12
Bedrooms
6
Units
613
Families stay a year
Staying at the house
Our Newcastle 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 at John Hunter Children’s Hospital.
Over 600 families a year stay with us here in Newcastle. Our comfortable family bedrooms and self-contained units provide a homely experience to families when they need it most, while our common areas allow for shared journeys and unwavering support.
Our team
Our tirelessly dedicated team of staff are guided by our House Manager Kristen Grainger. Our House also relies 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 sick kids who need to travel to the John Hunter Children's Hospital for treatment.
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, have a serious or life threatening illness, are 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.
Make an enquiry
There are two ways to get in touch with us:
Call the house on (02) 4921 4733
Request a referral from a social worker or medical authority.
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
Ronald McDonald House Newcastle is nestled in a peaceful bushland setting on the grounds of the John Hunter Children’s Hospital. Close enough to the hospital wards and rooms yet occupying its own peaceful setting.
Contact us
Lookout Road New Lambton Heights NSW 2305
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
The closest train stations are Broadmeadow and Cardiff.
By car
We are located on the grounds of John Hunter Children’s Hospital, A37 Lookout Road, New Lambton. Parking is available on site.
By bus
Bus lines 11, 13, 26 and 42 will bring you to John Hunter's Hospital.
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.
Bedrooms
Our 12 bedrooms are a spacious retreat for whole families. They offer the privacy families need whilst only being a few steps away from common areas where families support one another. Each bedroom has a full ensuite, TV, A/C and a special welcome pack for each child lovingly created by knitters in our community.
Self-contained units
For those calling us home for a little longer than they had hoped, we have 6 home-like self-contained units. They also allow children who need special care or isolation to live with their family during their treatment. One unit is purpose built to accommodate wheelchairs.
Communal Kitchen
Our kitchen is a nourishing space, for the body...and the mind! This is where families meet, eat and share stories. Each family has allocated fridge, freezer and pantry space for anything they wish to bring into the house.
Playroom
Watching movies on our big comfortable lounges, art and craft tables, toys, books, video games...our playroom makes this a welcoming place for young people.
Laundry Facilities
Our commercial grade washing machines and dryers, as well as detergent, are free of charge for families to use. There’s also an outside clothes line if needed.
Outdoor pirate themed playground
Let their imagination run wild in our backyard adventure playground. Kids love the pirate ship themed play fort, as well as our pram and wheelchair friendly soft-fall bike track, grassed play area for under 5’s and hammock swing for children with special needs.
Outdoor BBQ area
Our commercial grade double burner BBQ and multiple outdoor settings allow families to enjoy time with each other or other relatives or friends who come to visit.
Parking
With free car parking onsite, buses nearby and state-wide train service within a 10 minute drive, families can move around with ease.
House Programs
Ronald McDonald House Newcastle is an independent charity that relies on the work of our volunteers and the financial support of individual and corporate donations.
Without their generous contributions, we would be unable to keep our doors open to families in need 365 days a year. Thanks to the public, we’ve been able to continually expand our operations to help more families and communities across Newcastle.
There are many ways you can contribute to our vital programs including our Houses, Family Rooms, Family Retreat and Learning Program.
Get Involved
Discuss how you, your organisation, school or business can help and become involved.
Call us: (02) 4921 4733
Email us:newinfo.nnsw@rmhc.org.au
Fundraise For Us
Our supporters have done some pretty amazing things to raise money to help keep families close. What will you do?
Here are three simple steps to help get you started.
1. Choose your fundraising event
Whether you're an individual, a school, a community group or an organization, there are lots of ways to raise funds for families with a sick or injured child. You could hold a trivia night, a mufti day or sausage sizzle.
2. Tell us about your event
Email us at info@rmhnnsw.org.au and we'll send you a form to register your event.
3. Set up your online fundraising page
One of the easiest ways to collect funds is through your own online fundraising page. It's easy to do, you can even add your own photos and blog posts. Don't forget to share it with your friends and family and post it on your social media networks to spread the word about the amazing thing you are doing raising funds to help keep families close
Volunteer
Our volunteers are the ‘Heart of the House’ and we could not provide the service we do without them. Passionate and caring community members spanning all ages carry out a variety of roles including reception, general assistance within the House, overnight supervision and tours for visitors. Our group of Community Volunteers help out at events and fundraising activities in the community.
Not only do our volunteers help the families through difficult times, they benefit personally by having the opportunity to meet new people, develop new friendships and gain skills. A variety of training options are provided free to volunteers including first aid, cultural respect and child safety.
Ronald McDonald House recruit Volunteers throughout the year and have a limited number of volunteer positions available. To find out more about volunteering opportunities at Ronald McDonald House please contact us at newinfo@rmhnnsw.org.au or call 4921 4733.
Sponsor A Room
You can help make sure families with a sick or injured child have a safe and supportive place to stay by becoming a room sponsor.
Or you could help a family relax and reconnect with a much needed holiday at the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat in Forster by sponsoring a cabin.
By sponsoring a room or cabin you can ensure the costs associated with running the room or cabin are covered for the entire year.
Each sponsor has their names on a plaque on the door of their sponsored room.
Sponsoring a room or cabin is a great opportunity become part of the Ronald McDonald House NNSW family by helping provide accommodation for families caring for a seriously ill or injured child.
If you are interested in finding our more information on sponsoring a room or cabin, please contact us on newinfo@rmhnnsw.org.au or call 4921 4733.
Meals From The Heart
The Meals from the Heart program invites teams of co-workers or community groups to have a hands-on opportunity to directly show your support to families.
We provide the kitchen and cooking facilities, and you provide the menu, food and enthusiastic chefs! You'll be rewarded with a fun and meaningful experience knowing that you are making our families lives a little bit easier.
Want to get your chef's hat on and bring your team together and participate in Meals from the Heart?
Please contact us for more information: email newinfo@rmhnnsw.org.au or call 4921 4733.
Workplace Giving
You can help hundreds of families with a sick or injured child stay together, while you work by joining the Ronald McDonald House Workplace Giving Program.
What is Workplace Giving?
Workplace Giving donations are given through payroll in a pre-tax manner. You receive an instant tax refund with no need to keep receipts or wait until making your annual tax return claim.
You can reach out to your work colleagues and come together as a team to help keep seriously ill children and their families together. And, if your company match your donations, there’s double the benefit for these families.
Why Workplace Giving?
Workplace Giving donations help the families of seriously ill children who we assist at Ronald McDonald House.
Workplace Giving is a cost and time effective way for companies and individual employees to support Ronald McDonald House through a trustworthy and easy to implement program. You are able to make donations in an efficient and tax-effective manner.
How do I sign up?
To find out more or to arrange a presentation at your office, please call Donna on 4957 7783 or email newinfo@rmhnnsw.org.au