Royal Far West Children's Health Scheme

Royal Far West Children's Health Scheme

Motto	Caring for Country Kids
Formation	1924
Founder	Reverend Stanley Drummond
Type	Charitable organisation
Headquarters	Drummond House, Manly, Australia
Chairman	G Richard Barron
Website	http://www.royalfarwest.org.au/

The Royal Far West Children's Health Scheme also known as Royal Far West is an Australian not for profit charity based in Manly, New South Wales that provides specialist medical care and allied health support services for children from remote areas of the state. It was founded in 1924 by Methodist missionary Reverend Stanley Drummond in Cobar. Royal Far West provides children and their families with beachside accommodation, schooling as well as educational and recreational excursions across Manly and Sydney while receiving free medical treatment. The patron of Royal Far West is Governor of New South Wales, Professor Marie Bashir.

History

The first Royal Far West camp was organised in 1925, taking fifty-eight children and six mothers to Cronulla. The children came from towns including Bourke, Brewarrina and Wilcannia. The following year the camp was held at Manly for the first time^[1] In Manly, operator of a local cottage hospital Dr George Moncrieff Barron volunteered his services free of charge and would continue to do so until his death.^[2] Land would later be purchased in Wentworth street allowing the Drummond Far West Children's Home to be built. The original facility provided 80 beds.

An idea conceived by a doctor from the remote town of Trangie was adopted by Far West in 1931 which saw it operating mobile baby clinics staffed by nurses out of converted railway carriages along railway lines in the west of the state. By 1954, four carriages had been converted and were the only of their type in the world.^[3] The Far West Scheme also developed an aerial transport service in the 1930s and successfully lobbied the New South Wales Government to pay for the construction of airstrips to allow better access to communities.^[2] Stanley Drummond met Nancy Bird Walton in 1935 and soon hired her to provide the air ambulance service on behalf of the scheme. Walton used her own aircraft, and later was appointed Officer Order of the British Empire in honour of her dedication to this service in 1966.^[4]

Reverend Stanley Drummond died in 1943 and was succeeded by his brother, Norman Drummond as Chairman who remained in the role until his own death in 1983.

In 2008-09, 3,611 children were able to access the services provided by Royal Far West.

A proposed redevelopment of the Royal Far West property in Manly sparked community debate in 2013. The $200 million proposal, approved by Manly Council will see the old buildings replaced by two towers of six to eight stories. Locals expressed concerns that the development would shadow neighbouring properties and impact views of the beach.^[5]

Royal Far West School

A public school was established at the children's home in Manly in 1938, catering to children who require extended stays for ongoing treatment. The school is specially equipped to work with students from pre-school to Year 12, many of who require a high level of support and assistance for behavioural and learning difficulties. The school also participates reading and literacy programs across the state.^[6]

Programs

One of the Royal Far West's buildings at Manly in 2013

Access to the services and facilities provided by Royal Far West at Manly is by referral from a medical practitioner. A typical stay is 3–5 days in duration and allows children and their parents to attend multiple clinical sessions. Longer respite programs are held every January, allowing for month-long stays. Eligibility requirements apply as follows:

• Children must be aged 0–12 years.
• Reside in an area south of Nowra, west of the Great Dividing Range and north of Taree
• Reside in an area where there is no access to health services
• Fulfill relevant clinical criteria
• The patient is not suffering an acute medical condition requiring urgent care

Children suffering from acute mental health condition or who are considered a risk to themselves or others are unable to be admitted.

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile

This program is run in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities since 2011 and provides a purpose built mobile clinic employing advanced Information and Communications Technology which delivers a wide range of specialist services. In its first year of operation, the mobile clinic visited 35 communities focusing on therapy for speech and communication skills as well as motor skills. The vehicle is configured with two consulting rooms as well as videoconferencing facilities, allowing diagnosis, treatment, referral and management on-going medical conditions. Clinical staff for the Care Mobile are provided by Royal Far West while the vehicle itself is maintained by the Ronald McDonald house in Orange.^[7] The joint-venture also provides health and lifestyle education, organizing activities such as sports clinics and classes for parents and children teaching good dietary habits and dental hygiene.^[8]

Access Early Intervention

The Access Early Intervention program began a trial in 2013 in partnership with the University of New South Wales allowing parents of children with behavioural and emotional difficulties to work with a clinical psychologist to provide an intervention to address the problem by building coping skills. The program is delivered online, making use of teleconferencing as well as a range of downloadable materials. It is the first telehealth program of its kind in Australia.^[9]

References