Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for IRT Peakhurst is 3.93 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
Residents’ experience rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.62 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 88.6% across other homes.
Following up concerns is above the survey average
93% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 85.2% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Respectful treatment is below the survey average
92% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 95.9% across other homes.
Fewer residents say staff explain things consistently
78% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 81.8% across other homes.
Fewer residents consistently feel safe
93% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.5% 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 | 94.47% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.48% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.58% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.82% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.26% | 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 IRT Peakhurst provide?
IRT Peakhurst reported 198 minutes of care per resident per day in January to March 2026, 9 minutes above its target of 189 minutes. Registered nurses provided 41 of those minutes, 2 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 39.
In two of the last four quarters, IRT Peakhurst met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 177 to 200 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Of the 198 minutes, personal care workers provided 157 (79.3%), followed by registered nurses (41 minutes, 20.7%). In the same quarter, IRT Peakhurst also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
How does IRT Peakhurst spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, IRT Peakhurst spent $203.92 per resident per day on care and nursing, 23% below the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $356.75 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?
Other categories included administration ($43.01), accommodation and maintenance ($34.88), and cleaning and laundry ($25.03) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($122.96) and registered nurses ($57.07).
What is the food like at IRT Peakhurst?
When residents surveyed at IRT Peakhurst for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 72% answered “always” or “most of the time”, within 3 percentage points of the 70.3% average across other homes. The share was also 72% in 2024. Another 29% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
In January to March 2026, IRT Peakhurst spent $19 per resident per day on food, 19% above the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.17 per resident per day, 39% below the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to IRT Peakhurst, breakfast, lunch and dinner are all prepared by the cook-chill method. Of all meals, 53% are prepared on site and the rest off site.
Do residents enjoy the food?
Residents who answered “Always” or “Most of the time”.
72% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
What do residents say about IRT Peakhurst?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 100% of residents surveyed at IRT Peakhurst answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, 11.4 percentage points above the average of 88.6% across other homes. Answers were also above the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things (93% against 85.2%) and whether they have a say in their daily activities (100% against 93.2%).
The widest gap below other homes came when residents were asked whether staff treat them with respect: 92% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 95.9%. In all, answers on 3 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 are expected to treat residents. Of residents asked whether staff treat them with respect, 71% answered “always”, 21% “most of the time” and 7% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at IRT Peakhurst were asked whether they feel safe, 79% answered “always” and 14% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 86% answered “always” and 14% “most of the time”.
