Each year 1,700 public school children in need come to Stewart House from many parts of NSW and the ACT. During their stay, children are provided with optometric, dental and medical treatment as well as emotional support.

This is balanced with health and educational programs and out of school activities to boost their self-esteem and to promote a healthier lifestyle.

Children in the care of Stewart House attend a specific purpose school onsite for up to 10 days of their 12-day stay. The NSW Department of Education provides infrastructure and staffing support for this school. All other costs associated with the children’s stay are met from charitable donations. Children between school years 2 and 8 are invited to attend the program.

Once the children leave school for the day they are cared for by suitably qualified supervisors overnight and at the weekend. Meals, accommodation costs, transport and entertainment expenses as well as salary costs for supervisors, cooks, cleaners, laundry and maintenance staff are all sourced from donations made to Stewart House. These costs amount to some $5 million each year.

Traditionally, teachers and staff from the NSW public education system have donated through fortnightly salary contributions around $1.5 million of this $5 million. Public school children through school-based fundraising contribute around $500,000. The remainder is gathered from personal and corporate donations and applications for private grants and subsidies.