- Ronald McDonald House to significantly expand
with help from Cook Government
- Supporting unwell Western Australian children
and their families to access medical care
- $2.5 million for business case to triple
capacity of Ronald McDonald House at QEII
- $1.2 million Lotterywest grant supports fit-out
of new Ronald McDonald on Park
The
Cook Labor Government continues to invest in Ronald McDonald House to support
the further expansion of the 'home away from home' for regional families of
children needing medical care in Perth.
A
business case for an extension and upgrade of Ronald McDonald House Charities' premises
at the QEII Medical Centre (QEII) has been backed by the State Government
through a $2.5 million investment in the 2024-25 State Budget.
The
business case will consider expanding Ronald McDonald House at QEII by 100
rooms to boost its capacity to assist sick Western Australian children and
their families.
Additionally,
a $1.2 million Lotterywest grant was today presented to the charity by Premier
Roger Cook and Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson to support the fit-out the
new Ronald McDonald House on Park at St Catherine's College in Nedlands, which
will partially open to families from Monday, 15 April 2024.
The
Lotterywest grant is on top of the $9.6 million contribution announced by the
Cook Government in February 2023 to significantly expand guest rooms through
the creation of Ronald McDonald House on Park and additional rooms at Perth
Children's Hospital (PCH).
From tomorrow, Ronald McDonald will operate three
facilities in Perth:
- Ronald McDonald House at PCH, which has been
expanded by 14 rooms;
- Ronald McDonald House at QEII, with the business
case to consider tripling the size of this premises from
47 rooms to 147 rooms; and
- Ronald McDonald House on Park, located at St
Catherine's College in Nedlands, which will progressively increase capacity by 50
rooms.
Ronald
McDonald House helps more than 2,000 Western Australian families a year, providing
no-cost accommodation for eligible families of children who suffer from serious
illnesses that require extended medical treatment at the nearby Perth
Children's Hospital or King Edward Memorial Hospital.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"Ronald
McDonald House truly is a home away from home for regional families whose
children need treatment at Perth Children's Hospital.
"They
do a fantastic job looking after West Australians in their time of need, and my
Government is proud to support the significant expansion of the service.
"The
new Ronald McDonald on Park will be open to its first families tomorrow, with
further rooms to progressively come online throughout the year."
Comments attributed to Health Minister
Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"The
last thing regional families need when coming to Perth so their child can
receive medical treatment is to have to worry about finding accommodation, and
that's why we're helping expand Ronald McDonald House.
"We
understand how difficult it is when your child is seriously unwell, and we are
committed to doing anything we can to support families when they need it the
most.
"I'd
like to thank Ronald McDonald House Charities for their continued dedication to
Western Australian kids - these fantastic new facilities will mean the world to
WA families."
Comments
attributed to Ronald McDonald House Charities WA CEO Peter King:
"With more families needing our essential services, the opening of
Ronald McDonald House on Park comes at a crucial time.
"This critical funding from the State Government, Stan Perron Charitable
Foundation and Lotterywest will enable us to move Western Australian families
with ill or injured children from our waitlist and into supported accommodation
close to the medical care they need.
"At no cost, Ronald McDonald House Charities WA provides - 24/7, 365
days a year - supported accommodation, educational services that keep children
connected to their education and opportunities for family respite."
