New Ronald McDonald House supports families

• New Ronald McDonald House to be built on QEII site, alongside new Perth Children's Hospital

• State Government contributes $8million through Lotterywest

Today's groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Perth marks an important day for regional Western Australian families of seriously ill children.

The new facility, due for completion in late 2015, will be on the southern side of the QEII medical site in Nedlands, alongside the new $1.2billion Perth Children's Hospital.

It will provide accommodation and support for families needing to stay near seriously ill children being treated in hospital but who are too far from home.

Representing Premier Colin Barnett at the ceremony, Health Minister Kim Hames said the house would ensure the needs of regional Western Australian families were met well into the future.

"The new Ronald McDonald House will provide three times the space of the current house and will help up to 1,000 families every year by offering a sanctuary of support and place of comfort," Dr Hames said.

"Acting as a home-away-from-home, it will feature 47 family rooms capable of accommodating up to 180 people on any given night.  It will also include new facilities such as isolation units, a dedicated learning centre, a recreation centre and larger communal areas."

RMH Perth commenced its 'Stronger Together' capital-raising campaign in October 2012 to raise $20million from the WA community to build the new house.  The campaign successfully raised $22million, including $8million from State Government through a Lotterywest grant. 

Western Australia is the only State where the money raised from lottery products is distributed directly back to the community to support not-for-profit organisations working to enrich Western Australian communities.

         Fact File

• Information about new Ronald McDonald House: http://www.rmhc.org.au/building-new-house  

• Since 1995, Lotterywest has provided more than $8.9million to support Ronald McDonald House charities in WA

• Ever since Lotterywest held its first Lottery draw in 1933, public hospitals have been among the most important beneficiaries of its funding

• In 2012-13, Lotterywest provided $121million to support health and hospitals in WA

• The Perth Children's Hospital is expected to open in late 2015.  More information at http://www.newchildrenshospitalproject.health.wa.gov.au

Minister's office - 6552 5300