Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus is 2.86 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 consistently describe respectful, caring staff
100% positive on respect and 100% on caring staff, versus 95.9% and 96.0% across other homes.
Following up concerns is above the survey average
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 85.2% across other homes.
Staff communication is a relative strength
93% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 81.8% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Reported care time falls short of a staffing target
Total care: 210 vs 222 minutes; registered nurses: 28 vs 45 minutes per resident per day.
Staffing rating trails the national average
1 out of 5, compared with 3.19 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Quality measures rating trails the national average
1 out of 5, compared with 3.07 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 | 3.19 | 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 | 89.49% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.59% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.81% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.26% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.18% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.96% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.19% | 1354 |
How much care and nursing does McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus provide?
In January to March 2026, McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus reported 210 minutes of care per resident per day, 12 minutes below its target of 222 minutes. Registered nurses provided 28 of those minutes, 17 minutes below the registered-nurse target of 45.
In none of the last four quarters did McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus meet both its total and registered-nurse targets. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 199 to 225.
Who provides that care?
Of the 210 minutes, personal care workers provided 160 (76.2%), followed by registered nurses (28 minutes, 13.3%) and enrolled nurses (22 minutes, 10.5%). In the same quarter, McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus also reported spending on podiatrists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
How does McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus spent $346.17 per resident per day on care and nursing, 31% above the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $510.20 per resident per day. 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 ($78.64), accommodation and maintenance ($32.07), and cleaning and laundry ($26.08) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($165.27) and registered nurses ($101.64).
What do residents say about McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus?
Asked in the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey whether staff follow up when they raise things, 100% of residents surveyed at McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus answered “always” or “most of the time”, above the 85.2% average across other homes by 14.8 percentage points. When residents were asked whether staff explain things to them (93% against 81.8%) and whether they have a say in their daily activities (100% against 93.2%), answers were also above the average for other homes.
The largest gap below other homes was when residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing: 79% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 89.5%.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about the training staff receive. When residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing, 43% answered “always”, 36% “most of the time” and 21% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 86% of residents surveyed at McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus answered “always” and 14% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 29% answered “always” and 64% “most of the time”.
What is the food like at McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus?
When residents surveyed at McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 71% answered “always” or “most of the time”, within 3 percentage points of the 70.3% average across other homes. The share fell from 80% in 2024. Another 21% answered “some of the time” and 7% “never”.
In January to March 2026, McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus spent $14 per resident per day on food, 13% below the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.17 per resident per day, 39% below the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to McLean Care Mackellar Apex Campus, 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”.
71% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
