Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care is 3.3 out of 5, compared with a national average of 3.81. Two findings stand out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Food enjoyment is above average, with lower reported spending
86% enjoy meals vs 70.2% across other homes; spending is $11 vs a $16 sector median.
Food enjoyment improved in the latest survey
86% positive in 2025, compared with 72% in 2024: 14 percentage points higher.
Worth a closer look
Following up concerns is below the survey average
60% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 85.2% across other homes.
Fewer residents feel they have a say in daily life
74% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 93.2% across other homes.
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 | 3.07 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.87% | 1354 |
| Feeling safe | 96.46% | 1354 |
| How well the home is run | 89.33% | 1354 |
| Getting needed care | 94.48% | 1354 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.49% | 1354 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 88.59% | 1354 |
| Staff explaining things | 81.82% | 1354 |
| Enjoying the food | 70.25% | 1354 |
| Following up concerns | 85.21% | 1354 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.97% | 1354 |
| Having a say in daily life | 93.21% | 1354 |
What do residents say about Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care?
In the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey, 60% of residents surveyed at Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 25.2 percentage points below the average of 85.2% across other homes. When residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities (74% against 93.2%) and whether staff know what they are doing (73% against 89.5%), answers were also below the average for other homes.
At Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care, answers were at least 3 percentage points below the average for other homes on 9 of the 10 questions other than food, and within 3 percentage points on the rest.
What should you ask about on a visit?
A visit is a chance to ask about how the home records and follows up concerns. Of residents asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 33% answered “always”, 27% “most of the time”, 33% “some of the time” and 7% “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
Asked whether they feel safe, 73% of residents surveyed at Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care answered “always” and 13% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 40% answered “always” and 47% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care provide?
In January to March 2026, Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care reported 221 minutes of care per resident per day, 10 minutes above its target of 211 minutes. Registered nurses provided 44 of those minutes, 1 minute above the registered-nurse target of 43.
In two of the last four quarters, Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Across those four quarters, minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 214 to 236.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 177 of the 221 minutes (80.1%), followed by registered nurses (44 minutes, 19.9%). In the same quarter, Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
How does Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care spent $316.76 per resident per day on care and nursing, 20% above the sector median of $264.85. Spending across all categories was $544.33 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 ($84.74), accommodation and maintenance ($76.80), and cleaning and laundry ($25.33) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($189.06) and registered nurses ($73.22).
What is the food like at Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care?
When residents surveyed at Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care for the 2025 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 86% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 15.8 percentage points above the average of 70.2% across other homes. The share rose from 72% in 2024. Another 13% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
Food spending at Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care in January to March 2026 was $11 per resident per day, 31% below the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.73 per resident per day, 161% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
Southern Cross Care St Catherine's Residential Aged Care 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”.
86% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
