Elderberry Expert Rating and Opinion
The Elderberry Index for Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care is 3.41 out of 5, compared with a national average of 3.81. One finding stands out as positive, and three are worth a closer look.
Things we noticed
Positive standouts
Staffing rating exceeds the national average
5 out of 5, compared with 3.18 across other rated homes in the August 2026 extract.
Worth a closer look
Confidence in staff skills is below the survey average
56% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 89.1% across other homes.
How well the home is run is below the survey average
57% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 88.1% across other homes.
Fewer residents say staff explain things consistently
50% answered “Always” or “Most of the time”, compared with 80.3% 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 | 95.38% | 1080 |
| Feeling safe | 96.26% | 1080 |
| How well the home is run | 88.11% | 1080 |
| Getting needed care | 94.45% | 1080 |
| Confidence in staff skills | 89.12% | 1080 |
| Encouragement to stay independent | 87.17% | 1079 |
| Staff explaining things | 80.28% | 1078 |
| Enjoying the food | 67.36% | 1080 |
| Following up concerns | 84.23% | 1079 |
| Kind and caring staff | 95.43% | 1080 |
| Having a say in daily life | 92.71% | 1080 |
What do residents say about Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 56% of residents surveyed at Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care answered “always” or “most of the time” when asked whether staff know what they are doing, 33.1 percentage points below the average of 89.1% across other homes. When residents were asked whether the home is well run (57% against 88.1%) and whether staff explain things to them (50% against 80.3%), answers were also below the average for other homes.
At Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care, answers were at least 3 percentage points below the average for other homes on all 10 questions other than food.
What should you ask about on a visit?
On a visit, you can ask about the training staff receive. When residents were asked whether staff know what they are doing, 23% answered “always”, 33% “most of the time”, 40% “some of the time” and 3% “never”.
Do residents feel safe and get the care they need?
When residents surveyed at Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care were asked whether they feel safe, 60% answered “always” and 20% “most of the time”. When asked whether they get the care they need, 47% answered “always” and 23% “most of the time”.
How much care and nursing does Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care provide?
In January to March 2026, Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care reported 242 minutes of care per resident per day, 25 minutes above its target of 217 minutes. Registered nurses provided 46 of those minutes, 2 minutes above the registered-nurse target of 44.
In three of the last four quarters, Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care met both its total and registered-nurse targets. Minutes of care per resident per day ranged from 221 to 245 across those four quarters.
Who provides that care?
Per resident per day, personal care workers provided 163 minutes, followed by registered nurses (46 minutes) and enrolled nurses (32 minutes). Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care also reported spending on physiotherapists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and lifestyle and recreation workers in the same quarter.
What is the food like at Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care?
In the 2026 Residents’ Experience Survey, 40% of residents surveyed at Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care said they like the food “always” or “most of the time”, 27.4 percentage points below the average of 67.4% across other homes. The share fell from 58% in 2025. Another 43% answered “some of the time” and 17% “never”.
Food spending at Warrina Vales Residential Aged Care in January to March 2026 was $23 per resident per day, 44% above the sector median of $16. In the same quarter, spending on dietitians was $0.35 per resident per day, 25% above the sector median of $0.28.
How are meals prepared?
Warrina Vales 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”.
40% of surveyed residents
Spending & preparation
Daily spending on food and dietitian services, and how meals are prepared.
