A message from our Chairperson
This year not only marked my first as Chairperson; an incredibly rewarding experience, it also saw RMHC WA make significant advances toward realising the goals of our 2020-2025 Growth Strategy.
2024 saw the official opening of RMH on Park, an important step towards our immediate and long term expansion growth strategy, to expand accommodation and service capacity that will enable more WA families with ill or injured children access to essential, cost-free services that positively impact their wellbeing.
With the growing demand on our essential services, the State Government made a $2.3 million investment that enabled RMHC WA to develop a comprehensive business case and development plan for the permanent expansion of RMH at the QEII. This important undertaking successfully led to a $50 million pre-election commitment from the Cook Labor Government, another significant milestone in our goal of long term expansion.
My heartfelt thanks to the executive management team, staff, and volunteers for your energy, dedication, extraordinary work ethic, and the breadth of talent you bring to RMHC WA. It is through your collective passion and professionalism that we can continue grow and be there for even more families at a time when they need it most.
Ante Golem
Chairperson
A message from our CEO
2024 year was a defining one for our essential service in Western Australia. It demanded significant effort, agility, and expertise from every function and individual in our organisation.
From expanding our accommodation and service capacity and advancing key strategic
initiatives, our team rose to the challenge with energy and excellence. As a result, we achieved outstanding outcomes that strengthened our service and positioned us for long-term success.
We commenced the capital funding business case and development plan to permanently expand RMH at QEII, increasing current capacity by almost 160%.
With significant investment required for capital works at both RMH QEII and RMH on Park, prudent financial management and a brand-driven revenue strategy were key to maintaining operational sustainability and optimum family access to all our services.
Our 2024 Family Wellbeing Impact Evaluation, conducted by Social Ventures Australia, provided compelling evidence that our efforts to sustain, grow, and most importantly keep families together, supported, and safe were successfully maintained throughout the year.
It has been an incredible year of continued growth for RMHC WA and I would like to extend my deepest thanks to all members of the RMHC WA Board, staff and volunteers, for their dedication and support of WA families with ill or injured children.
Peter King ASM
Chief Executive Officer
A message from our Patron
2024 was a remarkable, historic year for Ronald McDonald House Charities celebrating 50 years of essential, family centred care around the globe and 34 years of RMHC WA support in Western Australia.
As proud Patron of RMHC WA for over 24 years, I have witnessed firsthand how its home away from home accommodation and services give regional and remote families what they need most during times far home and loved ones.
It is always my great privilege, on behalf of RMHC WA, to extend our deepest gratitude for the unwavering support and friendship of our Founding and Forever Partner, McDonald’s. Across the state in 2024, McDonald’s licensees in local communities once again went the extra mile, raising critical funds and volunteering their time for RMHC WA in support of local families.
My heartfelt congratulations and thanks go to the entire RMHC WA team and volunteers for another outstanding year in supporting WA families with ill or injured children when they need it most.
Adam Gilchrist AM
Patron
Our year in 2024
1879
Families supported at Ronald McDonald Houses in WA
19540
Nights of supported accommodation provided to WA families
29073
Hours of volunteer service provided by the WA Community
3903
Hours of tutoring provided to young WA patients through the Ronald McDonald Learning Program
116546
Visits to our Ronald McDonald Family Rooms
744
Nights of respite provided at Family Retreats in Busselton, Bunbury and Mandurah
Our families
Western Australia is one of the most isolated health jurisdictions in the world. It can create mental health and well-being challenges for young WA patients and their families who need to access complex or critical healthcare in Perth for weeks, months and sometimes over years.
Our programs and services
Ronald McDonald Houses
With more families from across WA needing the support of RMHC WA’s essential services the opening of RMH on Park in August 2024, enabled us to support up to 50 additional families with ill or injured children each night and was a critical milestone in our strategic growth plans. Learn more about the official opening of RMH on Park.
Ronald McDonald Family Rooms
Our play and learning programs are a highlight for both families staying in one of our three Houses and for families of in and outpatients across Perth Children’s Hospital and Peel Health Campus. In 2024, our Family Rooms supported over 116,000 visitors, including an increase in incursions helping to make hospital visits that little bit easier for the entire family. Learn more about how we are bringing learning and fun to hospital spaces.
Ronald McDonald Learning Program
2024 was an incredible year for the RMLP, with the number of school aged children supported by the program increasing to over 369 students. The advancement in efficiencies and program capacity saw waitlists eliminated, and the number of students accessing funding for allied health service rose by 50%. Learn more about the impact RMLP has on bridging the educational gap.
Ronald McDonald Family Retreats
Our Ronald McDonald Family Retreats offer a welcomed sanctuary for families with ill or injured children to reconnect, relax and enjoy time together; an experience most of us often take for granted. One year on since the opening of our 3rd retreat, we have seen almost 750 families enjoy the Family Retreats, an increase of almost 200 from 2023. Learn the impact this program made on one family in particular.
As seen in Business News
Education programs support children in need
The Ronald McDonald Learning Program is a tailored, fee-free, one-on-one tutoring program to help ill children catch up on missed education. Read more on Business News.
RMHC WA and The Magic Coat give WA children a wellbeing voice
Ronald McDonald House Charities WA works with The Magic Coat Foundation to help young children and their families better cope with the emotional toil of being sick in hospital. Read more on Business News.
Philanthropic support bolsters WA growth
Western Australia’s charity sector strongly relies on support from philanthropic donations to buoy significant projects that help make lives better for people in the state. Read more on Business News.
Our Blue Army
2024 was a year full of growth and excitement for our Volunteer Program. With the official opening of Ronald McDonald House on Park, we saw our Blue Army grow to over 400 strong across 15 roles. Together they provided over 29,000 hours of service, supporting families staying with RMHC WA as well as those visiting Perth Children’s Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital and across key events in our annual fundraising calendar. We couldn’t do what we do without their shared passion and dedication to helping families with ill or injured children.
As seen in Business News
Youth sparks social change through volunteering
Volunteering makes a meaningful impact and positively impacts the lives of others facing significant challenges in Western Australia. Read more on Business News.
Corporates contribute to NFPs through volunteering
This week, the charity sector celebrates National Volunteer Week, from 20–26 May 2024, an annual celebration of volunteering. Read more on Business News.
How we are making a positive impact in WA families’ lives
We are here for families when they need us most. Some stay a few days, some for months and others regularly over years. At Ronald McDonald House Charities WA we provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families and promote healing when children need healthcare.
Our RMHC WA Impact Framework provides crucial data and insights to improve, create and collaborate for positive change in the lives of the families we support. In 2024, our positive impact on overall family wellbeing increased a further 1%, with a total increase of 5% since 2022.
By playing a unique role in facilitating and supporting family centred care within the Western Australian maternity, child and adolescent health systems, RMHC WA works together with Perth Children’s Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital to best support family wellbeing.
Family wellbeing in 2024
positive change in emotional wellbeing
Had we not stayed at RMHC WA, our emotional wellbeing would have been poor.
positive change in financial wellbeing
Had we not stayed at RMHC WA, our financial wellbeing would have been difficult to manage.
minor change in physical environment wellbeing
If we had not been able to access RMHC WA’s support, our home environment wellbeing would have been stressful.
positive change in cultural wellbeing
Had we not stayed at RMHC WA, our cultural wellbeing would have been moderate.
Cost Benefit Analysis
RMHC WA provides essential services that not only remove barriers, strengthen families and promote healing when children need healthcare far from home but also benefits the wider WA community. By alleviating burdens like missed medical appointments and freeing up in patient occupancy, RMHC WA plays a valuable role in supporting the State’s maternity, child and adolescent health systems, by being there for families with ill or injured children during the toughest of times.
For every $1 invested in RMHC WA programs $4.02 is returned in socio-economic benefits, specifically for families and hospital partners
Our partners
We can’t do what we do without the important contributions and support from our Partners.
In 2024, with the opening of RMH on Park and the growth in our programs and services, our generous Partners were vital in enabling RMHC WA to support even more families with ill or injured children during some of the most challenging of times.
As seen in Business News
Focus on ESG, sustainability at RMHC WA
Ronald McDonald House Charities Western Australia’s continued focus on ESG has been strengthened with the support of Emerge Associates. Read more on Business News.
RMHC WA and MinRes provide food for WA families
Over the past nine years, Mineral Resources has helped provide home-cooked meals for families staying with Ronald McDonald House Charities WA. Read more on Business News.
Ronald McDonald House Charities: 50 years of global essential service
Ronald McDonald House Charities WA has supported families in WA for almost 35 years, helping them when life gets turned upside down due to a child’s illness or injury. Read more on Business News.
Testimonials
A message from our Treasurer
Despite the significance of operational headwinds throughout the 2024 year, I am pleased to report that the Home Away From Home Inc. (trading as Ronald McDonald House Charities Western Australia) remains in a sound financial position.
The result for the 2024 year was an overall deficit (total comprehensive loss) of $116,974 (2023: $390,636). This outcome was significantly aided by the receipt of $3.8M from RMHC Australia, following the successful grant application for assistance with the significant remediation works at Ronald McDonald House at QEII.
A key operating milestone during the year was the opening of Ronald McDonald House on Park, providing an additional 50 rooms for up to 5 years and it is now fully operational. I would like to thank the WA Government, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and Lotterywest for their financial support towards ongoing operations and capital expenditure, that was required to make the building suitable for families.
A highlight of our fundraising efforts each year is our RMHC WA Gala Ball. We celebrated our 30th Ball in style, raising a record breaking $2.035M. This success would not be possible without the generosity of sponsors and donors, our founding and forever partner McDonald’s, our Patron Adam Gilchrist AM, and the dedicated efforts of our staff and volunteers.
We have a stable Balance Sheet, with $29.2M of net assets at the end of 2024. Although the liability to remediate the existing RMH at QEII continues to draw on the organisation’s resources, the worst of the disruption to room availability is now behind us. With the costs of ongoing remediation and planning for the future expansion of the Ronald McDonald House at QEII, the Board made the decision to consolidate investments to cash during the year.
With the combination of the continued support from the WA Government, corporate partners, the local Western Australian community, and the generosity of our donors including key philanthropic families to fund our operations, we maintain our focus and the ability to serve more Western Australian families with sick children to the extent we do.
I would like to thank everyone at RMHC WA including the volunteers, staff, Executive Team, and the Board for all that they do in having a meaningful and positive impact in support of ill or injured children and their families, in Western Australia.
Sonny Rahim
Treasurer
2024 reports
To view or download our reports, please click the links below:
Acknowledgement of Country
Ronald McDonald House Charities WA acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay our respects to Elders, past and present for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Indigenous Australia. We recognise their enduring and continuing connection to the sky, lands, waters, and culture of this land.