Supporting positive education outcomes
When a child is ill or is injured, complex medical treatment can be required and attending school is often not possible. The Ronald McDonald Learning Program supports students whose education is disrupted due to a medical illness or injury, as well as their siblings, who often stay at our House for long periods of time.
Our educators collaborate with hospital staff and teachers from Hospital School SA as well as tutors, helping these young people catch up on missed education, stay engaged and build confidence, making the return to school less stressful, when the time comes.
Services are available to all young people whether they are from a regional area and staying at Ronald McDonald House Adelaide or are from a metropolitan area traveling from home to hospital to receive treatment.
Hospital School SA provides educational programs by focusing on personalised learning through targeted teaching for students and young people.
Schooling can be negotiated for outpatients unable to attend their own school and the school-aged siblings of country/interstate patients. Hospital School SA delivers the Early Years Learning Framework, Australian Curriculum and SACE in a classroom setting and via teaching on the wards and online for all years:
We collaborate with individual schools and other educational institutions to ensure continuity in students’ learning.
Parents are to enrol their children prior to attendance by completing the enrolment form which can be found at here.
Whilst outpatients and siblings staying at the House are encouraged to attend the Hospital School, in some cases, this is not possible. In these circumstances, education support is available in the House on a case-by-case basis.
The Ronald McDonald Learning Program bridges the gap for school aged students whose education is disrupted due to serious illness or injury.
Supporting children from preschool to Year 12, the program provides a range of educational services including up to 40 hours of one-on-one tutoring to assist the reintegration into school and funding towards allied health intervention.
Becoming a tutor in the Ronald McDonald Learning Program gives teachers a chance to help sick or injured kids catch up on their missed education. Teachers are paid on an hourly basis to tutor students recovering from illness or injury at the student’s school or local community facility.
EDMed is one of the services provided by the Ronald McDonald Learning Program team. Targeted for schools and pre-service teachers at universities, this free professional development opportunity helps teachers understand how to better cater for children with complex health needs.
The module addresses strategies to support the physical, social, emotional, and academic wellbeing of children with serious medical or mental illness, as well as on how to support their siblings and families. All participants receive a certificate of completion for their professional learning records. EDMed is also available as a self-paced online module.
When a young person is dealing with a serious illness or injury, other parts of their life can come to a standstill, including their education.
To help students get back on their career path and towards the future they dream of, Ronald McDonald House established the Charlie Bell Scholarship. The scholarship awards one-off grants of up to $5,000 to young people aged 15 to 20 years, to assist towards their tertiary education.
Whether the money is used towards university fees, apprenticeship tools, books or supplies, we’re here to help them succeed.
Charlie Bell was an inspiration leader, long-time supporter of Ronald McDonald House and someone with quite a remarkable story.
After starting his career as a part time crew member with McDonald’s at the age of 15, he progressed quickly through the ranks, becoming Australia’s youngest Store Manager at just 19. By the age of 29, Charlie was a Vice President of McDonald’s Australia and on the Australian Board of Directors.
Before long, Charlie was appointed Managing Director, McDonald’s Australia and then ultimately, President and Chief Executive Officer of the global McDonald’s system in 2004.
Charlie passed away in 2005, after a courageous battle with cancer. He has left behind a legacy that allows many young Australians to follow their dreams, just like he did.
