In June 2012, Kim May attended a birthday party in Dubbo, New South Wales, where she witnessed a disturbing incident that would alter her life. While celebrating with colleagues from Dubbo College, she noticed a coworker, Mark Prince, showing a video of a non-verbal student from the school's support unit. The video depicted the boy with his pants down, and Prince laughed while sharing it with others.

"I was so angry," Kim recalled. "I did say: 'if you don't put that phone away, I'll shove it up your arse.' They all just looked at me like I was stupid." This moment sparked a series of events that would reveal a troubling culture within the school.

Despite her strong reaction, many colleagues appeared indifferent. Kim, who had worked with children for over a decade, felt compelled to report the incident to the principal of Dubbo College Delroy. The principal assured her that the matter would be addressed, but Kim saw no repercussions for Prince. Instead, she felt increasingly isolated from the school community, which took a toll on her mental health.

"I could be walking up the corridor and it's like they never [saw] me," she said. A mediation session was held after Prince believed Kim was speaking about him behind his back. During this meeting, Kim confronted Prince about the video. "The room went quiet," she said, recalling his admission. However, Prince later denied this claim.

Kim felt pressured to remain silent about the incident and was warned against discussing Prince. This isolation led her into a deep depression, culminating in suicidal thoughts. In her despair, she contemplated taking her life and leaving a message to "Investigate Delroy." Ultimately, she sought help and took a break from the school, later resigning after 18 years, stating she was labeled a whistleblower.

Before leaving, Kim warned a colleague, Danielle Sparrow, about the potential backlash of speaking out. It would take years for Danielle to understand the gravity of Kim's warning.

Meanwhile, Paul Eastwood, a student at Delroy, faced his own challenges. He joined the support unit in 2014, hoping to pursue a career in rugby league. However, his experience turned sour after Mark Prince became involved in the Clontarf Foundation program, which aimed to support young Aboriginal boys. Paul reported feeling humiliated and threatened by Prince, who allegedly taunted him and contributed to his suspensions.

Paul's father, Greg Eastwood, described his son as cheerful and determined, despite his struggles with literacy. However, after joining Clontarf, Paul began receiving multiple suspension letters for minor infractions. "Twenty-day suspension — Christ, how ridiculous is this?" Greg said, expressing frustration over the lack of clarity regarding the suspensions.

Paul recounted instances where Prince would verbally belittle him, saying things like, "Take your hat off. You got no brains in there." Although the NSW Department of Education found insufficient evidence to support these claims, Paul felt targeted.

The situation escalated to the point where Paul felt unsafe even at home, as Prince would drive the Clontarf bus past their house, honking the horn. Greg set up cameras to monitor the bus's frequent passes, fearing for his son's well-being.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Paul remained committed to his education and football aspirations. He attended school and Clontarf training diligently, but the emotional toll was significant. He confided in Kim May, the only person he trusted, but was unaware of her own struggles and the warnings she had received about discussing Prince.

Both Kim and Paul’s experiences highlight serious concerns regarding the treatment of vulnerable students and the culture of silence within the educational institution. The situation ultimately led to a 14-month government investigation into the allegations of misconduct and bullying at Dubbo College.