Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Edward River Gardens is 4.22 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
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Quality measures rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.06 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Residents’ experience rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.62 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
How well the home is run is below the survey average
63% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.3% across other homes.
Food enjoyment fell in the latest survey
63% positive in 2025, compared with 78% in 2024: 15 percentage points lower.
Compliance rating trails the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 4.83 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
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 | 3.06 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.87% | 1354 |
| Feeling safe | 96.45% | 1354 |
| How well the home is run | 89.35% | 1354 |
| Getting needed care | 94.48% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.48% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.59% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.81% | 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 | 93.19% | 1354 |
How much care and nursing does Edward River Gardens provide?
In January to March 2026, Edward River Gardens reported 385 minutes of care per resident per day, 169 minutes above its target of 216 minutes. Of those minutes, 51 came from registered nurses, 7 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 44.
Who provides that care?
Per resident per day, personal care workers provided 303 minutes, followed by registered nurses (51 minutes) and enrolled nurses (30 minutes). In the same quarter, Edward River Gardens also reported spending on lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at Edward River Gardens?
When residents surveyed at Edward River Gardens for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 63% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 7.3 percentage points below the average of 70.3% across other homes. The share fell from 78% in 2024. Another 38% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
In January to March 2026, Edward River Gardens spent $23 per resident per day on food, 44% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, Edward River Gardens reported no spending on dietitians, against a sector median of $0.28 per resident per day.
How are meals prepared?
According to Edward River Gardens, 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”.
63% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
How does Edward River Gardens spend on resident care?
Spending on care and nursing at Edward River Gardens in the 2024–25 financial year was $361.43 per resident per day, 36% above the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $572.05 per resident per day. These amounts are the home’s costs, not the fees a resident pays.
Where does the rest of the spending go?
Spending on other categories included cleaning and laundry ($56.20), accommodation and maintenance ($50.79) and administration ($49.67) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($218.76) and other care consumables ($42.61).
What do residents say about Edward River Gardens?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 63% of residents surveyed at Edward River Gardens answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether the home is well run, below the 89.3% average across other homes by 26.3 percentage points. When residents were asked whether staff are kind and caring (88% against 96.0%) and whether staff treat them with respect (88% against 95.9%), answers were also below the average for other homes.
The largest gap above other homes was when residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities: 101% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 93.2%. 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?
A visit is a chance to ask about who runs the home day to day and how changes are communicated. Of residents asked whether the home is well run, 38% answered “always”, 25% “most of the time” and 38% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 63% of residents surveyed at Edward River Gardens answered “always” and 38% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 63% answered “always” and 25% “most of the time”.
