1
Kitchen
4
Bedrooms
180
Families stay a year
Staying at the house
Our Wagga Wagga 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.
Ronald McDonald House Wagga Wagga is small but well-equipped. With several communal spaces for socialising and a close-knit community vibe, you’ll be in company of other parents, carers and staff, who often become a vital part of your journey and support network.
Our Team
Our tirelessly dedicated team of staff are guided by our Executive Officer Lisa Simpson. Our House 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 seriously ill children receiving medical treatment at Wagga Wagga Rural Referral Hospital and Calvary Hospital.
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.
While each family caters for themselves, we do supply basic food items free of charge like tea, coffee, biscuits, milk, bread and cereals.
How to help?
Please help support us in providing a caring home away from home for families of children needing medical care in the Riverina. Check out how you can help us here.
Make an enquiry
There are two ways to get in touch with us:
Call the house on (02) 6925 0122
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
Our four bedroom, single-level house is situated a block away from Wagga Wagga Rural Referral Hospital. We are also a six minute, 400m stroll to Calvary Riverina Hospital.
Our central address is 1.5km from the train station and close to all the amenities of Wagga Wagga’s town centre. Wagga Wagga’s Marketplace shopping centre is a five minute drive away.
Contact us
300 Edward Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
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
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By car
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By bus
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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.
Family Bedrooms
Our warm homely furnished single storey house is just like a real family home, with four bedrooms of varying sizes. Three of our family bedrooms have their own private ensuite, and the other bedroom has access to a bathroom with all-access facilities.
Communal Kitchen
Our communal kitchen is the heart of the home. This is where families meet, eat, tell stories and share in a journey of togetherness that can truly work wonders in the most trying of times.
Modern and well-equipped with a dishwasher and all cooking utensils, you’ll find everything you need to prepare your favourite home-cooked meals. Every family also has a shelf for their own use in the fridge and a basket in the freezer along with a private pantry.
Lounge Room
There are two separate living areas to choose from, whether you’re in a social mood or just in need of some chill-out time.
Our lounge, with its comfy couches, is a cosy spot to curl up with a good book or watch a movie, while our sun-filled family room is the perfect socialising space, great for meeting fellow families or catching up with visiting guests. It features comfortable lounges and chairs, high chairs for the little ones and a big screen TV with Foxtel.
Games Room
We have a cosy and colourful games room devoted solely to keeping our younger guests occupied and entertained. Our kid’s room is filled to the brim with toys and games, as well as a few small bikes which kids can borrow to ride around the House grounds.
Laundry
Stay anywhere with your family, and the washing quickly starts to pile up! Our communal laundry has two automatic washing machines as well as dryer, plus an airer and clothesline. If you’re struggling to keep on top of laundry duties between hospital visits and attending appointments, our wonderful staff and volunteers will help you take care of things – all you need to do is ask.
Parking
Parking is so important to families, with appointments to attend and errands to run. Undercover parking is available at the rear of the house to keep your car shaded in summer and free of frost over winter.
House Programs
Ronald McDonald House Wagga Wagga 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 Wagga Wagga.
There are many ways you can contribute to our vital programs including our House and Family Room.
Get Involved
Discuss how you, your organisation, school or business can help and become involved.
Call us:
(02) 6925 0122
Email us:
lisa.simpson@rmhc.org.au
Fundraise For Us
What could be more fulfilling than bringing people together to transform the lives of the families who need our help?
Fundraising is an easy, meaningful and fun way to raise money. From sausage sizzles and trivia nights, to raising money on personal celebration days in lieu of gifts, you can give the gift of togetherness to families with seriously ill children.
Contact us to find out more. Call 02 6925 0122 or email lisa.simpson@rmhc.org.au
Room Sponsorship
When families need to travel away from home for their child to receive specialised medical treatment, with little notice, often arriving in the middle of the night, the last thing on parents’ minds is where there will stay. Whilst there is no place like home you can help take away this added stress by becoming a room sponsor.
Your sponsorship will help provide families a comfortable space to rest and recharge so they can focus on what matters most, their child.
Whilst giving back to the community, this is a truly rewarding opportunity providing much needed relief to families and maintaining our guest bedrooms.
To find out more, contact us.
T. 02 6925 0122
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 in your Will. Your gift will provide love, care and support for seriously ill children and their families whenever they need it.
To find out more, contact us.
T. 02 6925 0122
Support a campaign
We couldn't support the Families that we do without the generous donations of our local community. One way you can help us make sure family life can continue is by supporting on of our upcoming events/campaigns...
Media Partner
RMHC Wagga has partnered with Region Riverina.
Region Riverina is home to engaging independent articles, images, and video journalism as well as thoughtful analysis from a team of real-world, respected contributors.
Together we will promote news and events throughout the year that the community can support.