Investigation consultants

WELCOME TO BASALT SOLUTIONS LTD

Helping educators conduct rock-solid investigations

When complaints and allegations are made about the conduct of students or staff, we help you complete investigations everyone can trust.

Tim’s highly structured approach to managing risk, the experience and insight he brings to a wide range of potential risks, and his relatable and approachable manner make him an absolute asset to any principal’s network.

Tim knows his stuff.

I contacted Tim when our school was going through a challenging internal process. Tim made time for us and provided his support at very short notice. Our staff greatly appreciated his involvement and were reassured by his experience and guidance. He made a very real and positive difference and enabled us to successfully navigate a difficult process. He also ensured our documentation was thorough and well structured. I’m grateful for Tim’s support and recommend his services.

Getting investigations right matters more than ever

Education providers regularly deal with complaints, grievances and allegations involving students, parents and staff.

bullying
harassment
threats
violence
sexual assault
fraud
substance abuse
corruption

Whether the issue involves students, staff, or both, it’s important to find out what really happened before making any decisions. This can take a lot of time and be hard to get right.

Imagine if there was one place schools and tertiary education providers could turn to for help with any kind of investigation. An experienced investigator who understands the education sector. That’s where we come in.

We support day schools, boarding schools, universities, polytechnics, and student residential facilities. Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, we work with education providers across Australasia.

What makes us different?

Basalt Solutions is owned and operated by Tim and Natalie Sterne. Tim is a former teacher and experienced criminal and civil investigator. Natalie is an experienced school teacher who has also worked as a professional practice lecturer.

Many providers investigate and leave. They don’t help your team learn how to do it themselves. We give you the chance to grow your own skills, so you can handle more in the future.

Other providers often don’t understand how schools and tertiary institutions actually work. We do. We’ve worked in education. We talk to educators every day. We understand your world, enabling us to ask the right questions and see things others might miss.

If you’re conducting investigations in a school or tertiary institution, we believe you deserve specialised support from someone who understands your unique situation.

Our Services

Consulting

Develop your internal investigation capabilities

Independent Investigations

Independent investigations, reviews, and inquiries

Our leadership team recently went through Basalt's training on investigation processes. It was exceptionally worthwhile. The frameworks and prompts sparked immediate considerations and reflective conversations. We have already applied this thinking to our work and will continue to work with Basalt Solutions to develop best practice. Tim was a great facilitator and his experience and background are invaluable.

Straightforward, to the point. Tim was direct, and would make it obvious when there were errors and inconsistencies in current practice.

While serious incidents are rare in our school, having a clear and professional approach to investigations is essential when issues do arise. Since attending Tim’s workshop, I’ve found his ideas and advice invaluable - whether I’m leading a process myself or supporting staff who are carrying out investigations. His guidance has helped ensure our responses are thoughtful, fair, and consistent.