NextSense was opened on the 22 October 1860 by deaf Scottish immigrant Thomas Pattison, who was the school's first teacher.

Located at 152 Liverpool St Sydney, the school was originally named the "Deaf and Dumb Institution of New South Wales".

David Hunter, a former student of the school who had been blind from age 6, was elected as member of the NSW parliament (for Ashfield) when he was 35 and served there for 35 years (1940–1976).

He was responsible for the passing of an Act in 1944 to make the education of blind and deaf children compulsory.

RIDBC is a major Australian charity but relies heavily on Government subsidy and community support to continue its services.