When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, the impact on the family is profound. Families often have to leave their homes, jobs, and communities to seek treatment, leading to disruptions in their children’s education.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania (RMHC VIC & TAS) has been a beacon of support for families with seriously ill children for over 30 years, providing a home-away-from-home for families, ensuring they can stay close to their child's hospital bed, at no cost, while receiving essential support. There are also four Family Rooms in Victorian hospitals offer a non-clinical space for families to rest and recharge.
In 2023, 2,587 families stayed across the four houses (with 93 rooms), averaging 8.5 days per stay.
While the accommodation is what the organisation is most well-known for, they also have equally important learning programs, and provide tutoring, holiday programs, allied health services to students who have returned to school after treatment for serious illness or injury, and an annual Youth Forum.
The service gap was in the area of early years education for pre-school aged children. Only two of the four houses had a program in place, and RMHC knew not all children’s education needs were being met. With more than 90% of brain development occurring in a child’s first five years, high quality early education sets children up for lifelong learning and wellbeing. Children enrolled in early learning programs are more likely to develop the critical skills they need to succeed in school, including healthy social interaction and self-confidence.]
Early Years Empowerment Pilot Project
RMHC VIC & TAS launched the Early Years Empowerment pilot project, supported by a FFV Community Grant. The project focuses on providing early education to children with serious illnesses and their siblings through an adapted Early Years Framework curriculum designed for children staying at the North Fitzroy and Monash Houses.
The project is benefits approximately 195 children aged 3-4 years. As well as improving long-term educational outcomes and reduce the need for additional support when children return home, it alleviates parental anxiety by ensuring children receive the benefits of early education despite their circumstances.
By bridging the gap in early education, RMHC VIC & TAS helps ensure that every child, regardless of their health challenges, has the opportunity to thrive academically and socially.
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