elderberry See the ratings
Free · independent · July 2026

Choosing aged care for Mum or Dad?

Start with the government's own data — every major provider, rated — then the nine checks that separate the best homes from the rest.

See the providers, rated → Print the tour checklist
2,590residential homes, run by 709 providers
3.4%of rated homes earn 5 stars — just 84 nationally
41%of homes met both care-minute targets (Q4 FY24)
215 minof daily care your parent is entitled to
The evidence, first

Australia's 24 largest aged care providers, rated

Ranked by beds, joined to the government's star ratings across every home each one runs. A map, not a verdict — always check the individual home.

3.8★+ strong 3.5–3.8★ below 3.5★
#ProviderHomesBeds CoverageOwnershipAvg rating Homes 4★+Staffing
1 Opal HealthCare 138 13,977 NSWQLDSAVIC+1 For-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.71 71% 2.94
2 Bolton Clarke 88 8,722 NSWQLDSAVIC+1 Not-for-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.57 57% 2.79
3 Estia Health 87 8,717 NSWQLDSAVIC For-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.69 69% 2.77
4 Bupa Aged Care 57 5,979 NSWQLDSAVIC For-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.39 39% 2.26
5 Regis Aged Care 51 5,930 NSWNTQLDSA+3 For-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.50 50% 2.17
6 Uniting (NSW.ACT) 70 5,862 ACTNSW Faith-based ★★★★★★★★★★3.69 67% 2.50
7 Calvary Aged Care 57 5,229 ACTNSWSATAS+1 Not-for-profit ★★★★★n/a — —
8 Arcare 52 4,981 NSWQLDVIC For-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.82 82% 2.84
9 UnitingCare Queensland 46 3,478 QLD Faith-based ★★★★★★★★★★3.85 85% 3.39
10 BaptistCare 35 3,220 ACTNSWWA Not-for-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.65 65% 2.59
11 Catholic Healthcare 41 3,039 NSWQLD Not-for-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.88 85% 3.02
12 Mercy Health 30 2,681 NSWQLDVICWA Not-for-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.64 61% 3.11
13 Anglicare (Sydney) 23 2,531 NSW Faith-based ★★★★★★★★★★4.00 100% 2.83
14 St Vincent's Care 25 2,458 NSWQLDVIC Faith-based ★★★★★★★★★★3.88 88% 3.33
15 Ozcare 19 2,405 QLD Not-for-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.72 72% 2.94
16 Respect 29 2,366 NSWTASVICWA Not-for-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.64 60% 2.68
17 Aegis Aged Care 21 2,239 WA For-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.95 95% 3.10
18 RSL LifeCare 25 2,197 ACTNSW Community ★★★★★★★★★★3.62 58% 2.62
19 IRT 20 2,114 ACTNSWQLD Community ★★★★★★★★★★3.60 60% 2.55
20 Luson 14 2,024 NSWQLDVICWA Not-for-profit ★★★★★★★★★★4.00 100% 3.00
21 Churches of Christ Care 23 1,946 QLDVIC Faith-based ★★★★★★★★★★3.87 87% 3.00
22 Whiddon 22 1,896 NSWQLD Not-for-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.86 82% 3.45
23 Uniting AgeWell 21 1,839 TASVIC Faith-based ★★★★★★★★★★3.95 90% 3.60
24 Thompson Health Care 16 1,725 NSW For-profit ★★★★★★★★★★3.73 73% 2.13

Beds and homes: GEN Aged Care Service List (30 June 2025). Ratings and staffing sub-rating: Star Ratings quarterly extract (May 2025), averaged across each provider's rated homes. “Homes 4★+” is the share of a provider's rated homes at 4 stars or above. Calvary shown unrated where the registry-to-ratings join did not match.

Why this guide exists

The brochure won't tell you which homes are struggling. The data will.

The Royal Commission found substandard care was widespread, not isolated. Since then the government publishes hard data on every home — star ratings, staffing, clinical indicators, and a public register of enforcement. The best homes now separate from the rest on the record.

An adult daughter and son at a kitchen table comparing aged care options with a checklist
68%

of residents malnourished or at risk in the study the Royal Commission cited; a 2024 Monash study still found ~40%.

Monash University, 2024
59%

of homes did not meet both mandatory care-minute targets in Q4 FY2024 — most fell short of the staffing floor.

Dept of Health; ACQSC quarterly reporting
26%

of rated homes sit at 3 stars or below, while only 84 homes in the country earn 5 stars. The spread is real.

Star Ratings extract, May 2025 — our calculation
The core of this guide

Nine checks that separate the best from the rest

Each is a real, published measure — not marketing. What it means, the number that counts, and the exact question to ask on the tour.

1

Star rating

Read all four parts, not just the headline number.

4★ or higherOnly 3.4% of rated homes reach 5★; 26% sit at 3★ or below.

“Which of your four sub-ratings is lowest right now?”

2

Care minutes

The daily hands-on care time the law now guarantees.

215 min / dayIncl. 44 registered-nurse minutes. Only 41% of homes met both targets.

“What were your care minutes last quarter vs target?”

3

Nurse at 3am

A registered nurse must be on site around the clock.

24/7, no exemptionMandatory since July 2023 for every residential home.

“Do you hold a 24/7 RN exemption? Who is on overnight?”

4

Clinical numbers

14 quality indicators reported every quarter.

At or above national avgFalls, pressure injuries, restraint, weight loss, medication.

“Show me last quarter's indicators vs the national average.”

5

Resident voice

One-third of the whole star rating — heaviest of all.

4–5★ experienceIndependent interviewers ask residents face-to-face.

“Ask a resident: would you recommend living here?”

6

Food

A standalone quality standard, tied to a daily supplement.

Well above $10 / dayA third of homes reported spending below $10 per resident.

“What's your daily food spend? Can I stay for lunch, unannounced?”

7

Enforcement record

Every sanction is public, by name — and never deleted.

No current actionRecords move from Current to Archived; the history stays visible.

“Any non-compliance decisions — current or archived?”

8

Rights & complaints

The Aged Care Act 2024 enshrines a Statement of Rights.

Staff name it unpromptedSeven strengthened Quality Standards in force from Nov 2025.

“Walk me through what happens if my mother complains.”

9

Ignore the brand

The biggest chains are not automatically the safest.

Judge the home, not the logoThe ten largest chains average 3.4–3.9★; the same chain runs 2★ and 5★ homes.

“How does THIS home compare with your others?”

A nurse gently helping an elderly man with a walking frame down a sunlit care home hallway
Reading the rating

How a star rating is actually built

When a home says “we're 4 stars”, ask which parts carried it.

Residents' Experience
33%
Compliance
30%
Staffing
22%
Quality Measures
15%

A strong overall score with a weak Staffing sub-rating is the pattern to watch — it means the stars are carried by paperwork, not hands-on care time.

Take this with you

The 12-question tour checklist

Visit unannounced at least once, ideally at mealtime. Trust what you see over what you're told.

  1. Overall star rating, and which sub-rating is lowest? (look it up first)
  2. Care minutes last quarter vs target — total and registered nurse?
  3. Registered nurse on site 24/7? Any exemption?
  4. Last quarter's quality indicators vs the national average?
  5. What did residents say in the last experience survey?
  6. Daily food spend per resident? Who plans the menu?
  7. Can I join a meal today, unannounced?
  8. Any non-compliance decisions — current or archived?
  9. Walk me through your complaints process, step by step.
  10. How do you keep my parent's GP, and how are families told about incidents?
  11. What is staff turnover, and how long has the manager been here?
  12. Ask a resident: “Would you recommend living here?”
Print this checklist
Our data

Built from the government's own datasets

5,378funded services in the GEN Service List (30 Jun 2025)
2,608residential services in the Star Ratings extract (May 2025)
709distinct providers behind every residential home
100%of figures traceable to a named public source

Every dataset and report used on this page