Overview
CareRank scores each facility across five dimensions, combines them with fixed weights, and then ranks every rated facility against all others nationally. The published CareRank Score is that national percentile (0-100), so the rankings always distinguish stronger from weaker providers. Any facility under an active government sanction is capped in the Significant Concerns tier regardless of its ranking.
Our approach is designed to be transparent and comprehensive. We draw on multiple official government data sources to build a rounded picture of each facility's quality, safety, staffing, and value.
The Five Scoring Dimensions
Residents' Experience (30%)
Based on consumer experience surveys and quality of life scores collected through the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program. This dimension reflects how residents and their families rate the care, dignity, and lifestyle at the facility. Facilities where residents report higher satisfaction and quality of life score higher.
Compliance & Safety (25%)
Derived from the facility's compliance rating against the Aged Care Quality Standards, any sanctions imposed by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and non-compliance history. Facilities with a clean compliance record and no sanctions score highest. Recent sanctions or regulatory actions significantly reduce this score.
Staffing Quality (20%)
Measures the staffing star rating, registered nurse (RN) minutes per resident per day, allied health minutes, and workforce turnover. Adequate staffing is one of the strongest predictors of care quality. Facilities with higher RN minutes, strong allied health support, and lower staff turnover score better.
Quality Measures (15%)
Based on clinical quality indicators reported through the National Quality Indicator Program. Key indicators include the rate of falls and major injury from falls, pressure injuries, unplanned weight loss, physical restraint use, and unplanned hospitalisations. Lower rates of adverse clinical outcomes result in higher scores.
Value Score (10%)
Compares quality of care relative to accommodation pricing. We use the Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) as the cost benchmark. Facilities that deliver strong care outcomes at a reasonable price score higher, while facilities charging a premium without corresponding quality improvements score lower.
Tier Thresholds
Based on the overall CareRank Score, each facility is classified into one of five tiers:
| Tier | National Ranking |
|---|---|
| Excellent | Top 20% nationally (percentile 80–100) |
| Very Good | 50th–80th percentile |
| Good | 20th–50th percentile |
| Below Average | Bottom 20% (under 20th percentile) |
| Significant Concerns | Under an active government sanction (any percentile) |
Normalisation Approach
Raw data from different sources comes in different formats and scales. To make scores comparable across dimensions, we normalise each metric to a 0-100 scale using min-max normalisation against the national dataset. This ensures that a facility's score in each dimension reflects its relative standing among all rated facilities in Australia.
For metrics where lower is better (such as falls rates or pressure injuries), we invert the normalised score so that better clinical outcomes always result in a higher score.
Special Cases
- New facilities that have been operating for less than 12 months may not have sufficient data for all dimensions. These facilities display available scores with a note that ratings are preliminary.
- Facilities with missing data for a scoring dimension have that weight redistributed proportionally among available scores.
- Multi-purpose services in remote areas are included but flagged, as their operating context differs from metropolitan facilities.
Limitations
No rating system can capture everything that matters when choosing aged care. We encourage families to use CareRank as a starting point for research, not a definitive answer. Visit facilities in person, speak with staff and residents, and consider personal factors such as location, culture, and the specific care needs of your loved one.