The latest report from the NSW Department of Education details a wide range of incidents that have occurred in schools across the Orana Mid-Western police district as well as others in the region. 

All incidents involve students, and often teachers and other staff, and on many occasions police and paramedics have been called to the schoolyard to assist.

Orana Mid-Western police responded to the least amount of incidents in the region between the latest reporting period of July to December 2017, with the most occurring in the Chifley command. 

Of the 56 incidents recorded there were only 15 in the Orana Mid-Western district, and 21 in Chifley and 20 in Canobolas.  

Student welfare concerns featured the most often with 21 cases, followed by violence (16), drugs (nine), weapons (seven), inappropriate use of technology (two) and other (one).

Teachers lodged a number of welfare concern reports for the students they taught, many included students self-harming and some were attempted suicides.

In one incident in recorded for the Orana region, police were called to a Dubbo school on September 9 after a student begun verbally abusing students and staff and then made general threats.

The school was put into lockdown and then the student kicked and banged on doors to gain access to staff and students.

Despite the number of incidents during this reporting period, a statement by the NSW Department of Education said public schools were among the safest places in the community.

“From time to time, incidents do affect schools just as they affect communities and society as a whole,” the statement said.

“Following such an incident, the principal notifies the Department’s Incident Report and Support Hotline so support and advice can be provided to assist the school with the management of the incident.

“If the principal believes the incident may involve a criminal offence they are required to also notify the NSW Police Force.”

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