Children's Services

Each year thousands of children from hundreds of country locations access specialist health care provided by Royal Far West because those services are not available in the areas where they live.

The services include paediatric medical, child and adolescent mental health, ophthalmology, allied health, dental and orthodontics. All children attending Royal Far West can access free dental care.

Our allied health team include clinical psychologists, dieticians, occupational therapists, orthoptists, physiotherapists, social workers and speech therapists.

Children and adolescents attending Royal Far West are assessed and treated for a range of conditions including:

• ADHD
• Autism Spectrum Disorders / Asperger's Syndrome
• developmental disabilities
• behaviour problems; and
• mental health disorders including depression, anxiety and conduct disorders.

Some of the more common presenting problems include:

• adolescents and children with delayed development
• families with children displaying disruptive oppositional behaviour
• adolescents and children experiencing failure and disinterest in school work
• children with communication and speech problems
• anxiety and depression disorders associated with problems at home and at school
• children with poor co-ordination and / or perceptual difficulties
• families unable to cope with their child’s emotional and / or behavioural deterioration
• children and parents with relationship / attachment difficulties; and
• families requiring intervention for entrenched conflict.

Some services are provided on an outreach basis in rural locations including Cobar, Lightning Ridge, Walgett and Collarenebri. An outreach program, operated in partnership with North Coast Area Health Service, is based in Casino, in northern NSW.

Access to health services provided by other organisations such as the specialist children's hospitals, Dalwood Assessment Centre and the Spastic Centre, is facilitated through Royal Far West’s accommodation and transport services.

In keeping with Stanley Drummond's original vision, we continue to conduct a respite program for special needs children from country NSW, and their families, which enables them to have a supported "holiday by the sea".

Supported by the NSW Health Department
Supported by Northern Sydney Central Coast Health

Who Can access Our Services

Royal Far West's services are provided for children from rural, regional and remote NSW who cannot otherwise access these services. To be eligible to access our services you must:

• be younger than 16 years old,
• live in country NSW (north of Taree, south of Nowra, west of the Great Divide),
• not be able to access the services in your local area, and
• fulfil any relevant clinical criteria.

How to Access Our Services

All children require a referral from their local doctor. Once a referral has been obtained, the parent/guardian should contact the Intake Officer on 1800 500 061 to arrange admission.

Access to the orthodontics program requires a specific referral from a dentist or dental therapist. Children must be assessed as meeting the clinical criteria for entry to the orthodontics service. Further information on our Orthodontics Service can be obtained on 02 89668562.

Children and families who come to Manly for assessment and treatment stay in hostel style accommodation on site. All children must be accompanied by a parent / guardian. There is no charge for patients but there is an accommodation charge, which includes meals, for non-patients.

Families travel to Manly by private and public transport. There are limited parking facilities. Those who travel by bus or train can get to Manly by ferry, or, in some cases we are able to organise a volunteer to provide transport. This can be discussed in detail with our Appointments team.

To find out more information, or to obtain a registration package, please contact us:
By email: intake@royalfarwest.org.au
or by free call: 1800 500 061 or 02 8966  8500