Arcare Essendon
33-35 Raleigh Street, Essendon VIC 3040
Official Star Rating
Source: Australian Government Star Ratings quarterly extract, May 2026. Ratings are published by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, not by CareShortlist.
Considering this home?
A Star Rating is a starting point, not an answer. Get a free shortlist that puts Arcare Essendon side by side with other options near Essendon: ratings, room availability signals, and the questions worth asking on a tour.
We will put Arcare Essendon at the top of a shortlist beside the other options near Essendon, and can introduce you to the home if you would like.
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What residents say about Arcare Essendon
These are not online reviews. The Australian Government interviews residents of Arcare Essendon face to face and publishes what they said. Below is the share who answered “always” to each question, from the 2025 survey round. It is the closest thing to hearing from the people who actually live there.
Where residents rate it highest
- Treated with respect: 83% said always, against a national average of 68%.
Where residents rate it lower
- Encouraged to be independent: 39% said always, against a national average of 60%. Worth asking about on a visit.
- Concerns followed up: 30% said always, against a national average of 48%. Worth asking about on a visit.
| What residents were asked | Said “always” | Positive overall | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do staff treat you with respect? | 83% | 100% always or mostly | 68% |
| Are staff kind and caring toward you? | 78% | 100% always or mostly | 69% |
| Do you feel safe here? | 74% | 100% always or mostly | 78% |
| Do you get the care you need? | 61% | 100% always or mostly | 65% |
| Do staff know what they are doing? | 43% | 100% always or mostly | 44% |
| Do you feel at home here? | 74% | 96% always or mostly | 64% |
| Do staff explain things to you? | 39% | 87% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do staff follow up when you raise something? | 30% | 91% always or mostly | 48% |
| Do you have a say in your daily life? | 70% | 96% always or mostly | 72% |
| Are you encouraged to do things for yourself? | 39% | 82% always or mostly | 60% |
| Is this place well run? | 48% | 100% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do you like the food here? | 17% | 56% always or mostly | 28% |
Source: Residents’ Experience survey, Australian Government Star Ratings (May 2026 extract), interviews conducted in 2025. Percentages are of residents interviewed at this home, not of all residents. CareShortlist does not edit, weight or rank these answers.
How Arcare Essendon compares
Arcare Essendon holds an overall Star Rating of 4 out of 5. That is above the VIC average of 3.84, and above the national average of 3.83. Nationally, 22% of rated homes score lower and 6% score higher, with the rest level with it. Most homes cluster on the same few scores, so a single star of difference is a bigger gap than it looks. With 121 funded places it is larger than most (the national average is about 82).
Its strongest measure is compliance at 5 out of 5. Its weakest is staffing at 3, which covers how much registered nurse and total care time each resident actually receives against the government's targets. That is the area worth probing on a visit, and we have turned it into specific questions below.
| Measure | Arcare Essendon | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Residents' experience | 4 | 3.63 |
| Compliance | 5 | 4.82 |
| Staffing | 3 | 3.25 |
| Quality measures | 4 | 3.04 |
Other homes near Arcare Essendon
Families almost never choose the first home they look at, and they should not have to. These are the closest alternatives to Arcare Essendon, with their official ratings beside them. None of them currently rate higher than Arcare Essendon.
| Home | Suburb | Distance | Rating | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doutta Galla Queens Park Aged Care Facility | Moonee Ponds | 0.7 km | 4 | 45 |
| Benetas Gladswood Lodge | Brunswick West | 1.2 km | 4 | 35 |
| Bolton Clarke Trevi Court | Essendon | 1.5 km | 4 | 54 |
| Craigcare Moonee Ponds | Moonee Ponds | 1.6 km | 4 | 138 |
| Estia Health Brunswick | Brunswick West | 1.6 km | 4 | 60 |
| Churches of Christ Arcadia Aged Care Service | Essendon | 1.9 km | 4 | 103 |
Ordered by distance, not by preference. No home pays to appear on this list.
Questions worth asking Arcare Essendon
Tailored to this home’s own published scores rather than a generic checklist. Take them with you.
- How many registered nurse hours does each resident receive per day, and how does that compare with the government target? Ask to see the current roster.
- How often do you use agency staff rather than your own, and what is your staff turnover in the last year?
- What is the total weekly cost for someone with my family member's care needs, itemised, including extras?
- Who would be their main carer day to day, and what happens on nights and weekends?
Compare Arcare Essendon with Bolton Clarke Trevi Court
See all Arcare homes and services
See all aged care homes in Essendon
Common questions about Arcare Essendon
What is the Star Rating of Arcare Essendon?
Arcare Essendon has an overall Star Rating of 4 out of 5 in the May 2026 Australian Government extract, against a national average of 3.83. The rating combines residents' experience, compliance, staffing and quality measures.
Where is Arcare Essendon located?
Arcare Essendon is at 33-35 Raleigh Street, Essendon, VIC 3040. You can see every other home nearby on our Essendon page.
How many residents does Arcare Essendon have?
Arcare Essendon has 121 government-funded residential places, compared with a national average of about 82 per home. Size affects the feel of a home and the staffing ratios you should ask about.
Who owns Arcare Essendon?
Arcare Essendon is operated by Arcare Pty Ltd (private incorporated body). Standards and pricing structures often travel across a provider group, so it is worth looking at their other homes too.
How do I arrange a place at Arcare Essendon?
You need an aged care assessment through My Aged Care (myagedcare.gov.au or 1800 200 422) before a government-funded place can be offered. Once approved, contact the home directly to ask about availability and to arrange a visit. We can also introduce you and put Arcare Essendon side by side with other options near Essendon, free.