Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Brother Alberts Home is 4.34 out of 5, against a national average of 3.81. Three findings stand out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 238 minutes against a 217-minute daily care target; RN time is 50 against 44.
Quality measures rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.06 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Food spending and enjoyment both fall below their benchmarks
$13 a day vs a $16 sector median; 34% enjoy meals vs 67.4% across other homes.
Fewer residents say staff explain things consistently
42% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 80.3% across other homes.
Confidence in staff skills is below the survey average
58% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.1% 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 | 3.06 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.37% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.25% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.09% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.44% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.12% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.16% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.29% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.37% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.24% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.42% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.72% | 1080 |
What do residents say about Brother Alberts Home?
When residents surveyed at Brother Alberts Home for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether staff explain things to them, 42% answered “always” or “most of the time”, below the 80.3% average across other homes by 38.3 percentage points. When residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing (58% against 89.1%) and whether staff follow up when they raise things (58% against 84.2%), answers were also below the average for other homes.
At Brother Alberts Home, answers were at least 3 percentage points below the average for other homes on all 10 questions other than food.
What should you ask about on a visit?
A visit is a chance to ask about how staff explain changes to care. Of residents asked whether staff explain things to them, 27% answered “always”, 15% “most of the time”, 50% “some of the time” and 8% “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 73% of residents surveyed at Brother Alberts Home answered “always” and 19% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 54% answered “always” and 27% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Brother Alberts Home provide?
In January to March 2026, Brother Alberts Home reported 238 minutes of care per resident per day, 21 minutes above its target of 217 minutes. Registered nurses provided 50 of those minutes, 6 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 44.
In each of the last four quarters, Brother Alberts Home met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 228 to 238.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 188 of the 238 minutes (79.0%), followed by registered nurses (50 minutes, 21.0%). In the same quarter, Brother Alberts Home also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Brother Alberts Home?
When residents surveyed at Brother Alberts Home for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 34% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 33.4 percentage points below the average of 67.4% across other homes. The share fell from 50% in 2025. Another 38% answered “some of the time” and 27% “never”.
Food spending at Brother Alberts Home in January to March 2026 was $13 per resident per day, 19% below the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.07 per resident per day, 75% below the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to Brother Alberts Home, 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”.
34% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
How does Brother Alberts Home spend on resident care?
Total spending at Brother Alberts Home in the 2024–25 financial year was $395.80 per resident per day, and care and nursing made up 64.4% of it. Care and nursing spending of $255.08 was 4% 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?
Spending on other categories included administration ($44.77), accommodation and maintenance ($28.88), and cleaning and laundry ($24.94) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($160.89) and registered nurses ($52.25).
