CRS Australia

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Our history

CRS Australia began as the Civilian Rehabilitation Scheme in 1941 and later became the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service. Our role was to assist injured men and women from the armed forces and people on invalid pensions to return to the workforce.

Our organisation provided vocational rehabilitation services through centres, which were based in cities across the country.

A senior physiotherapist with clients at Kingshome Rehabilitation Centre, Brisbane, in the 1950s

In the mid 1980s, our rehabilitation services moved away from centres and focused on community-based programmes. These programmes meant there was an increase in access for women, Indigenous Australians and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

In 1986, CRS Australia adopted a case management approach, which has been refined over the years but is still in place today.

In 1998, the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service was renamed CRS Australia.

Through our community-based work with employers, the need for a focus on injury prevention and injury management was identified.

Throughout the 1990s, our organisation began to also focus on helping employers provide safe and healthy workplaces for their employees.

A common theme throughout our history has been our focus on helping people to achieve independence through employment.

With over 65 years of experience behind us, we continue to adapt and respond to the current needs of our stakeholders and to provide high quality services.