Macquarie Homestay CWA NSW Guesthouse
When people from regional and remote New South Wales need specialist medical treatment, they’re often forced to leave home, travel long distances and manage a health journey without nearby support. For patients and their families, the emotional and financial strain can be just as challenging as the treatment itself.
Macquarie Homestay provides safe, affordable accommodation in Dubbo for people who need to travel long distances for medical care. For residents of the Mudgee–Gulgong region and other parts of Northern and Western NSW, it offers access to treatment they can’t receive locally, including cancer care, dialysis, high-risk pregnancies and specialist appointments.
Rod Crowfoot, Managing Director for Macquarie Homestay, said accommodation is often the missing piece for families needing treatment away from home.
“We see people at incredibly vulnerable points in their lives. Having somewhere they can stay, without worrying about the extra financial or emotional load, helps ease the pressure so they can focus on their health and family.”
Glencore Coal has contributed $245,000 to expand accommodation at the guesthouse, funding five fully furnished two-person units and upgrades to shared outdoor areas including a pergola, barbeque, deck and lounge seating.
Rod said the funding has delivered practical, immediate benefits for the wider regional New South Wales community, with the expansion providing thousands of nights of subsidised accommodation each year for patients and families in need.
“We are really, really thankful for Glencore’s support in being able to help provide guest rooms for people to come and stay, along with great outdoor spaces that people can enjoy during the course of the day. It makes the time away from home a little easier, a little bit more bearable.”
Support close to home
Dubbo is a key treatment hub for families across the Hunter, Central West and Western New South Wales regions, including communities near Glencore’s Ulan Coal operation near Mudgee. For many residents, specialist care requires weeks of travel and time away from support networks.
Lucy Stuart, Environment and Community Manager at Ulan Coal, said the facility fills a genuine need within the community.
“The Macquarie Homestay is a really important asset to have for our local community. Having the Macquarie Homestay in Dubbo means there's accommodation that families and partners of people receiving treatment can come and stay with their loved ones.”
A partnership with purpose
Glencore’s support for Macquarie Homestay reinforces its focus on improving health access for regional families. Craig Strudwick, Glencore Coal Social Performance Manager, said the partnership addresses a long-recognised gap in regional care.
“For many families, accessing treatment far from home adds stress at an already difficult time. Supporting Macquarie Homestay means people can focus on their health while staying close to the people who matter most.
“The partnership really aligns well with Glencore’s approach to community investment, aiming to improve access to care in the regions where we operate, and helping to build greater health equity across regional Australia.”
For Macquarie Homestay, the additional rooms and outdoor spaces are already helping ease pressure on patients and carers.
“The CWA of New South Wales Guest House exists to make treatment bearable. It lets people do life. It lets people navigate their health journeys in their own way. We provide that support and that accommodation to help them through that time and hopefully send them home in a much better way when they're finished.”