Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The residents’ experience rating for TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence is 4 out of 5, against a national average of 3.62. Three findings stand out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Enjoying the food is above the survey average
94% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 67.3% across other homes.
Residents’ experience rating exceeds the national average
4 out of 5, compared with 3.62 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Following up concerns is above the survey average
94% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 84.2% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
Staffing rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Quality measures rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.07 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Support for independence is below the survey average
82% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 87.2% 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 | 2366 |
| Residents’ experience | 3.62 | 2434 |
| Compliance | 4.83 | 2396 |
| Staffing | 3.18 | 2454 |
| Quality measures | 3.07 | 2456 |
| Respectful treatment | 95.36% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.24% | 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 | 87.16% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.26% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.31% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.21% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.41% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.70% | 1080 |
What is the food like at TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence?
When residents surveyed at TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 94% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 26.7 percentage points above the average of 67.3% across other homes. Another 6% answered “never”.
Food spending at TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence in January to March 2026 was $16 per resident per day, in line with the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.53 per resident per day, 89% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence, 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”.
94% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
Sources and Explanation
How much care and nursing does TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence provide?
TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence reported 207 minutes of care per resident per day in January to March 2026, 5 minutes below its target of 212 minutes. Of those minutes, 39 came from registered nurses, 4 minutes below the registered-nurse target of 43.
Who provides that care?
Per resident per day, personal care workers provided 151 minutes, followed by registered nurses (39 minutes) and enrolled nurses (16 minutes). In the same quarter, TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What do residents say about TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence?
When residents surveyed at TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether staff follow up when they raise things, 94% answered “always” or “most of the time”, above the 84.2% average across other homes by 9.8 percentage points. Answers were also above the average for other homes when residents were asked whether they get the care they need (100% against 94.4%) and whether staff are kind and caring (100% against 95.4%).
The largest gap below other homes was when residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves: 82% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 87.2%.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about how staff support residents to do things for themselves. When residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves, 63% answered “always”, 19% “most of the time”, 13% “some of the time” and 6% “never”.
Do residents feel safe?
When residents surveyed at TriCare Mermaid Beach Aged Care Residence were asked whether they feel safe, 69% answered “always” and 31% “most of the time”.
