THE closure of a special educational support service for rural students has outraged parents who suspect the State Government wants to sell the valuable Sydney beachside site to bolster its treasury coffers.
The Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service announced the closure of the Dalwood Assessment Centre (DAC) and Palm Avenue School (PAS) in Seaforth via a press release saying a remodelled service would amalgamate with the Children’s Hospital Education Research Institute at Westmead later next year.
The Dalwood centre school, started in 1972, provides free assessment and remedial support for regional children aged up to 12.
Michelle Bolte, Coonabarabran, and her daughter, Kate, 12, have been accessing services at the Dalwood Centre for four years.
Mrs Bolte said the service and support from staff had improved Kate’s literacy and confidence, but she was now concerned about what would be available for her daughter and many similar students in the future.
“I am indebted to these people. They gave me the help my daughter needed when nobody else could,” she said.
“My reaction was complete devastation. There is nowhere else to go.”
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of NSW (ICPA) president, David Cameron, Rowena, wanted assurances the proposed new service for rural children would be equivalent to those currently being delivered, and services to continue at Dalwood while the
new infrastructure was established at Westmead.
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