Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Banksia Lodge is 4.04 out of 5, compared with a national average of 3.81. Three findings stand out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Residents report stronger support for independence
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 87.1% across other homes.
Following up concerns is above the survey average
93% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Food enjoyment fell in the latest survey
67% positive in 2026, compared with 80% in 2025: 13 percentage points lower.
Residents’ experience rating trails the national average
3 out of 5, compared with 3.62 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Kind and caring staff is below the survey average
86% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 95.4% across other homes.
Sources and Explanation
This is a programmatic interpretation of published data, not an in-person inspection or a separate expert-assigned score. The figures are the Elderberry Index and its four government component ratings; a measure the home has no published rating for is left out. Our rating methodology.
Ratings: August 2026. Survey comparisons: 2026 interview responses from that extract. Other Australian homes in the same ratings extract; survey comparisons also require the same interview year. Each eligible home has equal weight; missing/invalid values excluded. These are descriptive comparisons, not resident-weighted or adjusted for differences in care needs.
How findings are selected
Survey gaps of at least 3 percentage points, rating gaps of at least 0.3 stars, and changes of at least 10 percentage points can qualify. These are editorial selection thresholds, not tests of statistical significance. Benchmarks need at least 30 homes. Each side shows up to three eligible findings; missing values never become negative findings. Specific combined food evidence and sustained care-target results are prioritised, then larger differences. Respect and caring are grouped when both qualify.
Food spending uses the My Aged Care sector median for Jan–Mar 2026; resident enjoyment comes from the 2026 survey. The combined finding reports two separate observations from different reporting periods; it does not establish that spending caused the survey result. Year-to-year survey samples may differ and respondent counts are unavailable. Care consistency uses the latest four submitted, quality-checked care-minute records and direct RN minutes without EN top-up.
A lower compliance rating is a comparison with other homes, not a claim of an active sanction. Higher expenditure alone is not treated as better care. Unadjusted clinical incident measures are not used to rank quality here.
My Aged Care home profile · Government Star Ratings extract
Benchmark populations
| Measure | Mean | Other homes |
|---|---|---|
| Elderberry Index | 3.81 | 2365 |
| Residents’ experience | 3.62 | 2434 |
| Compliance | 4.83 | 2395 |
| Staffing | 3.18 | 2454 |
| Quality measures | 3.07 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.36% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.24% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.08% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.43% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.10% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.14% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.26% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.34% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.21% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.42% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.70% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does Banksia Lodge provide?
In January to March 2026, Banksia Lodge reported 202 minutes of care per resident per day, 10 minutes above its target of 192 minutes. Registered nurses provided 39 of those minutes, matching the registered-nurse target of 39.
In two of the last four quarters, Banksia Lodge met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 197 to 209 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 133 minutes per resident per day, followed by registered nurses (39 minutes) and enrolled nurses (31 minutes). In the same quarter, Banksia Lodge also reported spending on physiotherapists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What do residents say about Banksia Lodge?
When residents surveyed at Banksia Lodge for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, 100% answered “always” or “most of the time”, above the 87.1% average across other homes by 12.9 percentage points. When residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things (93% against 84.2%) and whether they have a say in their daily activities (100% against 92.7%), answers were also above the average for other homes.
The largest gap below other homes was when residents were asked whether staff are kind and caring: 86% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 95.4%. Altogether, answers on 4 of the 10 questions other than food were at least 3 percentage points below the average for other homes.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about how staff get to know each resident. When residents were asked whether staff are kind and caring, 53% answered “always”, 33% “most of the time” and 13% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at Banksia Lodge were asked whether they feel safe, 87% answered “always” and 13% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 67% answered “always” and 20% “most of the time”.
What is the food like at Banksia Lodge?
When residents surveyed at Banksia Lodge for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 67% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 13 percentage points lower than the 80% recorded in 2025. Another 27% answered “some of the time” and 7% “never”.
In January to March 2026, Banksia Lodge spent $18 per resident per day on food, 13% above the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.47 per resident per day, 68% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Banksia Lodge, breakfast, lunch and dinner are all cooked fresh. All meals are prepared on site.
Do residents enjoy the food?
Residents who answered “Always” or “Most of the time”.
67% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
How does Banksia Lodge spend on resident care?
Total spending at Banksia Lodge in the 2024–25 financial year was $430.25 per resident per day, and care and nursing made up 57.7% of it. Care and nursing spending of $248.17 was 6% below the sector median of $264.85. These figures are the home’s costs, not the fees a resident pays.
Where does the rest of the spending go?
Other categories included administration ($59.20), accommodation and maintenance ($49.12), and cleaning and laundry ($26.64) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($140.50) and registered nurses ($47.40).
