- McGowan Government invests additional $9.6 million in Ronald McDonald House
- Capacity to more than double from 47 guest rooms to 97 guest rooms
- Initiative keeps sick children and regional families close during extended medical care
Ronald McDonald House, which provides a ‘home away from home’ for regional families, is set to expand, giving it the capacity to support more than twice as many sick children and their families.
The McGowan Government is investing an additional $9.6 million to assist Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) to double the free accommodation services it provides to regional families of children who need extended medical care in Perth. This funding increases the Government’s total investment to $20.7 million over the next four years.
Ronald McDonald House, which helps more than 2,000 Western Australian families a year, provides supported accommodation for eligible families of children who suffer from serious illnesses that require extended medical treatment at the nearby Perth Children’s Hospital or King Edward Memorial Hospital.
The current facility in Nedlands provides 47 furnished guest rooms and on-site services that are managed by dedicated staff and volunteers. An additional 14 rooms are housed within Perth Children’s Hospital.
RMHC will lease nearby facilities to extend supported accommodation to an additional 50 patients and families.
The expansion follows a successful trial by RMHC earlier this year with a lease of 15 additional rooms.
The five-year lease period will give RMHC time to plan for a new facility which helps meet demands for the accommodation service. RMHC will fundraise for the remainder of the cost of the lease.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“Ronald McDonald House provides an extremely valuable home away from home for regional WA children and families facing their toughest times.
“The Government’s $9.6 million additional contribution will help to ensure more than twice as many families can be supported by this important charity, and assist with meeting community demand.
“The five-year lease will give Ronald McDonald House Charities time to plan for a new facility by providing appropriate expanded capacity almost immediately.”
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“There is no time more stressful for parents and families than when their children are sick. This investment will support families a lot more, while their loved ones undergo treatment in Perth as it helps keep those families together.
“Ronald McDonald House allows families to stay nearby while their child undergoes extended medical care and are supported by dedicated staff and volunteers.
“I am so pleased the State Government is able to assist Ronald McDonald House to significantly expand its capacity during the next five years.”
As stated by Ronald McDonald House Charities WA Patron Adam Gilchrist:
“The Government’s support to help extend RMHC WA supported accommodation and services to more families has come at a crucial time.
“The last year has been incredibly difficult for families on our waitlist that needed our support.
“So many of them are already doing it tough financially and emotionally. At no cost, RMHC WA provides them with a home-away-from-home, 24/7 support and continued education for young patients and their siblings.
“In a state as vast and remote as WA, RMHC WA is essential to help keep young patients and families together and supported for as long or as often as they need us.”
