Children living in rural and remote Australia are up to twice as likely to start school developmentally vulnerable compared to their peers in cities — yet they face long waitlists and even longer journeys to access the health services they need.
For more than 100 years, Royal Far West has supported the healthy development of country children by providing multidisciplinary health, education, and disability services. Specializing in children up to age 12, the organization focuses on developmental, mental, and behavioral health — and believes that getting the right support early in life can transform a child’s future.
As Royal Far West reached the end of its current strategic plan, it found itself in a period of change. Shifting policies, funding challenges, and evolving community needs were creating new pressures, all while the organization was managing important internal developments. At this turning point, our Australian team was brought in to work closely with Royal Far West to explore the trends shaping its future and help lay the groundwork for its next five-year strategy.
Oliver Wyman dove into our challenge with energy and clarity. They distilled complex insights into a clear format that helped shaped the pillars of our strategy and laid the foundation for a productive, well-informed board discussionJacqueline Emery, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Far West
Our support focused on in-depth financial and workforce analysis, alongside an environmental scan covering areas such as the funding landscape, universal childcare, climate-related disasters, and advances in technology and customer-centric care.
We also facilitated stakeholder consultations across the board, executive team, clinicians, and key government and nonprofit partners to shape a shared view of the organization’s future direction and priorities. We provided an impartial perspective, delivering clear, actionable recommendations on future funding, policy shifts, workforce trends, and technology. Benchmarking and stakeholder interviews also offered a deeper understanding of Royal Far West’s position within Australia’s nonprofit sector.
Royal Far West faced big decisions about where to focus and how to fund support. I’m proud of our team’s deep analysis, and the thoughtful, well-received recommendations they delivered to the board to help guide the charity’s strategic directionJames Twaddle, Partner, Oliver Wyman
The project is already making a meaningful impact by laying the foundation for the charity’s 2026-2030 strategy. It will also guide the implementation of action plans to help Royal Far West achieve its goals — and continue improving the health and development of children in Australia’s most remote communities.
It was a privilege to support Royal Far West at such a pivotal moment and to witness the passion from both the client and our team. The impact of the work was clear, and for many of us, contributing to this mission has been a true career highlightAnna Pavlakis, Principal, Oliver Wyman
