Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The residents’ experience rating for TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence is 3 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
85% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 67.3% across other homes.
Residents report stronger support for independence
92% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 87.1% across other homes.
Staff communication is a relative strength
84% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 80.3% across other homes.
Worth a closer look
How well the home is run is below the survey average
61% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 88.1% across other homes.
Staffing rating trails the national average
2 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Getting needed care is below the survey average
77% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 94.4% 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 | 96.26% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.11% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.44% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.09% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.15% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.25% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.32% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.22% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.42% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
What do residents say about TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence?
When residents surveyed at TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether the home is well run, 61% answered “always” or “most of the time”, below the 88.1% average across other homes by 27.1 percentage points. When residents were asked whether they get the care they need (77% against 94.4%) and whether they feel safe (84% against 96.3%), answers were also below the average for other homes.
The largest gap above other homes was when residents were asked whether they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves: 92% answered “always” or “most of the time”, against an average of 87.1%. In all, answers on 2 of the 10 questions other than food were at least 3 percentage points above the average for other homes.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about who runs the home day to day and how changes are communicated. When residents were asked whether the home is well run, 46% answered “always”, 15% “most of the time”, 8% “some of the time” and 31% “never”.
Do residents have a say in daily life?
For choice and independence, the share of “always” or “most of the time” answers at TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence was 93% when asked whether they have a say in their daily activities.
How much care and nursing does TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence provide?
TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence reported 209 minutes of care per resident per day in January to March 2026, 12 minutes below its target of 221 minutes. Registered nurses provided 45 of those minutes, matching the registered-nurse target of 45.
Who provides that care?
Of the 209 minutes, personal care workers provided 158 (75.6%), followed by registered nurses (45 minutes, 21.5%) and enrolled nurses (6 minutes, 2.9%). In the same quarter, TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence also reported spending on physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers.
What is the food like at TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence?
When residents surveyed at TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence for the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey were asked whether they like the food, 85% answered “always” or “most of the time”, 17.7 percentage points above the average of 67.3% across other homes. Another 15% answered “some of the time”, and none answered “never”.
In January to March 2026, TriCare Pt Vernon Aged Care Residence spent $15 per resident per day on food, 6% below the sector median of $16. Spending on dietitians in the same quarter was $0.59 per resident per day, 111% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
According to TriCare Pt Vernon 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”.
85% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
