Ronald McDonald House Australia has unveiled a refreshed brand identity and new national mission campaign, Family Stays, as the organisation continues to evolve its support offering for families travelling for specialist paediatric care.
The launch forms part of a broader global modernisation initiative across the Ronald McDonald House network, introducing a refreshed visual identity and storytelling platform designed to better reflect the organisation’s role in supporting families through every stage of a child’s healthcare journey.
Rolling out across Australia earlier this month, Family Stays reinforces the organisation’s core mission: when a child is in hospital, family does whatever it takes to stay, and Ronald McDonald House stays with them.
The campaign launch comes as new research commissioned by Ronald McDonald House Australia highlights the growing pressures facing families who must travel for specialist treatment, particularly those living in regional and rural communities.
The findings reveal nearly two thirds of regional and rural parents (63%) say their family would experience significant or severe financial strain if their child required specialist treatment away from home, with travel, accommodation and lost income among the biggest pressures. Families outside metropolitan areas are also almost five times more likely to travel more than 100 kilometres for specialist care.
Barbara Ryan, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Australia, said the new campaign and refreshed identity represent an important evolution for the organisation as demand for family-centred accommodation and support services continues to grow.
“For more than four decades, Ronald McDonald House across Australia has supported families through some of the most difficult periods of their lives. This refreshed identity reflects who we are today, a modern, deeply connected organisation providing wrap-around care that helps families stay together during a child’s treatment journey.
While healthcare outcomes remain the priority, we know the experience surrounding treatment matters too. Being able to stay together, close to hospital and be involved in their child’s care, can make a meaningful difference for families navigating prolonged or complex medical journeys.”
As part of the global modernisation rollout, the refreshed identity introduces an updated look and feel across Ronald McDonald House Australia touchpoints nationwide, designed to better capture the warmth, optimism and strength families experience through the organisation’s programs and services.
The campaign also places renewed focus on Ronald McDonald House’s broad range of services across Australia, offering the critical role family stays play within the broader healthcare ecosystem. Through Houses near hospitals, Family Rooms within hospitals, Family Retreats, education support programs and volunteer-led services, Ronald McDonald House supports families to stay together with their child during treatment.
Last year alone, Ronald McDonald House across Australia supported more than 89,000 families through 56 programs nationwide. However, growing demand continues to outpace availability in some regions, reinforcing the ongoing need for investment and expansion in family-centred accommodation infrastructure.