Aged care homes in Ararat, VIC
3 aged care homes in Ararat, from the Australian Government service list, with official Star Ratings where published.
Gorrinn House Hostel
Garden View Court Hostel
70 Lowe Street
What the official data says about aged care in Ararat
Ararat has 3 aged care homes, holding 129 funded places between them. Widening the search to 20 km brings the total to 3, which is the realistic pool most families choose from. The average home here holds about 43 residents, so these are smaller homes, which some families find more personal.
Across the 3 rated homes in Ararat, the average overall Star Rating is 4 out of 5. That is above the state average for Victoria of 3.84 by 0.16 of a star, against a national average of 3.83.
Unusually, every rated home here sits at the same overall score of 4. An identical headline rating does not make them identical places to live, so the individual measures below, and a visit, are where the real differences show.
What residents in Ararat say
Averaged across the 3 homes in Ararat whose residents were interviewed by the government. This is the local picture behind the star ratings. Residents here are most positive about feels safe (93% said always) and least positive about things are explained (3%).
| Residents said “always” to | Ararat | National |
|---|---|---|
| Treated with respect | 74% | 68% |
| Staff are kind and caring | 71% | 69% |
| Feels safe | 93% | 78% |
| Gets the care needed | 66% | 65% |
| Staff know what they are doing | 27% | 44% |
| Feels like home | 64% | 64% |
| Things are explained | 3% | 46% |
| Concerns followed up | 43% | 48% |
| Has a say | 85% | 72% |
| Encouraged to be independent | 42% | 60% |
| Well run | 27% | 46% |
| Likes the food | 19% | 28% |
How Ararat homes score on each measure
An overall rating is built from four separate measures. Averages for the homes here, next to the national average, so you can see where this area is genuinely strong and where to ask harder questions.
| Measure | Ararat | National | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents' experience | 3.67 | 3.63 | how residents themselves rated life in the home, collected in face-to-face interviews. It is the closest thing to asking the people who live there. |
| Compliance | 5 | 4.82 | whether the home has met its regulatory obligations. Almost every home scores well here, so a low score is a genuine warning sign rather than a small ding. |
| Staffing | 4 | 3.25 | how much registered nurse and total care time each resident actually receives against the government's targets. |
| Quality measures | 3.33 | 3.04 | clinical outcomes the home reports, such as pressure injuries, falls, medication management and unplanned weight loss. |
Source: Australian Government Star Ratings, May 2026 extract. How to read these ratings properly.
Who runs the homes in Ararat
Many services belong to a larger group. Knowing the operator is useful, because standards, pricing structures and culture often travel across a group.
East Grampians Health Service (2 services here)Ararat Retirement Village Inc (1 service here)
What it costs to move into a home near Ararat
Fees are set nationally, not by suburb, so the structure is the same in Ararat as anywhere in Australia: a basic daily fee of $66.80 a day (as at 20 March 2026) that everyone pays, a means-tested care fee based on your income and assets, and an accommodation payment set by each individual home. That last one is where Ararat homes will differ from each other, and it is the number to ask for in writing. Non-clinical contributions are capped over a lifetime at $137,917.01.
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Get care options for AraratNearby areas
Stawell (2, 28 km)Willaura (1, 34 km)Beaufort (2, 43 km)Avoca (2, 52 km)Skipton (1, 59 km)Maryborough (3, 76 km)Rupanyup (1, 77 km)St Arnaud (2, 80 km)Wendouree (3, 84 km)Dunolly (1, 85 km)
Common questions about aged care in Ararat
How many aged care homes are there in Ararat?
3 aged care homes are based in Ararat on the current national service list, with 129 funded places between them. Widening to 20 km gives 3 options in total.
What is the average Star Rating of aged care homes in Ararat?
The 3 rated homes average 4 out of 5, compared with 3.84 across Victoria and 3.83 nationally. Ratings are published by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, not by CareShortlist, and the spread between individual homes matters far more than the local average.
How much does an aged care home in Ararat cost?
There is no single figure. Everyone pays a basic daily fee of $66.80 a day (as at 20 March 2026). On top of that sits a means-tested care fee set by your income and assets, and an accommodation payment that each home sets individually, paid as a refundable lump sum, a daily payment, or a mix. Lifetime contributions are capped at $137,917.01.
Do I have to choose a home in Ararat itself?
No. You can enter any home in Australia that has a place available and accepts your assessment. Families often look a few suburbs wider to find the right fit, which is why we show everything within 20 km of Ararat as well.
What is the first step to arranging care in Ararat?
An assessment through My Aged Care (myagedcare.gov.au or 1800 200 422). Nothing is government funded until that assessment is done, and the queue moves slowly, so applying early is the single most useful thing you can do. You can shortlist homes while you wait.