalised individual learning plan to take back to their school,’’ Ms Wills said.

“The new centres will develop online material for teachers so children can keep working on programs.’’

Parents who have campaigned against the Dalwood closure are still worried about a range of issues.

Coonabarabran-based Michelle Bolte feared the new remedial assessment and treatment model could fail without a well co-ordinated and well-funded approach.

Ms Wills yesterday discounted those concerns.

“The advisory council consulted with parents,’’ she said.

“The model adopted by the minister is what the parents said they wanted. It will provide regional access and shorter waiting times for a larger number of students.’’