Child & Family Services - Royal Far West

A holistic service for country kids with complex behavioural developmental and mental health needs.

We support children and their caregivers, assisting them to unlock the transformative pathways that help them to achieve their potential.

The Paediatric Developmental Program is free to families who meet our specific eligibility criteria.

Children and their families travel to Royal Far West in Manly for a week-long stay, during which they have access to a multidisciplinary team that includes:

Neurodevelopmental paediatrics
Child and adolescent psychiatry
Speech pathology
Psychology
Occupational therapy
Social work
Special educators
Dietetics
Orthoptic and ophthalmology

Families stay at our Royal Far West Lodge accommodation, and children attend the Royal Far West School during the school term.

After school, children are invited to participate in our Recreation Program, which involves a broad range of exciting activities designed to build confidence, reinforce health and well-being, and encourage the children to have fun.

Due to very high demand, we have an admissions process to ensure that our services go to those who are most in need.

Read more about our services in our Child & Family Factsheet.

Accessing this service

Step 1: Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, the child must:

Be under 12 years of age.
Reside in an area where there is no access to the appropriate health services.
Reside within the program’s NSW geographical boundaries of north of Taree, west of the Great Dividing Range (Lithgow), or south of Nowra.
Fulfill relevant clinical criteria.

Because of our focus on early intervention and resource allocation, we are unable to provide assessment services to:

Children 13 years or older.
Children accessing appropriate local services, or for whom an appropriate local service exists (although Royal Far West may act as a secondary referral for those service providers).
Children with acute conditions for which a more urgent response is required.
Children whose behaviour or family situation comprises a risk to themselves or others, such that a visit to the Manly site is considered unsafe (these children may become eligible at a later date if issues resolve sufficiently).
Children for whom the primary issue relates to an acute mental health issue.

Step 2: Referral

To access the PDP you will need a completed referral form from your local doctor or your paediatrician if you have one.
Sending copies of previous assessments, reports or letters is of great assistance.

Medical Referral Form

Step 3: Acknowledgement

If the referral meets eligibility criteria, you will be sent a letter acknowledging the referral, as well as a parent questionnaire, and a school questionnaire.
Reports or assessments that have not already been sent will also be requested.

Step 4: Parent & School Questionnaires

The parent questionnaire and consent form need to be submitted via Connect. The school questionnaire is to be completed and submitted by the school.
Submitting completed questionnaires with the referral and reports helps the eligibility assessment process.

Step 5: Review & Acceptance

When the completed forms, and relevant reports/letters, are received by Royal Far West, the referral will be reviewed by our Intake team. If the referral is accepted, it will be prioritised by age, where you live, reasons and date of referral.

Step 6: Admission

Prior to admission, your Intake Manager or Care Coordinator will contact you to plan your upcoming visit, and discuss any further information needed to ensure you get the most out of your time here with the team

Step 7: Cancellations Policy

Cancellations Policy

More information about Royal Far West

Accommodation: Children and their families who come to Royal Far West for assessment and/or intervention are able stay in our comfortable Royal Far West Lodge accommodation in Manly. We also provide general accommodation for families, visitors and school groups.
All meals are provided in a communal dining room located on the ground floor.
On the day of your departure you will need to vacate your room by 10am, settle your account and return any parking permits. Your account will be calculated based on the number of people in your group and the length of your stay.
Royal Far West School: With a school on-site in Manly, we can undertake integrated clinical and learning assessments and planning. We can also provide continued schooling for kids who are accessing our Manly-based programs, as well as their siblings.
Short-term programs are delivered to four multi-grade classes from Preschool to Year 12 students, including a class specifically for kids with disabilities. These small groups provide a safe, secure and happy environment where students can excel, and the children love them.

Through the School, Royal Far West also offers two literacy-based programs via telecare:
SWAY (Sounds, Words, Aboriginal Language and Yarning)
An oral language and early literacy program developed specifically for Aboriginal children.
SOLVE-IT
An innovative technology-based outreach-learning program supporting students in rural New South Wales.
For more information, please visit the RFW School website.
Directions & Transport: Our address is:
14-18 Wentworth Street
MANLY NSW 2095
If you’re coming by car, there are limited parking facilities at Royal Far West and a number of car parks close by.

You can travel to Manly by private or public transport. Travel by bus or ferry is the easiest way to get to Manly once you have arrived in Sydney. Contact us for more information and transport options.

In some cases we are able to organise a volunteer to provide transport. This can be discussed in detail with our appointments team.