We’re excited to share that Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA) is exploring a potential merger Royal Rehab Group – a renowned not for profit with over 125 years of experience in offering exceptional rehabilitation, wellbeing, and disability services.
As the disability landscape continues to evolve, this proposed partnership represents a bold and forward-thinking step toward a more connected and impactful future for the communities we serve. By combining SCIA’s lived experience and community leadership and Royal Rehab Group’s clinical and rehabilitation expertise we aim to create a stronger, more accessible and person-centred network.
Why this merger matters:
In today’s complex disability and healthcare landscape, standing still is not an option. Rising demand, shifting funding models, and increasing resource pressures are making it more difficult for organisations to deliver the long-term support our communities need.
This potential merger is about securing a stronger future – one that enables both SCIA and Royal Rehab Group to grow, adapt, and deepen our impact.
Together, we are guided by a shared goal:
- Greater access to services for people with disability across more locations
- A unified voice to drive meaningful sector-wide change
- A care model that genuinely puts people first — not just in principle, but in practice
It’s a leap toward sustainability, innovation, and inclusion – shaped by purpose and powered by people.
About Royal Rehab Group:
Royal Rehab Group is a leading Australian not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing world-class rehabilitation, disability support, and community health services. With a strong history dating back more than a century, Royal Rehab has earned a reputation for excellence, innovation, and compassionate care. The Group’s purpose is to empower individuals to achieve greater independence, improve their quality of life, and realise their personal goals—no matter the challenges they face.
Royal Rehab Group delivers a wide spectrum of evidence-based services across hospital, community, and residential settings. These services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each person, recognising that recovery and progress look different for everyone.
Specialist Hospital Services
The Group operates private rehabilitation hospitals that specialise in spinal cord injury and a broad range of neurological conditions, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and acquired brain injury. In addition, Royal Rehab provides expert care in orthopaedic rehabilitation and post-operative recovery. These services are offered across both inpatient and outpatient settings, ensuring continuity of care from hospital to home.
A cornerstone of the Group is Royal Rehab Ryde Hospital, which is part of the NSW public health system as a NSW Government Affiliated Health Organisation (AHO). This hospital is a recognised centre of excellence in brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation and is home to the state-wide NSW Spinal Outreach Service—a vital resource supporting individuals with spinal cord injuries across the state.
Community and Disability Support Services
Royal Rehab Group extends its reach beyond hospital walls through its comprehensive suite of community-based services. These include allied health therapies delivered in-home or in local clinics, supported independent living, short-term accommodation, and respite care specifically designed for people with complex support needs, including those with spinal cord injuries.
Through its disability service, Breakthru, Royal Rehab Group delivers personalised disability and employment support services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Breakthru operates in a number of metropolitan and regional areas, supporting people to live meaningful lives through access to support coordination, capacity-building programs, and job readiness training.
Training and Workforce Development
Breakthru College, the Group’s registered training organisation, plays a critical role in building a skilled and compassionate workforce for the disability and aged care sectors. The college offers nationally accredited training programs and professional development opportunities designed to meet the current and future needs of the care sector.
A Commitment to Excellence
Royal Rehab Group is supported by a dedicated workforce of more than 1,600 staff across locations in Sydney, regional New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. The Group is committed to delivering services that reflect the highest standards of quality, safety, and innovation. Research, clinical excellence, and workforce capability development are embedded in everything the organisation does.
With a people-first approach and a long-standing commitment to improving lives, Royal Rehab Group continues to lead the way in person-centered rehabilitation and disability support in Australia.
Visit royalrehabgroup.com.au for more information.
What this could mean for SCIA Members, Royal Rehab Clients and the Community:
- More services, closer to home: Access to a broader network of programs, including neurological rehab, assistive technology, aged care, and supported community living.
- Expanded peer support: More opportunities to connect, mentor, and share lived experience within a larger community.
- Stronger advocacy: With Royal Rehab’s reach, SCIA’s advocacy work will grow louder and more influential — advancing change across policy, access, and inclusion.
What this could mean for SCIA and Royal Rehab Group staff:
- A merger enhances long-term stability while opening opportunities including professional growth and new pathways within a larger, multidisciplinary organisation.
- SCIA’s commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and respect remains central — and is deeply aligned with Royal Rehab Group’s own culture of care, innovation and impact.
Looking Ahead:
While no final decision has been made, both SCIA and Royal Rehab Group are engaging in open and respectful discussions, driven by a shared belief that we can achieve more together. We are committed to keeping our communities informed throughout this process.
Rest assured, SCIA would maintain its identity and continue operating under its own brand within the group should a partnership go ahead.
Together, we see the potential to build something truly special – a future where more people, in more places, can access the services, support and advocacy they deserve.
Please read our media announcement here.
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