“Being in the hospital can be so overwhelming, and for kids it can sometimes be a bit scary, which can make it really hard to distract everyone between appointments.” Ayla, Ronald McDonald House WA mum explains.
With Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms across Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH), visiting families have access to spaces that offer respite and entertainment in between appointments. In 2024, our spaces welcomed over 116,000 visitors who engaged with play-based learning activities as well as incursions hosted by local and national providers.
Incursions in our Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms became an important part of our play and learning program in 2024 and for good reason:
“Incursions help to enhance the overall wellbeing of families with ill or injured children by providing enriching experiences that offer relief from the hospital environment, foster connection with the broader community, and support emotional, cultural, and educational development.
Incursions play a key role in our commitment to facilitating and supporting family centered care, offering opportunities for joy, normalcy, and engagement during what is often a challenging time.” Julie Field, Ronald McDonald House WA Programs Manager said.
Along with the increase of incursions seen in 2024, our Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms continued to provide a family focused environment that helped to alleviate the stresses that can come with visits to the hospital, whilst keeping children connected to their learning.
“Days in the hospital can be long, so to have a place where kids can just have fun, learn something new and parents can relax with a hot drink really helps take the edge off a stressful situation and gives families a chance to reset and recharge.” Ayla says.
We understand that family support when a child is ill or injured extends well beyond the four walls of the supported accommodation. The Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms are just one way we support families and their wellbeing as throughout their child’s medical journey.
