It’s more than a place to sleep…
Thanks to your participation, we'll be able to provide holistic support to families throughout their child’s recovery with illness or injury. We're there for families, keeping them connected and focussed on their child's recovery through our Houses and Family Rooms.
Your support will ensure families continue to be supported in between and after hospital stays with our Forster Family Retreat and Learning Program.
Meet Billy May and Ivy
Emma was only 27 weeks pregnant when she went into labour and was rushed from their home on the Mid North Coast to John Hutner Hospital to deliver her twin girls.
"Born premature, Billy May and Ivy were tiny - one weighed only 755 grams and the other just over a kilogram - so we knew we were going to need to be away from home in Newcastle for a long time," said Emma.
While Billy May and Ivy recieved care in the NICU, Emma and her family we able to be together, spending 62 nights at our Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.
"We very qucikly had a room at Ronald McDonald House; my partner and our two older daughters were able to be here too, so we could be together.
"We were able to stay connected as a family thanks to the support of Ronald McDonald House; still having quality family time together despite our situation
"Everyone at the House has offered so much and made everything alot easier - we're just so grateful."
Your participation will help ensure families like Billy May and Ivy's can continue to stay together and be supported when they need it most.
By supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities, you will:
Ensure sick children experience an improved clinical journey as a result of physical and emotional proximity to the family. Our programs enable a family-centred approach to caring for sick children from the time they are in hospital to transitioning back to school and everyday life.
Make sure parents and family members feel better connected and less stressed, improving their capacity to focus on supporting their child through treatment.
Help hospitals experience a reduced mental load and save on resources. Our program has become a vital part of the hospital infrastructure.
Hospital staff can discharge patients to a nearby location and are therefore able to serve more people. Hospital staff also experience reduced mental load and are better able to focus on clinical outcomes when families are well rested and less stressed.
Ensure the education system avoids some of the costs associated with students who miss significant periods of school. Our Learning Program helps government and schools avoid the cost of students repeating school and avoid the lifetime costs associated with students not completing school.
Ronald McDonald House Charities has the trust and goodwill of the community, which are essential for sustainable operations. RMHC has been consistently rated as one of the most trusted charities in Australia.
We are able to have volunteers and tutors able to assist in the delivery of our Programs. Their work primarily benefits families, but also provides the volunteers and tutors themselves with a sense of purpose and job satisfaction.
