Ronald McDonald House Canberra
Our warm and supportive House located within the Women and Children's hospital in Canberra provides families with seriously ill or injured children and premature babies with a home away from home. Families experience emotional support, connecting with other families going through similar experiences. Our communal facilities provide them independence to be able to cater for themselves and keep up with day-to-day living as much as possible, while offering them food, comfort and a support network as needed.
Eligibility to stay at the Ronald McDonald House Canberra
Families who live at least a 100kms away from Canberra, and have to travel to stay close to their child undergoing treatment at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children receive free accommodation. We also accommodate families with children undergoing treatment at other hospitals in Canberra. Our House also supports mothers going through high risk pregnancies.
To stay in the House, families require a referral from a social worker or medical authority. We usually have a Waitlist, though families can apply for themselves with the necessary documentation for planned stays, using the online form here.
Ronald McDonald Family Retreat Batemans Bay
Located in the beautiful seaside town of Batemans Bay, 160km south east of Canberra, our Retreat provides a perfect getaway for families with seriously ill children. We offer up to a week's stay at the Retreat free of cost to families looking to spend quality time together. There are two seaside units are private and fully self-contained, with all the comforts and amenities you’d expect, including a communal games room and a direct trail to the beach.
The region offers many family activities with its beautiful beaches and tourist attractions, and the charity strives to provide vouchers to local activities when possible. Swimming, bushwalking, a river cruise, local zoo, bird park and dining options are some that help create a fun holiday for all ages.
Eligibility to stay at the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat Batemans Bay (Fiona Lodge)
Any family with a child or young person under the age of 18 who is undergoing medical treatment is eligible to apply for and stay at the Retreat. Complete the application form here to apply today. Or send us an email at familyretreat.batemansbay@rmhc.org.au
Ronald McDonald Family Room Canberra
Our Family Room offers a welcoming space to relax for families with children undergoing treatment in a nearby ward. Families can take time out from the clinical environment and recharge in a quiet space, looked after by our volunteers.
The room, located on Level 1 in the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children in Canberra, offers light snacks and meals, a TV, lounge, bathroom and shower, laundry facilities, and a selection of games and activities. The room is open to anyone visiting the hospital with a child undergoing treatment, whether for a few hours or days
Opening Hours are varied depending on volunteer availability. Please ring the team if you'd like to find out the latest hours on 6281 5894.
RMHC ACT & South East NSW history
Welcome to Ronald McDonald House Charities ACT & South East NSW.
We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing vital programs for families with seriously ill children.
About Our Chapter
Our Chapter was established in 2012 as part of the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, where our House is located. Ronald McDonald House Canberra, our Canberra Family Room and our Bateman’s Bay Family Retreat provide families throughout the ACT and South East NSW region with warm and welcoming places to stay, get support or relax and recharge, while going through the difficult journey of childhood illness.
Through our accommodation and support services, we strive to keep families together when life gets turned upside down due to a child’s illness.
Our Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Retreat and Ronald McDonald Family Room are run by a tirelessly hard working team of staff and volunteers, lead by our Executive Officer, Lee Maiden and aided by the generous support of our donors, sponsors and corporate partners.
Staying at the house
Ronald McDonald House Canberra gives seriously ill children the best gift of all – their families. Our warm and supportive home-away-from-home provides the whole family with a comfortable place to stay and peace of mind, knowing they can stay together in the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.
Ronald McDonald House Canberra is uniquely located inside the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. Our aim is to take some of the stress out of being away from home during a long and difficult journey and provide a supportive environment in the company of other families going through similar experiences.
Our Team
Our tirelessly dedicated team of staff are guided by our Executive Officer, Lee Maiden and we rely on a committed group of volunteers who generously give their time to make our families feel welcome and supported.
Who’s eligible to stay with us?
Keeping the family together can be extremely tough without support, which is why we offer accommodation for parents with seriously ill children who need to travel to the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. Our House also supports mothers going through high risk pregnancies.
We try to accommodate the needs of families where we can, but this is always subject to availability. Priority is given to families whose children have been recently diagnosed, seriously injured or who require emergency treatment, as well as families of premature babies.
Fees
Ronald McDonald House understands that being away from home for long periods of time can put families under financial pressure. That’s why our accommodation is free for eligible families of seriously ill children.
While our policy is to provide free accommodation, your stay at the House may require you to claim financial support towards accommodation and travel from the relevant government transport assistance scheme in your home state. Our friendly team are happy to work with you to apply for the relevant financial support.
To find out if you’re eligible for government financial assistance, contact your hospital social worker or talk to one of our team.
Want to know more?
Being forced to move your family far from home, work, school and your entire support network due to a child’s illness is extraordinarily tough. Our House has a wonderful community spirit, where you’ll be able to connect with other families going through experiences similar to your own. Our communal facilities also provide families with the independence to be able to cater for themselves and keep up with day-to-day living as much as possible.
Want to apply?
Complete the online application form.
Visiting the Family Room
Take a break and be together as a family at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at The Centenary Hospital for Women and Children in Canberra.
Our Ronald McDonald Family Room is a haven for you and your family while visiting or staying with a child or newborn infant in hospital. Step away from the ward and into our inviting Family Room where you can take time out with free beverages and refreshments, a TV, lounge, a quiet space for reading and relaxing and a bathroom with a shower for freshening up. Our Family Room provides convenient on-site laundry facilities, as well as a library of children’s games and activities.
Our Team
Our Ronald McDonald Family Room is run by a dedicated team of volunteers.
Eligibility
We want to make sure families have a home-away-from-home inside the Hospital, away from the clinical environment of the ward. That’s why our Family Room is free and open to all families whose children are undergoing inpatient or outpatient treatment at The Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, including families with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care and Special Care Nursery units.
Fees
Ronald McDonald Family Rooms are free of charge. Thanks to generous donations, families have a haven away from the wards to recoup and simply be together.
Staying at the retreat
Retreat to a picturesque location, where families can be together whilst enjoying peace and quiet and the fresh coastal air.
Located in the beautiful seaside town of Batemans Bay, 160km south east of Canberra, Our Retreat consists of two fully self-contained three - bedroom units, providing the perfect retreat for families with seriously ill children. In partnership with McDonalds, this Retreat is made possible thanks to the passion and commitment of Ronald McDonald House Charities ACT & South East NSW.
Our Team
Ronald McDonald Family Retreat Batemans Bay is coordinated by Operations Manager, Toni Lea-Howie. The team is committed to ensuring our retreat remains a special place where families can spend precious time together in a beautiful setting.
Fees
The Ronald McDonald Family Retreat is free of charge to eligible families.
Apply to stay at a Family Retreat
To apply, simply fill in the application form. We’ll then be in touch to confirm your stay.
OTHER PROGRAMS
In addition to our three core programs, we support seriously ill children and their families through our "Wrapped in Love" initiative, as well as through a Learning Program and a Scholarship offering.
Wrapped in Love
Our volunteers visit the wards in Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, and hand out free goodies from our Wrapped in Love trolley to spread smiles and break up the day for families spending their time in hospital.
The trolley carries a mix of board games, card games, reading books, activity books, toys, dolls, Legos, Play-Doh, hand-knitted baby blankets, meaningful essentials such as light snacks and water, and much more to provide comfort, practical support and/or a boredom-buster to sick kids and their carers.
Our incredible volunteers make this initiative possible by taking the time to stock the Wrapped in Love trolleys and deliver the goods, while our supporters regularly donate items to keep the trolley running!
Educational Programs (RMHC Australia)
The Ronald McDonald Learning Program assists school-aged children with serious illnesses and injuries to catch up on missed education following treatment and recovery. Providing a suite of free educational support services, including therapy sessions and one-on-one tutorials with experienced teachers, the program aims to build each child’s confidence and self-esteem in preparation for their return to the classroom.
Find out more about the Program here.
The Charlie Bell Scholarship awards one-off grants of up to $5,000 to deserving young people to get their schooling or career back on track afer a serious illnees or injury. So whether the money goes towards university fees, apprenticeship tools, books or supplies, RMHC is there to help them succeed.
Help us keep our Programs running
Your support will ensure that we can continue to provide vital Programs to families with seriously ill or injured children, and deliver on our mission across the ACT & South East NSW regions. #KeepingFamiliesClose
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LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHARITY
ABOUT US
Our ACT & SE NSW Chapter was established in 2012 as part of the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, where our House is located.
Ronald McDonald House Canberra, our Canberra Family Room and our Bateman’s Bay Family Retreat provide families with warm and welcoming places to stay, get support or relax and recharge, while going through the difficult journey of childhood illness.
We rely on donations from the local community, including our corporate supporters such as McDonald's, to keep our doors open.
OUR MISSION AND VISION
We provide holistic support to families throughout their child's journey in the hospital, and support families in between and after hospital stays.
Our Programs in the ACT & SE NSW Chapter are run by a tirelessly hard working team of staff and volunteers, led by our Executive Officer, and aided by the generous support of our donors, sponsors and corporate partners.
Our mission is to provide a nurturing environment supporting the ever-changing needs of seriously ill children and their families. Our vision is to deliver hope, love and laughter with excellence and compassion. Our values are Respect, Excellence, Integrity, and Compassion.
For every $1 invested, $3.60 of social and economic value is created by RMHC.
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Connect with Us
Ronald McDonald House Charities ACT & South East NSW
PO Box 635, Mawson, ACT 2607, Australia
Phone: (02) 6281 5894
Email: events.canberra@rmhc.org.au
