Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney

History

Our History
Providing care since 1899
1899 Miss Susan Schardt blind from birth became aware of the accommodation needs of patients being discharged from hospital as incurable She rented a cottage in Surry Hills the cottage eventually housed sixteen incurables as well as a nurse to care for them

1901 The Governor of NSW The Hon Henry Rawson became aware of the Commonwealth Home for Destitute Invalids as it was then called and became its patron

1905 Name changed to NSW Homes for Incurables

1906 The Governor called a meeting in the Sydney Town Hall to consider how best to expand the activities of the Home The Hon Henry Moses MLC offered his property in Ryde In December Weemala opened with 65 beds

1924 The Moorong building opened with 24 beds for patients with malignant growths today it houses our Spinal Injury Unit

1954 Name was changed to Royal Ryde Homes

1967 The Coorabel building opened with 114 beds to provide rehabilitation services

1969 The extended and remodeled Weemala building opened with 74 additional beds making a total of 176 beds

1973 Nine private rooms and a hydrotherapy pool were added to the Coorabel building

1978 Name changed to Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Hospital

1979 The Community Health Care Day Centre opened In 1991 this was relocated to the Coorabel building Spinesafe is now housed in this area

1985 The Coorabel building extended to accommodate the Education Centre

1987 The Spinal Injury Unit opened

1989 First accredited Occupational Rehabilitation Unit started

1990 Name changed to Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney

1991 Australian Council on Healthcare Standards ACHS Accreditation granted three years

1992 Motor Accidents Authority Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine appointed to University of Sydney with professor located on site at Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney

1993 Weemala Community Integration Program began with the opening of two community houses

1993 Coorabel building refurbished and modernised

1994 ACHS Accreditation renewed three years

1996 Orthopaedic and Neurological Units amalgamated to form the Coorabel Adult Rehabilitation Service CARS

1996 Affiliation with the University of Western Sydney

1997 Centre for Developmental Disability Studies established

1999 Chair of Rehabilitation nursing established in collaboration with the University of Western Sydney Nepean
Rehabilitation Nursing Research and Development Unit opened
Home Based Rehabilitation Service established

2000 Centenary Celebrations marking the 100 year milestone of providing services to our community
3 Boarding Houses opened under Community Integration Program 2001
One transition house was opened under Community Integration Program