Staying at the house
Ronald McDonald House Randwick gives seriously ill children the best gift of all – their families.
Our House is a warm and supportive home-away-from-home for families of children travelling to Randwick for treatment at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. Ronald McDonald House Randwick is committed to providing family-focused care allowing families to stay by their child’s side during their treatment at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. Our communal facilities help to create a social and supportive environment and offer a few of the comforts of home that make life just that little bit easier.
Our Team
Our team of dedicated staff are guided by Chief Executive Officer Simone Daher and Operations Manager Dianne Mangley. Our House also relies on a committed group of friendly volunteers who generously give their time to make our families feel welcome and supported. An after-hours caretaker lives on the premises and can be contacted 24 hours a day in case of emergency.
Make an enquiry
There are two ways to get in touch with us:
Call the House on (02) 9382 1622
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
Who’s eligible to stay with us?
Keeping the family together under extraordinary circumstances can be extremely tough without support, which is why we offer accommodation for parents and carers who need to travel to the Sydney 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, seriously injured or who require emergency treatment.
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 uproot your family, away from home, work, school and your entire support network as a result of your child’s illness is extraordinarily challenging. Our House has a wonderful community spirit and supportive nature, 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. Contact us on (02) 9382 1622 or randwick@rmhc.org.au
Our Facilities
While there is no place like home, we do our best to create an environment that is both nurturing and empowering, ensuring families feel supported for however long they need to stay.
Whether you’ll be staying with us for just a couple of nights or have a long road ahead of you, our House functions as a real home with real families, with staff and volunteers available to provide a shoulder to lean on or help make a cup of tea and everything in between.
27
Bedrooms
4
Units
746
Families stay a year
Current Facilities
Whether you’ll be staying with us for just a couple of nights or have a long road ahead of you
Our House comprises of 30 family bedrooms with access to shared bathroom facilities. Included in these rooms are 4 fully self-contained units with their own kitchen, ensuite and laundry for children which are usually reserved for children staying in the House who require isolation as a medical necessity.
Our large, fully-equipped communal kitchen offers space for several families to prepare their own meals at the same time. We have four separate cooking stations as well as dishwashers to make washing up quick and easy. The pantry is always kept stocked with complimentary tea, coffee, fresh fruit, breakfast cereals and other basic food items. You will be provided with your own dedicated drawer and fridge space to store your favorite foods. Last but not least, we have the star of morning mealtimes, our pancake machine!
Our spacious open plan family room and dining space is the most social part of the House. It’s furnished with communal tables, a lovely fireplace for relaxing around as well as a smart TV to keep everyone occupied between appointments or for keeping up with everyone’s favourite TV shows.
No matter where you go as a family, dirty laundry is an unavoidable fact of life! Our laundry is equipped with washing machines and dryers to help you keep on top of the washing duties.
Taking the time out to get some fresh air is vital when you’re going through a stressful period. Our ground floor outdoor area is a sun-shaded spot to unwind at the end of a tiring day. Here you’ll find a BBQ and alfresco tables and chairs so the family can get together for a meal outdoors. To keep the little ones occupied, we have our very own McDonald’s style outdoor playground with slides and climbing equipment.
For our younger guests, our secure indoor Interactive Zone is a multi-sensory space and interactive room, stocked with a colourful array of toys, books and activities for children of all ages and abilities as well as a gaming console for the older kids.
We have a computer station in the House which provides computers with wi-fi access to help families keep in touch with home through Skype and social media, stay on top of practical matters like emails and paying bills, and for kids to use for their schoolwork.
All children staying at our House can take part in educationally supportive and fun activities throughout their stay, at our dedicated Learning Space provided by our professional Learning Program staff.
We run a ‘Homework Heroes’ club three afternoons a week, Big Book Breakfast every Friday morning and scheduled school holiday programs. There’s always something going on that will appeal to different ages and abilities.
