RDNS brings 130 years of health care expertise to region

When Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) opened shop 130 years ago, it started with a single nurse who walked Melbourne's streets to attend to patients at their homes. 

This devotion to service guided the growth of RDNS from a Victoria-based health care provider to a multinational corporation offering the best home nursing and community care services globally. Today, Australia's oldest health care provider makes more than 2 million visits a year, in the process attending to the needs of more than 100,000 people.

"We are a highly professional and commercial organisation, but committed to making a foundational difference to people and communities - essentially, we are a social enterprise," says Dan Woods, executive general manager for brand and business development. "We are driven by our mission to do more of the things we do for more people." 

Amid a regional demand for better health care, RDNS has brought Australian expertise to Asia, providing a spectrum of elderly care solutions. Backed by its knowledge of service planning, project management, education and training, home care services, and operational management expertise, RDNS supports and partners with enterprises interested in providing aged care solutions. 

Particularly passionate about establishing business relationships in the area of education and training, RDNS operates its own renowned research institute to investigate health challenges affecting the elderly. In China, RDNS has entered into joint ventures to develop and operate aged care facilities, and provide seniors with living education and training programmes to help address China's challenges in relation to health care capabilities and aged care. 

RDNS is looking for more potential partners to develop health care solutions that will be of value to China in the long term. It does this while taking on a respectful approach that is consistent with Chinese values.