Building a Bigger Heart

Because no family should ever be turned away.

Putting families at the heart of care

Each year, more families with a seriously ill or injured child reach out to Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW to keep them together and close to the vital medical care they need – but demand is beyond our capacity.

At the heart of our mission is a meaningful purpose: to keep families together, supported and thriving, while their sick child receives vital medical care far from home.

By Building a Bigger Heart we have a bold ambition; working to ensure no family in need is turned away, starting with the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.

With the addition of 11 new, self-contained family units, we can be there for more families – Building a Bigger Heart to keep ill and injured kids and their families together and close to care when they need it most. But, we can’t do it alone.

We invite community and business leaders to join us in this mission. Together, we can Build a Bigger Heart.

To arrange a private viewing of our plans or learn how you can get involved, contact Donna Horsey.

P: 0437 862 131 or E: [email protected]

Serving 100,000 families over three decades

The difference we made for 5,298 unique families in 2024.

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Families stayed supported through our Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW programs in 2025.
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Different families stayed cared for at our Ronald McDonald Houses, spending a total 6,992 nights, staying on average 12 nights.
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Unique families stayed strong at our Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms, walking through our doors 14,165 times
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Families stayed connected, holidaying together at our Ronald McDonald House Family Retreat
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Volunteers helped deliver our Mission, supporting families with ill and injured children
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Students stayed empowered with free tutoring, and 115 families received educational liaison support, through our Ronald McDonald House Learning Program
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Latest news about our growth

Knights Strong pledges $2 million to expand Ronald McDonald House Newcastle

Knights Strong, the community arm of The Wests Groups’, transformational pledge will help expand support for families with seriously ill children.

MacDougall family’s $2 million commitment to families with sick child

Having heard stories of people with sick children having to sleep in their cars at John Hunter Hospital, former Newcastle Knights star, Adam MacDougall, and his wife, Belinda, wanted to give back and change lives.

Ronald McDonald House Northern New South Wales

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