Briony Scott returns to Manly as the new CEO of Royal Far West
For Briony Scott, taking up the position of chief executive officer at Royal Far West (RFW) in Manly is a full-circle moment. While growing up in Seaforth, Briony spent time volunteering at RFW as a teenager as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award service component. “I loved the caring nature of it, and the fact that these children were treated so well and so respectfully and that they had the opportunity of being able to get to the beach, because so many of them (lived) so far away,” Briony says.
RFW has worked for more than a century to improve the health and wellbeing of children who live in rural and remote communities.
“I had a sister who had significant disabilities and knew what it was like to grow up in a family having to adjust and accommodate,” Briony says of her ‘gorgeous’ sibling, Kirsten, who lived in Manly and sadly passed away two years ago, aged 59. “She was one of those characters that everybody knew,” she adds.
“It has always appealed to me to work with families and with children in particular who are having to grapple with things that they wish they didn’t have to, to make life easy,” she says.
Briony stepped into her new role at the charity in May, bringing with her extensive leadership experience. In addition to holding the position of principal at Wenona for 14 years, and Roseville College for five, she has held board positions in the health sector, including as deputy chair of the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.
Briony with RFW’s Joan Treweeke and Warringah MP Zali Steggall at the Topping Out ceremony
Now the new CEO is excited to lead RFW, a charity that offers health, education and disability services in Manly, and virtually via Telecare. It also works in over 360 rural and remote communities. Patients, along with their parents and siblings, come to stay at the Centre for Country Kids in Manly together for a week at a time.
“What really interests me about (this role) is that I can actively…go out to communities, I can work with the children, I can work with the allied health teams and psychologists and speech pathologists and the doctors to provide the care these children need,” Briony says, adding that the charity is able to ‘contribute to the nation more broadly.’
One of Briony’s first tasks as CEO was to attend the Topping Out ceremony of RFW’s Aurora residential development in Manly with RFW Board chair Joan Treweeke and Warringah MP Zali Steggall. Aurora will deliver 58 luxury homes, with sale proceeds supporting the work of RFW.
“My vision is to support RFW to continue to grow as a trusted national leader in rural child health and wellbeing, expanding access to high-quality care, while ensuring the organisation remains sustainable, responsive, and deeply connected to the communities it serves,” Briony says.
To donate to RFW, visit give.royalfarwest.org.au/go-beyond
