Star ratings for aged care homes reveals the worst in Australia

A new aged care star ratings system shows that a shocking one in 10 Australian homes are falling short. See our list of the worst homes, as well as search and compare facilities near you.

Australia’s worst aged care homes have been exposed.

For the first time every residential aged care facility has been given a star rating out of five by the government, which allows people to easily identify which ones are not up to scratch.

The new Star Ratings released on Monday morning, shows that a shocking one in 10 homes are falling short.

Around 26 homes, or one per cent, received just one star when assessed on a variety of things including staffing levels, food quality and the use of ­physical restraints, meaning they need ‘significant improvement’.

Nine per cent received two stars and need ‘improvement’.

The majority of homes (59 per cent) have received three stars, and are deemed to be providing an ‘acceptable’ quality of care, although a facility can still qualify for this rating even if it has been issued an improvement notice by the regulator in the last 12 months.

A new Star Ratings of aged care homes in Australia has launched. Picture: iStock

Three out of 10 homes achieved four stars, showing they provide a ‘good’ quality of care for their residents.

Just one per cent of the 2671 facilities received the maximum five stars and are providing an ‘excellent’ quality of care.

The homes are rated on four areas including compliance, residents’ experience, staffing and quality measures.

However, on the My Aged Care website many homes do not have a rating because they are currently in dispute with the Department of Health over what they have been issued.

In NSW, 13 aged care homes that have been rated so far received one star and 105 received two stars, meaning 14 per cent of the 814 rated homes in the state were sub-par.

Four homes, however, received five stars – about 0.5 per cent of all NSW facilities.

They were Southern Cross Care Marian Nursing Home, Lilliane Brady Village Nursing Home, Oolong Hostel and Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel.

In Victoria, three aged care homes received one star and 42 received two stars, meaning 6 per cent of the 722 rated aged care homes in the state were sub-par.

Eight homes, however, received five stars – about 1 per cent of all Victorian facilities.

They were Riverview Aged Care, Birchip Nursing Home, St Paul’s Hostel for the Elderly, Sheridan Aged Care, Carinya Nursing Home (Frankston Extended Care), Hopetoun Nursing Home, Hopetoun Hostel, and Villa Maria Catholic Homes Justin Villa Aged Care Residence

In Queensland, just one aged care home received one star - St Nicholas Aged Care in Highgate Hill, Brisbane - while 22 received two stars, meaning 5 per cent of the 458 rated aged care homes in the state were sub-par.

Five homes, however, received five stars – about 1 per cent of all QLD facilities.

They were Bowder Care Centre, Anglicare SQ St Martin’s Nursing Home, Brighton Health Campus (Gannet House), Milton House, and Leslie Place Aged Persons Hostel

In South Australia, four aged care homes received one star and 14 received two stars, meaning 8 per cent of the 216 rated aged care homes in the state were sub-par.

Only one home received five stars – Kara House in Clare.

In Tasmania, no aged care homes had yet received one star but six received two stars, meaning 8 per cent of the 71 rated aged care homes in the state were sub-par.

Only one home received five stars – Midlands Multipurpose Health Centre in Oatlands.

In the Northern Territory, no aged care homes had yet received one star but two received two stars, meaning 25 per cent of the eight rated aged care homes in the territory were sub-par.

No homes had received five stars.

In Western Australia, two aged care homes received one star and 21 received two stars, meaning about 10 per cent of the 242 rated aged care homes in the state were sub-par.

Two homes, however, received five stars – less than 1 per cent of all WA facilities.

They were Regents Garden Four Seasons Booragoon and Residency by Dillons Fremantle.

Of the 27 rated aged care homes in the Australian Capital, none had yet received one star but one received two stars - Villaggio Sant Antonio Hostel in Page.

There were also no five-star facilities as yet.

News Corp is seeking comment from the homes which have been identified as having one star.

Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) CEO Craig Gear said while the new Star Ratings will empower residents to make informed choices about where they want to live, he had serious concerns for older people currently living in aged care homes that have received a one-star or two-star rating.

“An urgent improvement plan must be put in place for each of these residential aged care homes,” Mr Gear said.

“Providers have had ample opportunity to lift their game in the wake of the Commission’s damning report, which was tabled in Parliament in March 2021.”

Only three out of 10 homes on the My Aged Care website achieved four stars.

National Seniors Australia Chief Advocate, Ian Henschke, said the new Star Ratings will provide a reference point for people so long as they understand what the ratings mean.

“It will take some time for the data to become meaningful and for people to understand how this system differs from the general star rating system we associate with hotel accommodation,” Mr Henschke said.

For example, a three-star rating for a hotel is one that delivers a broad range of amenities that exceed above-average accommodation needs and good quality service, design and physical attributes that are typically fit for purpose to match guest expectations.

“But in Aged Care three stars means it’s ‘acceptable’ and that could be an aged care home with an improvement notice on it,” Mr Henschke said.

One of the major concerns in aged care is the poor standard of food, with half of all residents malnourished.

Robert Hunt, CEO Dietitians Australia said introducing a resident food satisfaction rating is warmly welcomed, but he warned just because something was tasty doesn’t mean it is nutritious.

Phil Coggins, from Burrowa House in NSW that got one star said the rating system was “a joke” and does not necessarily reflect on the real operations of a facility.

“Our quality of care is second to none,” Mr Coggins said.

“Our staff are brilliant and caring. Yes, our governance is poor and we are working on improving it, but good Governance doesn’t necessarily mean a good facility.

“Poor governance on the other hand, may just mean staff are too busy actually caring for our residents instead of dealing with paperwork for half their working day.”

A Bupa spokeswoman, commenting on four Bupa homes that received a one star rating said the current assessment criteria reflects historic non-compliances.

“We’ve invested significantly in uplifting our quality measures and resident experience and believe we’re well positioned to improve our ratings over coming months,” she said.

“Star Ratings also highlight the challenge for the sector’s future viability.

“In addition to providing transparency through the new rating system, we need to reflect on how the sector is funded and what needs to be done to ensure we have robust aged care system for the future.”

A spokeswoman for Elizabeth Lodge in NSW which also received one star said its documentation standards were found to be inadequate, but they are “on track towards rectifying this issue”.

Ian Henschke is chief advocate for national seniors.

“It should be noted that Elizabeth Lodge received the highest possible rating – five stars – for quality measures, which relates to the health and wellbeing of our residents,” she said.

A spokesman for Anglican Care’s facility, McIntosh Court, in Booragul, NSW, also only received a one star rating, following a site audit in early September which found the facility did not meet compliance standards.

She said staff were working “tirelessly” to improve the quality of care.

Jason Binder, CEO of Respect Aged Care, responsible for Lyrebird Village in Victoria, said the one-star rating given was “limited by historical non compliances”.

“Under the current system, if a site has current or recent non compliances with the Aged Care and Quality Safety Commission, it can only rate one or two stars, despite other domains such as resident experience, staffing or quality indicators rating higher.

“This effectively means that, despite positive results in other areas of the review, the score was limited beyond our control.”

The Albanese Government said the new Star Ratings fulfils one of its election promises to make aged care more transparent and was a recommendation by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said homes needed embrace the transparency and “not make excuses”.

AGED CARE HOMES WITH ONE STAR WITHIN 250KM OF STATE CAPITALS:

St Nicholas Aged Care

19 Hampstead Road, Highgate Hill QLD 4101

Lyrebird Village for the Aged

8 Neerim Street, Drouin VIC 3818

Bupa Eastwood

55 Timbarra Drive, Bairnsdale VIC 3875

Indochinese Aged Care Services

680a Cabramatta Road West, Bonnyrigg NSW 2177

Bupa Clemton Park

1 Tedbury Street, Clemton Park NSW 2206

Bupa Waratah

219 Christo Road, Waratah NSW 2298

Moyne Aged Care Plus Centre (0033)

161 Nangar Road, Canowindra NSW 2804

Moyne Aged Care Plus Centre (2519)

161 Nangar Road, Canowindra NSW 2804

BaptistCare Orana Centre

193-201 Brisbane Water Drive, Point Clare NSW 2250

Anglican Care McIntosh Court

Toronto Road, Booragul NSW 2284

Elizabeth Lodge Hostel

79 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Wahroonga NSW 2076

Burrowa House

79 Ford Street, Boorowa NSW 2586

Marco Polo Woonona Care Services

11 Watergum Way, Woonona NSW 2517

St Basil’s Lakemba

300 Haldon Street, Lakemba NSW 2195

St George Aged Care Centre

3-5 Verdun Street, Bexley NSW 2207

Residential Gardens

420 Woodstock Avenue, Rooty Hill NSW 2766

Aminya Village Hostel

14 Adelaide Road, Mannum SA 5238

St Pauls Lutheran Hostel

7 Braun Drive, Hahndorf SA 5245

Bupa Woodville

104 Woodville Road, Woodville SA 5011

Regis Port Coogee

72 Pantheon Avenue, North Coogee WA 6163

Amaroo Village McMahon Caring Centre

74 Lissiman Street, Gosnells WA 6110

There are none within 250km of Hobart or Darwin.

OUTSIDE OF CITY AREAS:

Naracoorte Health Service

101 Jenkins Terrace, Naracoorte SA 5271

AGED CARE HOMES WITH TWO STAR WITHIN 250KM OF STATE CAPITALS:

BRISBANE

Bethania Gardens

87-91 Station Road, Bethania QLD 4205

Woodlands Aged Care and NDIS Services

34 Free Street, Newmarket QLD 4051

BaptistCare Maranoa Centre – Alstonville

15 The Avenue, Alstonville NSW 2477

TriCare Annerley Aged Care Residence

421 Annerley Rd, Annerley QLD 4103

Haddington Nursing Home

126 Duncan Street, Tenterfield NSW 2372

Lions Haven For The Aged

9 Pendraat Parade, Hope Island QLD 4212

Blue Care Bli Bli Aged Care Facility

20 Lefoes Road, Bli Bli QLD 4560

Blue Care Toogoolawah Alkira Aged Care Facility

2 Charles Street, Toogoolawah QLD 4313

Esida

79 Foxglove Street, Mount Gravatt East QLD 4122

TriCare Pimpama Aged Care Residence

1 Anembo Avenue, Pimpama QLD 4209

Churches of Christ Golden Age Aged Care Service

60 Ridgeway Avenue, Southport QLD 4215

Taralga Retirement Village Hostel

93 High Street, Jandowae QLD 4410

Blue Care Warana Beachwood Aged Care Facility

124 Nicklin Way, Warana QLD 4575

Bangalor Retreat

27 Stott Street, Tweed Heads West NSW 2485

NewDirection Care at Bellmere

41 Lotus Avenue, Bellmere QLD 4510

Blue Care Gympie Grevillea Gardens Aged Care Facility

23 Ramsay Road, Gympie QLD 4570

St Andrew’s Village Ballina

59 Bentinck Street, Ballina NSW 2478

TriCare Mt Gravatt Aged Care Residence

20 Somerfield Street, Upper Mount Gravatt QLD 4122

Blue Care Carbrook Wirunya Aged Care Facility

559 Beenleigh Redland Bay Road, Carbrook QLD 4130

SYDNEY

Arcare Warriewood

23 Warriewood Road, Warriewood NSW 2102

IRT William Beach Gardens

286 Kanahooka Road, Kanahooka NSW 2530

Uniting Kari Court St Ives

251-257 Mona Vale Road, St Ives NSW 2075

RFBI Basin View Masonic Village

130 The Wool Road, Basin View NSW 2540

Three Tree Lodge

2a Col Drewe Drive, Bowenfels NSW 2790

Carino Care at Oatley

Unit 7/11 Mimosa St, Oatley NSW 2223

Caroline Chisholm Nursing Home

274 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066

Pathways Cronulla Pines

35 Sturt Road, Cronulla NSW 2230

RFBI Lake Haven Masonic Village

12-16 Christopher Crescent, Lake Haven NSW 2263

Heritage Botany

31e Edgehill Avenue, Botany NSW 2019

Carino Care at Sylvania

406 Princes Hwy, Sylvania NSW 2224

St Vincent’s Care Services Bronte

363-367 Bronte Road, Bronte NSW 2024

Scalabrini Village Nursing Home (Austral)

65 Edmondson Avenue, Austral NSW 2179

Hixson Gardens Aged Care Facility

1a Hixson Street, Bankstown NSW 2200

The Little Sisters of the Poor Mount St Joseph’s H

70 Market Street, Randwick NSW 2031

New Horizons Aged Care Facility

53-63 Badajoz Road, North Ryde NSW 2113

A H Orr Lodge

31 Clissold Street, Ashfield NSW 2131

The Orchards Aged Care

15 The Ridgeway, Lisarow NSW 2250

Georges Estate Health & Aged Care

1 Centre Street, Penshurst NSW 2222

IRT William Beach Gardens

286 Kanahooka Road, Kanahooka NSW 2530

Bupa Bateau Bay

17 Bias Avenue, Bateau Bay NSW 2261

Peter Cosgrove House

90 Veterans Parade, Narrabeen NSW 2101

Brian King Gardens

1 Hilliard Drive, Castle Hill NSW 2154

Kanandah Hostel

21 Douro Street, Mudgee NSW 2850

Anglican Care Warnervale Gardens

147 Mataram Road, Woongarrah NSW 2259

RFBI Benhome Masonic Village

30 Regent St, Maitland NSW 2320

Catholic Healthcare St Pauls Residential Aged Care

27 Eastern Valley Way, Northbridge NSW 2063

Waterview Aged Care Facility

16 Cumberland Street, Teralba NSW 2284

Bupa Baulkham Hills

4 The Cottell Way, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

HammondCare – Miranda

19 Kiama Street, Miranda NSW 2228

Scalabrini Village Nursing Home (Bexley)

34 Harrow Road, Bexley NSW 2207

Miranda Aged Care Facility

268 Port Hacking Road, Miranda NSW 2228

Pacific Lodge Aged Care Plus Centre

8 Homestead Avenue, Collaroy NSW 2097

IBIS Care Miranda
2c Karimbla Road, Miranda NSW 2228

Catholic Healthcare Bodington

4 Bodington Drive, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782

Georges Estate Health & Aged Care

1 Centre Street, Penshurst NSW 2222

IRT William Beach Gardens

286 Kanahooka Road, Kanahooka NSW 2530

Marco Polo Aged Care Facility

70 Waples Road, Unanderra NSW 2526

Bupa Greenacre

171 Boronia Road, Greenacre NSW 2190

Arcare Warriewood

23 Warriewood Road, Warriewood NSW 2102

Alton Lodge

549-551 Freemans Drive, Cooranbong NSW 2265

Killarney Court Aged Care Facility

37 Cornish Avenue, Killarney Vale NSW 2261

MELBOURNE

Mercy Place East Melbourne
22 Verona Lane, East Melbourne VIC 3002

The Alexander Aged Care Centre

1720 Dandenong Road, Clayton VIC 3168

Cooinda Lodge Nursing Home

41 Landsborough Street, Warragul VIC 3820

Ashleigh House Hostel

20-24 Bergen Crescent, Sale VIC 3850

Mercy Place Colac

83-99 Queen Street, Colac VIC 3250

Shepparton Aged Care

29-35 Pine Road, Shepparton VIC 3630

Bupa Echuca

7 Fehring Lane, Echuca VIC 3564

Mercy Place Montrose

991 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Montrose VIC 3765

Mercy Place Rice Village

7 Moylan Loop, Marshall VIC 3216

Bupa Bendigo

208 Holdsworth Road, Bendigo VIC 3550

Waranga Health

14 High Street, Rushworth VIC 3612

Royal Freemasons Bendigo

61 Alder Street, Kangaroo Flat VIC 3555

Rowville Manor

18 Le John Street, Rowville VIC 3178

Castlemaine Health

142 Cornish Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450

Japara Bayview

1295 Frankston-dandenong Road, Carrum Downs VIC 3201

Nazareth House Ballarat

218 Mill Street, Lake Wendouree VIC 3350

Rosary Home

138 Odessa Avenue, Keilor Downs VIC 3038

Royal Freemasons Sale

28 Surkitt Boulevard, Sale VIC 3850

Mercy Place Wyndham

39 Deutgam Street, Werribee VIC 3030

Cumberland Manor

25 Wiltshire Street, Sunshine North VIC 3020

Mayflower Reservoir

56 Elliot Street, Reservoir VIC 3073

R M McHale Hostel

18 Purdey Street, Tongala VIC 3621

Rangeview Private Nursing Home

15-17 Mason Street, Wangaratta VIC 3677

Corowa District Hospital

17 Guy Street, Corowa NSW 2646

Geoffrey Cutter Centre

10 Kenny Street, Ballarat East VIC 3350

Whittlesea Lodge

30-32 Fir Street, Whittlesea VIC 3757

Hillview Bunyip Aged Care Inc

22 Abeckett Road, Bunyip VIC 3815

Bentleys Aged Care

47 Harpin Street, East Bendigo VIC 3550

Jewish Care (Vic) Inc. Residential Homes, Windsor

619 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004

The Belmont Residential Aged Care

235 High Street, Belmont VIC 3216

Embracia Moonee Valley

76-86 North Road, Avondale Heights VIC 3034

ADELAIDE

Bonney Lodge

24 Hawdon Street, Barmera SA 5345

Ardrossan Community Hostel

37 Fifth Street, Ardrossan SA 5571

Linsell Lodge Aged Care Facility

2-16 Cardigan Street, Angle Park SA 5010

North Eastern Community Nursing Home

580 Lower North East Road, Campbelltown SA 5074

Helping Hand Aged Care – Mawson Lakes Facility

12 The Strand, Mawson Lakes SA 5095

Westminster Village Nursing Home

Fort Street, Grange SA 5022

Estia Health Salisbury

7 Salisbury Highway, Salisbury SA 5108

Serene Residential Care Services

1 Myzantha Street, Lockleys SA 5032

Regis Playford

1 Wilton Street, Davoren Park SA 5113

Aldinga Beach Court

6 Pridham Boulevard, Aldinga Beach SA 5173

Hills Mallee Southern Aged Care Facility

1 Parker Street, Mannum SA 5238

St Joseph’s House

22 Norman Street, Port Pirie SA 5540

TASMANIA

Meercroft Care

Clements Street, Devonport TAS 7310

Barrington Lodge

120 Swanston Street, New Town TAS 7008

Coroneagh Park

50 Ironcliffe Road, Penguin TAS 7316

Barossa Park Lodge

17a Clydesdale Avenue, Glenorchy TAS 7010

May Shaw Aminya

19 Cameron Street, Scottsdale TAS 7260

PERTH

Baptistcare David Buttfield Centre

649 North Beach Road, Gwelup WA 6018

Geegeelup Aged Care Facility

3 Scott Street, Bridgetown WA 6255

Regis Woodlands

10 Sabina Street, Woodlands WA 6018

Bedingfeld Lodge

4 Bedingfeld Road, Pinjarra WA 6208

Residency by Dillons Narrogin

52 Williams Road, Narrogin WA 6312

Aegis Parkview

6 Drummond Street, Redcliffe WA 6104

Carinya Of Bristol

41 Bristol Avenue, Bicton WA 6157

Ocean Star Aged Care

207 Ocean Drive, Bunbury WA 6230

Juniper Elimatta

45 Alexander Drive, Menora WA 6050

Bethanie Gwelup

72 Huntriss Road, Gwelup WA 6018

Juniper John Bryant

95 Rawlinson Drive, Marangaroo WA 6064

Braemar House

10 Windsor Road, East Fremantle WA 6158

Baptistcare Morrison Gardens

1A North St, Midland WA 6056

Karri and Tuart Lodge

19 Hughie Edwards Drive, Merriwa WA 6030

MercyCare Rockingham

1 Tanby Place, Cooloongup WA 6168

Karingal Green

53 Hawkevale Rd, High Wycombe WA 6057

None within 250km of Darwin or Canberra

Ratings are listed as of 19 December, 2022 and are subject to change.

STAR RATINGS GUIDE

1 star – ‘significant improvement needed’.

2 stars – ‘improvement needed’.

3 stars – an ‘acceptable’ quality of care.

4 stars – a ‘good’ quality of care.

5 stars – an ‘excellent’ quality of care.

Ratings can change throughout the year, see how:

Compliance: Based on non-compliance decisions made by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission reported daily.

Residents’ Experience: At least 10 per cent of older Australians living in residential aged care homes are interviewed face-to-face about their overall experience at their residential aged care home by a third-party vendor once a year.

Staffing minutes: From quarterly reports.

Quality Measures: Based on data from five existing quality indicators (pressure injuries, physical restraint, unplanned weight loss, falls and major injury, and medication management) reported quarterly.

Originally published as Star ratings for aged care homes reveals the worst in Australia