Frequently Asked Questions
Help us help even more families in need
Help us help even more families in need
Our Ronald McDonald House Program offers accommodation for families of ill or injured children being treated at nearby hospitals. Rather than spending the night in a hospital waiting room, family members can stay in comfort at a Ronald McDonald House and receive support from staff, volunteers or other families that are sharing similar experiences. Facilities include private family rooms with ensuites and common kitchens, lounges, quiet rooms and play areas.
RMHC Australia is an independent charity that has been providing essential support for ill or injured children and their families since 1981.
RMHC Australia relies on significant financial and volunteering support from the communities we work in as well as businesses, including McDonald’s Australia.
McDonald’s funded the first Ronald McDonald House over 40 years ago and continues to support the charity today, alongside RMHC’s family of generous supporters.
Because RMHC in Australia is a federated charity, individual Ronald McDonald Houses need to cover their own operating expenses. To meet these costs, they raise funds through donations from local service clubs, local businesses, local McDonald’s Licensees, special events and general fundraising activities. Funds raised by national campaigns and events, such as our national appeals and McHappy Day, are distributed between houses and Programs across the country.
There are many ways you can help RMHC continue their support of ill or injured children. You can:
There are currently 19 Ronald McDonald Houses around the country.
The cornerstone of our work, Ronald McDonald Houses are located in close proximity to major children’s hospitals in Australia. They provide accommodation for ill or injured children and their families.
Keeping the family together can be extremely tough without support, which is why we offer accommodation for parents with ill or injured children who need to travel for their child’s treatment, or for mother’s 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, and families traveling long distances from their home. Local priority and eligibility criteria may apply.
Each of our Ronald McDonald Houses vary in size and location, so please contact your local House to talk to our friendly staff about how they may help your family.
You can contact the House directly to enquire about bookings. Referrals to the House can also be made by the Medical or Social Work staff at your child’s hospital. The initial enquiry is made directly to the House, where staff can assist you to complete the booking and advise you of House facilities and availability of rooms.
Funds raised are distributed between Programs at a State or National level.
The simplest way to support us is to make a one-off or regular donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
RMHC is an independent charity that has been providing essential support for ill or injured children and their families in Australia since 1981.
RMHC relies on significant financial and volunteering support from many organisations, including McDonald’s Australia. McDonald’s is our Founding Mission Partner and funded the first Ronald McDonald House in 1974.
McDonald’s and its local franchisees provide major support to the charity’s operations so that donations can help even more families of ill or injured children in Australia.
McDonald’s Australia, their franchisees, crew and customers help by donating to the charity as well as immeasurable volunteering and fundraising assistance.
McHappy Day is organised and funded by McDonald’s and is the largest fundraiser for RMHC Australia nationally. Since it first started in 1991, McHappy Day has raised more than $42 million for RMHC.
Ronald McDonald House Charities was founded in 1974 in the USA as a result of the foresight of Dr Audrey Evans, an oncologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She envisioned a place where families could live and get proper rest away from the ward while their children were undergoing treatment. Funds to bring this vision to life and build the first House were raised by the local McDonald’s restaurant, and in exchange for their support, it was named ‘Ronald McDonald House’.
The first Ronald McDonald House in Australia was opened in Camperdown, NSW in 1981 and was also made possible through the generous support of McDonald’s Restaurant franchisees.
It’s easy to help raise valuable funds for RMHC. Some do it by putting on a sausage sizzle, others by organising bicycle rides or by setting up trivia nights. Some choose to request donations direct to our charity, rather than receiving gifts, during their special occasions. You can fundraise with an event or you can organise an online Group Give fundraiser. We can assist you with ideas, helping you to create an event with RMHC as the benefiting charity.
There are large numbers of fundraising events taking place around Australia at any given time.
Parents don’t know when their children will need medical help. But they should know they can always access the care they need. And with your help, we can support them all throughout their journey.