More than a place to stay, Ronald McDonald House Programs surround families with a community of support, care and the resources they need – a place to sleep, rest and play, keep working and learning, do laundry, share a home-cooked meal, connect with other families who have been there, feel the comfort and support of our staff and volunteers - to help make their journey a little easier.
A place to stay together
Providing the essential care, support & resources families need to stay together, rest and reconnect, and focus on what matters most – caring for their ill or injured child.
A place to stay strong
Our community of volunteers and families provide support and relief from social isolation, so families don’t have to navigate their child’s medical journey alone. Support is strongest when it’s shared.
A place to stay cared for
Supporting families with home-baked goods and nutritious meals, kitchens with essential supplies and grab-and-go items on our Hospitality Carts, laundry services, hairdressers, activities to keep well and comforted throughout a family’s stay.
A place to stay connected
Helping life continue when it feels anything but normal with tutoring for children to catch up on learning, space for families to continue working, playing, keeping active, to take a break, reconnect in a place that feels like home.
Our 17 Houses across Australia allow families to stay together, close to the hospital and remain at the heart of their child’s healthcare.
Families have access to private rooms, shared kitchens, laundry and meals, office spaces, play areas and welcoming communal spaces, providing comfort away from home. Supported by compassionate volunteers, staff and other families on similar journeys, families can feel connected, strong and cared for, focusing on being together and caring for their ill or injured child, rather than the stress and cost of travelling long distances
Ronald McDonald House Family Accommodation provides a place to support and comfort families away from home inside the hospital. Equipped with private rooms, kitchenettes, laundry, office desks, play areas and welcoming communal spaces. Some Family Accommodation is not staffed 24/7, but remains accessible around the clock for families to stay within the hospital, close to their child’s care, when it matters the most.
Often steps away from a paediatric or intensive care unit, each Ronald McDonald House Family Room offers a place for families to rest and regroup away from the medical environment.
Our 15 Family Rooms across Australia offer a warm and welcoming place for families to be together and stay close to their child’s treatment. Located inside major children’s hospitals and run by our friendly volunteers, families can enjoy a cup of tea or a meal, play as a family, take a shower, connect as a family, or simply, rest.
Ronald McDonald House Family Hubs provide a place to relax, recharge and connect as a family whilst remaining close to the care their child needs. Located on or near clinical wards, families can enjoy a cup of tea, a meal, play, freshen up, connect as a family, or simply relax. Family Hubs are not staffed around the clock but are available every day for families to use 24/7.
The Ronald McDonald House Learning Program supports over 1,600 students on any given week with one‑to‑one tutoring, helping kids catch up on missed education, stay engaged and build confidence, making the return to school easier.
Our 6 Family Retreats in peaceful locations give families with ill or injured children, or those grieving the loss of a child, the opportunity to take a break and spend some much-needed time together, giving families the opportunity to rest, recharge and reconnect.
Our many Hospitality Carts across Australia are packed with essential supplies and comforting items such as light refreshments and personal products for parents and loved ones. Carts also carry needed distractions: reading and activity books, toys, games and other goodies to keep children entertained while they’re in hospital. Operated by our volunteers around the ward, our Hospitality Carts help families to stay close and comforted, by their child’s bedside, where they are needed the most.
