What is a Ronald
McDonald House?
Ronald McDonald House is an affordable home-away-from-home
for the families of seriously ill children being treated
at nearby hospitals. Rather than spend the night in a
hospital waiting room, family members can stay in comfort
at a Ronald McDonald House and receive support from staff,
volunteers or other families who are sharing similar experiences.
Facilities include private family rooms with en-suites
and common kitchens, lounges, quiet rooms and play areas.
How do the
Houses operate?
Ronald McDonald Houses are run by an incorporated Board
employing a House Manager who is supported by a team of
staff and volunteers.
Volunteers help ease the load on families by washing,
gardening, reading to the children, talking to the parents
and organising play activities. Volunteers are committed
to building a brighter future for the children and making
life easier for their families.
How
many Houses are there in Australia?
There are currently twelve Ronald McDonald Houses around
the country: four in NSW, (two in Sydney, one in Newcastle,
one in Wagga Wagga) two in Victoria, three in Queensland
(two in Brisbane, one in Townsville), one in South Australia,
one in Western Australia and one in Tasmania.
What is the
relationship between Ronald McDonald House (RMH) and Ronald
McDonald House Charities (RMHC)?
Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia is a not-for-profit
organisation established in 1985. Ronald McDonald House
Charities supports programs that directly help seriously
ill children live happier, healthier lives, with the cornerstone
program being the twelve Ronald McDonald Houses in Australia.
Each House is a separate incorporated entity and a registered
Charity and all donations of $2 or more to the Houses
and Ronald McDonald House Charities is tax deductible.
While Ronald McDonald House Charities makes major grants
toward Ronald McDonald House construction projects, Ronald
McDonald Houses rely heavily on a broad base of community
support and fundraising projects in order to meet the
overall financial needs for providing ongoing services.
Who is eligible
to stay at Ronald McDonald Houses?
Ronald McDonald Houses are located next to major women
and children's hospitals in each state. Any family with
a sick child receiving treatment at the hospital is able
to stay at the House. However, the Houses are primarily
set-up for families who have to travel long distances
for their child to receive treatment.
How
can I make a booking to stay at Ronald McDonald House?
Parents can contact the House Manager directly and referrals
to the House can also be made by your General Practitioner
or the Medical or Social Work staff at your child's Hospital.
The initial enquiry is made directly to the House Manager
who can complete the booking and advise you on the House
facilities and availability of rooms.
What
hospitals have Ronald McDonald Houses?
The twelve Ronald McDonald Houses are located near the
following hospitals:
The Children’s Hospital Westmead, NSW
Sydney
Children's Hospital Randwick, NSW
The
John Hunter Hospital, Rankin Park, Newcastle, NSW
Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Wagga Wagga, NSW
Mater
Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, QLD
The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane,
QLD
Townsville Hospital, Townsville, QLD
Monash
Medical Centre, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC
Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC
Women's
and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Subiaco, Perth,
WA
Royal
Hobart Hospital, Hobart, TAS
What
other projects does Ronald McDonald House Charities support?
RMHC supports a number of other programs that help seriously
ill children to live happier, healthier lives. The Charity's
cornerstone program is the 12 Ronald McDonald Houses located
around Australia. In addition to the Houses, Ronald McDonald
House Charities supports:
The Ronald
McDonald Learning Program: This provides specialist
education to children who are recovering from serious
illness. The program aims to help children 'catch up'
on their education following lengthy hospital stays and
absence from school.
Ronald McDonald
Family Rooms: Created as "places to go to when
local families can't go home", the Family Rooms provide
a respite from the stresses of short-term hospital stays.
There are family rooms at Princess Margaret Hospital,
Perth: John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle and Canberra Hospital,
Canberra.
The RMHC Cord Blood Bank:
This funds the collection and storage of umbilical cord
blood. Cord blood is rich in marrow stem cells and is
used as an alternative to bone marrow in treating childhood
leukaemia and other cancers.
Ronald
McDonald Family Retreat: Families of children experiencing
serious illnesses are often placed under immense emotional,
physical and financial stress. To help relieve the burden
RMHC has built the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat as a holiday
retreat for these families.
Ronald McDonald
Family Facilities: A series of hospital facilities
that seek to assist care giving and extend the range of
help on offer. They include:
- The Ronald McDonald House Charities Care-By-Parent
Unit (hospital accommodation for children and families
receiving treatment but not required to be on-ward)
- Special children's units and clinics at Illawarra
Regional Hospital, Wollongong; Northern Hospital -
Epping, Victoria and the Women's and Children's Hospital,
Adelaide.
RMHC Grants: Numerous grants made by
the Charity to hospitals and projects that help seriously
ill children
How
can I support Ronald McDonald House Charities?
There are many way you can help RMHC to continue their
support of seriously ill children. You can:
Make
a donation
Become a sponsor
Make a bequest
Volunteer
Or find out what support specific programs
currently need
You can also contact 'The Donor Relationship Manager'
for direct donations or any questions or offers regarding
support:
21-29 Central Avenue
THORNLEIGH NSW 2120
PO Box 392
PENNANT HILLS NSW 1715
Telephone: (02) 9875 6666
Fax: (02) 9875 6588
rmhc@au.mcd.com
How
does Ronald McDonald House Charities raise funds?
McDonald's Australia Limited pays all administration
costs for RMHC. This means that one hundred cents of every
dollar donated goes directly RMHC programs supporting
seriously ill children and their families.
Individual Ronald McDonald Houses receive funding for
capital projects from Ronald McDonald House Charities,
but they need to cover their own operating expenses. To
meet these costs they raise funds through donations from
local service clubs, local businesses, local McDonald's
Licensees, special events and general fundraising activities.
Houses also generate income from modest accommodation
fees from parents, most of whom are eligible for government
assistance with the fees.
Funds raised by RMHC events such as McHappy Day and Ronald
McDonald House Charities' Balls are distributed between
houses and programs at a state or national level. |
