Allegations of bullying have emerged from staff at Wilcannia Central School in far west New South Wales.

The ABC understands from multiple sources there are least four staff members who feel they have been bullied by other staff in recent months.

Some staff members are on stress leave because of their experiences, and complaints about the workplace culture have been made to the Department of Education.

One complainant is Wilcannia local Kevin Whyman, who was contracted to film students speaking the local Barkindji language for posterity, and was told there was no future funding for the position.

He said he had been filmed by a staff member without consent as he tried to leave the school on his last day, and was then refused a complaint form when he requested one.

"I felt like I was enclosed … I had three workers standing around me like they were ready to attack me," he said.

"They made me feel very, very unwelcome."

Mr Whyman said he subsequently felt threatened to work with any students or enter school grounds, and left Wilcannia to look for work elsewhere.

"Every time I would go near the school they would try and find an excuse to exclude me," he said.

A Wilcannia resident who is familiar with the school, and asked to remain anonymous, said the behaviour of some staff took many forms.

"A group has been working against and targeting a smaller group," the resident said.

"Staff members have been witnessed both in the school and around the community treating each other with disrespect, calling out profanity, making rude gestures, completely ignoring the presence of others.

"There's a large number of the town's population that are unhappy with what's been happening there."

Concern over staff departures

It is understood community concern has been prompted by some well-regarded staff leaving the school or facing an uncertain future there.

There were about 40 full-time equivalent staff members working at the school, according to its 2015 annual report.

"The community are so disappointed that year after year they watch the good teachers being chased out of town," the Wilcannia resident said.

"We've lost so many generations [of students] with literacy and numeracy skills.

"How many generations are we willing to lose?"

There is concern in the community about the possible departure of some staff. ( ABC News: Declan Gooch )

Mr Whyman said the staff departures would have an effect on educational standards.

"Good teachers that are very, very highly skilled and very, very highly-qualified in their teaching careers [are leaving]," Mr Whyman said.

"I feel very, very, very sorry for our children, because they are the ones that are going to suffer.

"It's another failure towards Wilcannia, and it's not the community that needs to be blamed, it's the [Department of Education] that needs to be blamed."

In a statement, a spokesman for the Department of Education said schools reviewed programs and short-term staff appointments as part of planning for the new school year.

"Teacher transfers and appointments mostly occur during the summer break," the spokesman said.

"The Department of Education has extensive programs to encourage and retain experienced and qualified teachers to choose to teach in rural and remote schools, including Wilcannia Central."

Letter acknowledges complaints

A letter circulated to staff in October, seen by the ABC, did not mention bullying allegations, but appeared to acknowledge there were concerns about the general direction of the school.

"In response to a number of complaints, which are being addressed, it is important for us as Department of Education employees to support the legitimate leadership of our workplace to maintain a positive environment," the letter read.

The Department of Education spokesman said the complaints process was confidential.

"Discussion of individual issues could compromise privacy," he said.

"The Department of Education has published complaints-handling guidelines and these are followed to investigate and resolve matters thoroughly and fairly."

Brett Bertalli, a Broken Hill organiser with the NSW Teachers Federation, said the union and Department of Education were working together to address the concerns.

"The federation and department are working on and actually enacting the complaints-handling guidelines and procedures," Mr Bertalli said.