Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Murray Vale Shalem Hostel is 4.15 out of 5, against a national average of 3.81. Three findings stand out as positive, and two are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 228 minutes against a 215-minute daily care target; RN time is 47 against 44.
Food enjoyment improved in the latest survey
77% positive in 2026, compared with 61% in 2025: 16 percentage points higher.
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Kind and caring staff is below the survey average
85% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 95.4% across other homes.
Fewer residents consistently feel safe
93% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 96.3% 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 | 3.07 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.35% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.25% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.08% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.42% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.09% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.14% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.25% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.33% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.21% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.43% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.70% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does Murray Vale Shalem Hostel provide?
In January to March 2026, Murray Vale Shalem Hostel reported 228 minutes of care per resident per day, 13 minutes above its target of 215 minutes. Of those minutes, 47 came from registered nurses, 3 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 44.
Murray Vale Shalem Hostel met both its total and registered-nurse targets in each of the last four quarters. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 220 to 247 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Per resident per day, personal care workers provided 182 minutes, followed by registered nurses (47 minutes). In the same quarter, Murray Vale Shalem Hostel also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
How does Murray Vale Shalem Hostel spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, Murray Vale Shalem Hostel spent $356.77 per resident per day on care and nursing, 35% above the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $530.83 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?
Other categories included administration ($67.85), accommodation and maintenance ($33.59), and cleaning and laundry ($31.01) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($185.57) and registered nurses ($113.81).
What do residents say about Murray Vale Shalem Hostel?
Asked in the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, 100% of residents surveyed at Murray Vale Shalem Hostel answered “always” or “most of the time”, 12.9 percentage points above the average of 87.1% across other homes. Answers were also above the average for other homes when residents were asked whether staff explain things to them (92% against 80.2%) and whether staff follow up when they raise things (93% against 84.2%).
The widest gap below other homes came when residents were asked whether staff are kind and caring: 85% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 95.4%. Altogether, answers on 2 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 get to know each resident. When residents were asked whether staff are kind and caring, 62% answered “always”, 23% “most of the time” and 15% “some of the time”; none answered “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 85% of residents surveyed at Murray Vale Shalem Hostel answered “always” and 8% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 77% answered “always” and 23% “most of the time”.
What is the food like at Murray Vale Shalem Hostel?
When residents surveyed at Murray Vale Shalem Hostel for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 77% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 9.7 percentage points above the average of 67.3% across other homes. The share rose from 61% in 2025. Another 23% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
In January to March 2026, Murray Vale Shalem Hostel spent $19 per resident per day on food, 19% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.15 per resident per day, 46% below the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
Murray Vale Shalem Hostel 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”.
77% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
