Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Calvary Springvale is 3.08 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
Following up concerns is above the survey average
92% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 85.2% across other homes.
Kind and caring staff is above the survey average
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.0% across other homes.
How well the home is run is above the survey average
93% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.3% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Fewer residents feel they have a say in daily life
69% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 93.2% across other homes.
Staffing rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Support for independence is below the survey average
69% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 88.6% 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: 2025 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 2025 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 | 95.86% | 1354 |
| Feeling safe | 96.45% | 1354 |
| How well the home is run | 89.32% | 1354 |
| Getting needed care | 94.48% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.48% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.61% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.82% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.27% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.19% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.96% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.21% | 1354 |
What do residents say about Calvary Springvale?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 69% of residents surveyed at Calvary Springvale answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, below the 93.2% average across other homes by 24.2 percentage points. When residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves (69% against 88.6%) and whether staff explain things to them (69% against 81.8%), answers were also below the average for other homes.
The widest gap above other homes came when residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things: 92% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 85.2%. Altogether, answers on 3 of the 10 questions other than food were at least 3 percentage points above the average for other homes.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about how residents have a say in daily activities. When residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, 69% answered “always”, 23% “some of the time” and 8% “never”; none answered “most of the time”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at Calvary Springvale were asked whether they feel safe, 46% answered “always” and 46% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 46% answered “always” and 38% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Calvary Springvale provide?
In January to March 2026, Calvary Springvale reported 219 minutes of care per resident per day, 6 minutes below its target of 225 minutes. Registered nurses provided 46 of those minutes, 1 minute above the registered-nurse target of 45.
Who provides that care?
Of the 219 minutes, personal care workers provided 148 (67.6%), followed by registered nurses (46 minutes, 21.0%) and enrolled nurses (25 minutes, 11.4%). In the same quarter, Calvary Springvale also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Calvary Springvale?
When residents surveyed at Calvary Springvale for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 53% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 17.3 percentage points below the average of 70.3% across other homes. Another 38% answered “some of the time” and 8% “never”.
In January to March 2026, Calvary Springvale spent $16 per resident per day on food, in line with the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.13 per resident per day, 54% below the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
Calvary Springvale reports that 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”.
53% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
