Royal Far West’s newest building to double clientele in next five years

Manly children’s centre Royal Far West has officially opened a new $36m facility which will enable it to almost double the amount of youngsters it can help.

The Royal Far West’s new integrated health, education and disability service was officially unveiled in Manly on Monday. Picture: Troy Snook

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Manly children’s centre Royal Far West has officially opened a new $36m facility which will enable it to almost double the amount of youngsters it can help.

The new integrated health, education and disability service features a six-storey building that includes 25 clinic rooms and will house 150 speech therapists, occupations therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and dentists.

The service — which officially opened on Monday — is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of country children, just like those in the Earl family.

Caroline Earl with her children Kellyann (left), 10, Thomas, 12, and Tyler (front), 8, at the official opening of Royal Far West in Manly on Monday. Picture: Troy Snook

Mum Caroline, of Gunnedah, said her children Thomas, 12, Kellyann, 10, Tyler, 8, and husband James had accessed the RFW for specialist services for four years.

“I love the support that we receive here in Manly and between visits through Telecare,” the 36-year-old said.

“The Royal Far West team speaks to my kids’ school to work on strategies to help them through the year.

“The kids and I are really looking forward to coming to the new building next year.”

One of the new classrooms at the Royal Far West in Manly. Guests attending the launch of the new building were treated to a tour of the service. Picture: Troy Snook

RFW CEO Lindsay Cane and NSW Governor David Hurley unveil a commemorative plaque at the official opening of the new Royal Far West on Monday. Picture: Troy Snook

Funded by RFW in conjunction with the state and federal governments, the Centre for Country Kids is designed to support the expansion of organisation’s Telecare for Kids program.

It will also improve the experience for clients with complex needs, who attend the RFW Paediatric Developmental Program in Manly.

CEO Lindsay Cane said the expansion would enable the service to almost double the amount of people it helps in the next five years — moving from 8500 to 15,000 clients.

Guests at the packed official opening of Royal Far West on Monday. Picture: Troy Snook

The RFW was founded in 1924 by Methodist missionary Reverend Stanley Drummond in Cobar and provides children and their families with beachside accommodation, schooling, educational and recreational excursions, and medical treatment.

“In time we’ll redevelop the front too with a masterplan for the site,” she said.

“We’re talking at least two years before we start to see any activity — right now I don’t want to see another cement truck until we’ve settled into this building and know how it works.

“There’s 100,000 kids in rural and regional Australia who need support, so we’ve got a big job ahead of us to turn this around.”