Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for St Vincent's Care Services Auburn 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
Care and registered-nurse targets met in four reported quarters
The latest quarter records 249 minutes against a 232-minute daily care target; RN time is 53 against 46.
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Following up concerns is above the survey average
100% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Quality measures rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.07 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Enjoying the food is below the survey average
58% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 67.3% across other homes.
Fewer residents feel they have a say in daily life
89% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 92.7% 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 | 96.24% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.07% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.42% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.08% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.15% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.25% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.35% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.20% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.42% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
How much care and nursing does St Vincent's Care Services Auburn provide?
In January to March 2026, St Vincent's Care Services Auburn reported 249 minutes of care per resident per day, 17 minutes above its target of 232 minutes. Of those minutes, 53 came from registered nurses, 7 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 46.
In each of the last four quarters, St Vincent's Care Services Auburn met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 243 to 251 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Personal care workers provided 195 of the 249 minutes (78.3%), followed by registered nurses (53 minutes, 21.3%) and enrolled nurses (1 minute, 0.4%). St Vincent's Care Services Auburn also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers in the same quarter.
What do residents say about St Vincent's Care Services Auburn?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 100% of residents surveyed at St Vincent's Care Services Auburn answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 15.8 percentage points above the average of 84.2% across other homes. When residents were asked whether the home is well run (100% against 88.1%) and whether staff explain things to them (90% against 80.2%), answers were also above the average for other homes.
The largest gap below other homes was when residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities: 89% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 92.7%.
What should you ask about on a visit?
A visit is a chance to ask about how residents have a say in daily activities. When residents were asked whether they have a say in their daily activities, 89% answered “always” and 11% “never”; none answered “most of the time” or “some of the time”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at St Vincent's Care Services Auburn were asked whether they feel safe, 89% answered “always” and 11% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 63% answered “always” and 37% “most of the time”.
What is the food like at St Vincent's Care Services Auburn?
When residents surveyed at St Vincent's Care Services Auburn for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 58% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 9.3 percentage points below the average of 67.3% across other homes. The share fell from 63% in 2025. Another 37% answered “some of the time” and 5% “never”.
In January to March 2026, St Vincent's Care Services Auburn spent $15 per resident per day on food, 6% below the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.42 per resident per day, 50% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to St Vincent's Care Services Auburn, 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”.
58% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
How does St Vincent's Care Services Auburn spend on resident care?
In the 2024–25 financial year, St Vincent's Care Services Auburn spent $416.30 per resident per day, and care and nursing made up 67.7% of it. Care and nursing spending of $281.74 was 6% above the sector median of $264.85. 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 ($45.65), accommodation and maintenance ($29.80), and cleaning and laundry ($20.45) per resident per day. Within care and nursing, the largest amounts per resident per day went to personal care workers and assistants in nursing ($166.65) and registered nurses ($69.80).
