Homes-away-from-home for regional families boosted under Roger Cook

WA’s homes-away-from-home for regional families undertaking treatment in Perth is set for a significant expansion under Roger Cook.
  • Funding to expand homes-away-from-home to support regional families seeking treatment
  • Significant room and bed expansion enabled with election commitments
  • $50 million boost for Ronald McDonald House Charities to expand Nedlands home
  • $25 million for Cancer Council WA's Lodge Accommodation services

WA’s homes-away-from-home for regional families undertaking treatment in Perth is set for a significant expansion under Roger Cook.

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will contribute $50 million to Ronald McDonald House Charities to support the expansion of the Ronald McDonald House in Nedlands which provides a home-away-from-home for regional families.

Ronald McDonald House in Nedlands provides free accommodation for eligible families with ill or injured children or maternity patients, or people funded by the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme.

Around 2,000 patients and their families are assisted by Ronald McDonald House each year, of which more than 80 per cent are from regional Western Australia.

The expansion is expected to deliver an additional 75 rooms on top of the existing 47 room facility and is expected to cost around $100 million.

This expansion builds on the Cook Labor Government’s $9.6 million contribution to lease an additional 50 rooms near Ronald McDonald House and $2.5 million towards the business case for the Ronald McDonald House expansion.

Once complete Ronald McDonald House is expected to be able to support over 6,000 patients and families each year.

Cancer Council WA operates two self-catering accommodation lodges in Perth which offer on-site support as well as a home-away-from-home for regional cancer patients and their carers while they access treatments and cancer related appointments in the metropolitan area.

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will provide $25 million in funding to enable Cancer Council WA to expand its Lodge Accommodation services at its Milroy Lodge in Shenton Park. The expansion will create a total of 130 beds boosted from its current 29 bed facility.

The investment under a re-elected Cook Labor Government will give Cancer Council WA more certainty to undertake further fundraising for additional investment and philanthropic efforts.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

“For many families it’s even more important to keep the family unit together when undertaking treatment for a sick family member far away from home."

“This commitment is about providing more free support and comfortable accommodation to regional Western Australians in their time of need."

“It’s also about maintaining a more regular routine for other family members too and these investments to help Ronald McDonald House and Cancer Council WA expand their accommodation does this."

“These investments will mean regional families who are in Perth seeking medical treatment can stay with their families or carer and go a long way towards making these difficult times a little easier."

“I want to acknowledge the support and generosity from the WA community that these charitable organisations receive already to continue their day-to-day important work.”

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