Donate

Ronald McDonald Learning Program

A tailored program to help seriously ill children catch-up on missed education

Extended stays in hospital or ongoing medical treatments can cause students to miss a substantial amount of school. Our tailored one-on-one tuition helps kids catch-up on missed education so that they feel confident as they strive to reach their full potential.

Class teachers of seriously ill or injured students often require support too. EDMed® is our free professional development session aimed at providing information for teachers about the potential impacts of serious illness, as well as education strategies to support the needs of students impacted by serious illness. 

Ronald McDonald Learning Program tuition

We believe that every school aged child has the right to achieve their full potential. The Ronald McDonald Learning Program (RMLP) assists school-aged children with serious illnesses and injuries in catching up on missed education, following treatment and recovery.

Our RMLP is tailored to students’ individual needs. Providing a suite of education support services, students may be eligible for one-on-one tutoring with experienced teachers, therapy sessions with Occupational Therapists and/or Speech Therapists and an academic assessment provided by an Educational Psychologist. We aim to build each child’s confidence and self-esteem as they continue their learning.

All services are free to families, thanks to funding from our generous RMHC NNSW supporters.

Eligibility for the program is assessed on a case by case basis. RMHC NNSW Learning Program staff will take the following into consideration when offering individualised support programs:

  • The student has a serious illness or injury resulting in hospitalisation or is under specialist medical care
  • The student has had a significant amount of time off schooling (approximately a term or more) as a result of their illness or injury
  • The student is behind in schooling as a result of their serious illness or injury
  • The student is enrolled (and in a regular pattern of attendance) and attending a mainstream school or Distance Education
  • The student is well enough to benefit from educational support
  • The student is not receiving a moderate to high level of integration funding
Request RMLP tuition

Teach with us!

The Ronald McDonald Learning Program gives teachers a chance to help seriously ill kids catch up on their missed education. Teachers are contracted on an hourly basis to tutor students recovering from illness at the student’s school or local community facility. Each student receives up to 40 hours of tuition.

We’re on the lookout for tutors across the Central Coast, Hunter, Mid North Coast, North Coast, New England and North West regions. You can help seriously ill or injured kids catch-up on their missed education and stay ahead.

Find out more and submit your interest

EDMed®

Planning for the return of a student who has suffered a serious physical illness or injury can present challenges for teaching staff. 

EDMed® is a free, two hour professional development session, providing teaches with a range of educational strategies and information to assist in the smooth transition and integration back to school.

EDMed® can be delivered face to face or in a self-paced, online learning environment. To register for EDMed® online, follow the link below.

To request EDMed® face to face email Dayle, RMHC NNSW Learning Program Coordinator, via [email protected].

Register for EDMed® online

Charlie Bell Scholarship

A serious illness or injury can make life stand still. Making any progress – whether it be in your education or career – can feel almost impossible. That’s why our Scholarship program exists.


By awarding one-off grants of up to $5,000 to deserving young people, we’re giving them the chance to get their schooling or career back on track. So, whether the money goes towards university fees, apprenticeship tools, books or supplies, RMHC is there to help students embarking on tertiary education succeed.

Find out more

Dele and Alan Scholarship

As teachers Dele and Alan Gilmore dedicated their life to helping young people achieve both academically and socially. Through personal experience they came to understand the value of keeping families together during a child’s serious illness and this led them to become founding members of the committee that established the Ronald McDonald House at John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Newcastle.

In keeping with Dele and Alan’s passion to educate and help the local community, in particular young people who have been impacted by illness, the Dele and Alan Gilmore Scholarship has been established.

By awarding one-off grants totalling a maximum of $5,000 per year to deserving young people, we hope to give them the chance to get their education back on track. Whether the money goes towards school fees, extracurricular activities, books or supplies, the Scholarship is there to help them succeed.

  • Scholarships are awarded annually
  • Applications are open from 1st June to 31st October each year
  • Selection will be made by the Dele and Alan Gilmore Scholarship Committee
  • Attendance at the Awards Ceremony is required, where possible

To apply for a scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:

  • The student has a serious physical illness or injury resulting in hospitalisation
  • The student is enrolled and attending a school or preschool
  • The student is well enough to benefit from educational support
  • The student lives in the Northern NSW region (i.e. Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter, Mid North Coast, New England North West)

If you feel you meet this criteria, complete the initial request form. If eligible, a link will be sent to you to complete the full application process.

  • Relevant medical history
  • An outline of your intention of use of grant
  • A letter of support from medical practitioner, social worker and / or allied health worker
  • Reference from Education Provider
  • Signature of parent/guardian (if under 18 years) 
  • A short video of the applicant (optional)
  • Current educational setting
  • Personal Aims
  • Achievements
  • How the scholarship will help in achieving your goals
  • Community Involvement
Find out more

News from the Heart

Sign up to our newsletter – read inspirational stories from our families and stay up to date with what’s happening across RMHC Northern NSW