51
Bedrooms
2
Kitchens
1044
Families stay a year
Staying at the house
Our Herston House 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 and close to their child’s hospital.
Each night, up to 51 families call Ronald McDonald House Herston home. Our residential accommodation consists of two large houses side-by-side, with a range of great facilities and communal areas available for all guests to use.
For more information on staying at Ronald McDonald House Herston, click here.
Make an enquiry
Get in touch with us:
Call the House on (07) 3257 0328
Get a referral from a social worker or medical authority.
RMHC SEQ website: www.rmhcseq.org.au
Keeping our families safe COVID-19
Given the current COVID-19 situation, continuing to provide a safe and supportive environment for families of seriously ill children at our Ronald McDonald Houses and Programs is our absolute priority.
For the latest information please visit rmhc.org.au/covid-19
House location
Our House is a convenient 3 minute walk from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Herston. Our central location is about 3km from the Brisbane CBD and Central Station. We are also walking distance from the RBWH Bus Station, Exhibition station and riverside parks, with plenty of places to grab a bite to eat or stock up on groceries.
Contact us
22 Garrick Terrace Herston QLD, 4006
Keeping our families safe COVID-19
Given the current COVID-19 situation, continuing to provide a safe and supportive environment for families of seriously ill children at our Ronald McDonald Houses and Programs is our absolute priority.
For the latest information please visit rmhc.org.au/covid-19
How to get there
By train
We are located a 30 minute walk or 10 minute drive from the Bowen Hills Station.
By car
RMH Herston is located a 20 minute car drive from the Brisbane Domestic Airport.
By bus
A quick bus ride via the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital from (RBWH) bus station and then a 5 minute walk will bring you to RMH Herston.
House Facilities
While there’s no place like home, we do our best to create an environment that’s as homely as possible.
Whether you’ll be staying with us for just a couple of nights or have many months ahead of you, our house functions as a real home, with everything you need to get through trying times together.
Guest rooms
We have 48 guest rooms in total, including 9 fully self-contained suites. These units are provided for the families of children living at the House requiring isolation as a medical necessity, and for guests who’ll be staying with us for a longer period of time.
Fully-equipped kitchens
Each of our two Houses has its own spacious communal kitchen. To help you stick to your mealtime routine, we’ve equipped each kitchen with fully-equipped cooking stations, allowing several families to cook together at once.
Tea, coffee, milk and sugar are freely available, and our communal fridges, freezers and pantries are regularly stocked with food items donated by our friends and volunteers. Each room has access to fridge, freezer and pantry space for keeping their own supply of snacks, drinks and groceries.
Communal Dining Rooms
Adjoining each of our kitchens are our roomy communal dining areas. These are some of the most social spaces in the House, serving as central hubs where families meet, get to know each other and share stories over the familiar comfort of a home cooked meal.
Outdoor Playground
In between our two buildings is our main outdoor family area. Shaded for sun protection, it features a playground and outdoor toys, as well as tables and chairs for the parents to sit out in the fresh air while watching over their little ones.
Indoor Playground
For those not-so-warm-days we have a secure internal playground to keep our younger guests amused. CCTV cameras are in place with a monitor installed in main building's kitchen, so parents can supervise children whilst preparing meals.
Teenage Retreat
Ideal for our teenage guests, the Teenage Retreat is a chill-out zone with TVs and couches for catching up on a favourite show, watching a movie or grabbing a controller and going head-to-head with a mate on our gaming consoles.
Annex Lounge
Our Annex Lounge features comfy couches and lounge chairs, a large screen TV with a DVD player and movies.
Balconies
Getting outdoors for a spot of fresh air, even just for a few minutes, can help you to de-stress and clear your mind. Grab a spot of fresh air or have a snack outside on one of our three furnished, undercover balconies adjoining the communal dining rooms and the Annex Lounge.
Guest Laundry
Wherever you and your family go, laundry duties follow! To help you keep on top of the washing, we have a guest laundry equipped with three washing machines and three dryers. Ironing facilities are also available for use.
Parking
Our House has secure off-street parking available for our guests, however space is limited.
House Programs
Every year RMHC SEQ must raise the funds needed to provide the accommodation and support services that we give to seriously ill or injured children and their families. We are very grateful to receive support from members of the community who, together with our corporate partners generously donate funds, goods and services to our charity.
Each year, our supporters assist us in a number of ways which include:
- Cash donations
- Sponsorship of an accommodation room through our Adopt A Room program
- The donation of goods and services needed for the operation of our Houses and programs
- Payroll Giving
- Money Box Collection
- Holding their own fundraising activity or event
- Leaving a Bequest in their Will
- Giving in memory of a loved one
- Celebration donations on a birthday or anniversary
- Raising funds through the participation in a marathon or community event
Get Involved
Discuss how you, your organisation, school or business can help and become involved.
Call us: (07) 3257 0328
Email us: fundraising.seq@rmhc.org.au
Fundraise for us
Each year, our supporters assist us in a number of ways which include:
- Cash donations
- Sponsorship of an accommodation room through our Adopt A Room program
- The donation of goods and services needed for the operation of our Houses and programs
- Payroll Giving
- Money Box Collection
- Holding their own fundraising activity or event
- Leaving a Bequest in their Will
- Giving in memory of a loved one
- Celebration donations on a birthday or anniversary
- Raising funds through the participation in a marathon or community event
For more information about how you can help please call 07 3646 6528 or email Fundraising.SEQ@rmhc.org.au
Volunteer
Our volunteers are the heart of our programs. The families we help require a wide range of services and support which is why we rely on Volunteers with many different skills that can help us meet their needs. We depend on our team of dedicated volunteers to help us run our programs and support families going through some of the toughest times. RMHC SEQ has a selection of diverse and rewarding volunteer opportunities across our programs to suit your interests and meet the needs of seriously ill children and their families.
We have a number of volunteer positions in areas such as:
- Guest Services Support
- Learning Program Support
- Kids Club Support
- Event Support
- Cooking/ Baking
- Fundraising Support
No matter the role, our volunteers make a valuable contribution. When you volunteer at RMHC SEQ, you become part of a global community which is recognised and admired throughout the world.
If you’re over 18 years of age, available to commit for 6 or more months and want to volunteer please visit our RMHC South East Queensland Volunteer Page for more information via http://bit.ly/rmhcseqvolunteer
If you require further information, please contact Volunteering.SEQ@rmhc.org.au or phone (07) 3257 0328.
Make A Meal
Why Make a Meal?
We provide a home away from home for families of seriously ill children with the aim to keep families close during their time of need. Parents often return to the House after a long day at the hospital with their child and cooking a meal may be the last thing on their minds. This is an area where the House can take the stress away from a parent and make their lives easier. We need your help to ensure an efficient and quality dinner time service for families staying in the House.
The Program
The Make a Meal Program invites teams of up to 10 volunteers either co-workers, community groups, friends and family members to prepare dinner for the families staying at the House. We provide the kitchen, and you provide the food and enthusiastic chefs! You’ll be rewarded with a fun and meaningful experience, while you help make our families lives that little bit easier. Dress up, decorate the dining room, theme your experience how you wish. Have a lot of fun while provided practical support for families in need. The average number of families staying each night at Herston is 40 and South Brisbane is 80.
The process
- Select a date – either a Tuesday night at South Brisbane or Wednesday night at Herston
- Receive a sample set of menus to give you some ideas but families enjoy simple home cooked meals and everyone loves dessert!
- Confirm your attendance and complete the forms we send you at least a week prior to your event. Arrive at Ronald McDonald House at 3.30 pm on your date
- Kitchen orientation and food safety briefing completed with your team
- Get cooking!
- Dinner served from 5.00 pm
Final clean up and optional tour of House will see you finished by 8.00 pm
Leave a Gift in your Will
Leaving a gift in your will, or a bequest, is a wonderful legacy for future generations. Anyone can leave a charitable bequest. It is a powerful way to make a positive impact on the future, without affecting your finances in the present.
Whenever the time is right for you, please consider remembering Ronald McDonald House Charities South East QLD in your Will. Your gift will provide love, care and support for seriously ill children and their families whenever they need it.
Information for Solicitors & Executors
If you or your client intend to leave a Bequest to RMHC Australia, the correct legal name to use is Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland .
Our ABN is 88 438 652 383 412 and our registered office address is 22 Garrick Terrace, Herston 4006 QLD.
We have provided some suggested wording below for a General Purpose Gift.
“I give…. (please select from one of the following options for your type of gift):
- the sum of $xx
- my entire estate
- xx percentage of my estate
- the rest and residue of my estate
- xx percentage of the residual of my estate
- description of a specific item
………. to Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland of 22 Garrick Terrace, Herston 4006 QLD ABN 88 438 652 383 for the general purposes of such entity. I declare that a receipt from the treasurer or other proper officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland to the executor(s) of this Will, will be evidence that the executor(s) has discharged his/her/their duties in accordance with this clause.”
The charity is registered with the Australia Commission for Not-for-profits and Charities (ACNC). We also have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. When taking instructions from your client about their charitable intentions, please consider the tax implications for the estate and the tax benefits of transferring assets from an estate to a charity with DGR status.
For further information, please contact us on 07 3646 6528 or email Fundraising.SEQ@rmhc.org.au