Costa House
1 Investigator Avenue, Lara VIC 3212
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 Costa House side by side with other options near Lara: ratings, room availability signals, and the questions worth asking on a tour.
We will put Costa House at the top of a shortlist beside the other options near Lara, and can introduce you to the home if you would like.
CareShortlist is independent. This page is not an endorsement and Costa House has not paid to appear here.
What residents say about Costa House
These are not online reviews. The Australian Government interviews residents of Costa House 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
- Feels like home: 82% said always, against a national average of 64%.
- Has a say: 88% said always, against a national average of 72%.
Where residents rate it lower
- Things are explained: 6% said always, against a national average of 46%. Worth asking about on a visit.
- Staff know what they are doing: 24% said always, against a national average of 44%. Worth asking about on a visit.
- Concerns followed up: 35% 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? | 71% | 100% always or mostly | 68% |
| Are staff kind and caring toward you? | 59% | 100% always or mostly | 69% |
| Do you feel safe here? | 76% | 100% always or mostly | 78% |
| Do you get the care you need? | 76% | 100% always or mostly | 65% |
| Do staff know what they are doing? | 24% | 95% always or mostly | 44% |
| Do you feel at home here? | 82% | 100% always or mostly | 64% |
| Do staff explain things to you? | 6% | 77% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do staff follow up when you raise something? | 35% | 100% always or mostly | 48% |
| Do you have a say in your daily life? | 88% | 100% always or mostly | 72% |
| Are you encouraged to do things for yourself? | 53% | 88% always or mostly | 60% |
| Is this place well run? | 47% | 100% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do you like the food here? | 18% | 89% 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 Costa House compares
Costa House 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 101 funded places it is about average in size (the national average is about 82).
Its strongest measure is residents' experience at 4 out of 5. Its weakest is staffing at 2, 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 | Costa House | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Residents' experience | 4 | 3.63 |
| Compliance | 4 | 4.82 |
| Staffing | 2 | 3.25 |
| Quality measures | 4 | 3.04 |
Other homes near Costa House
Families almost never choose the first home they look at, and they should not have to. These are the closest alternatives to Costa House, with their official ratings beside them. None of them currently rate higher than Costa House.
| Home | Suburb | Distance | Rating | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baptcare Coasthaven Community | Norlane | 8 km | 4 | 90 |
| Calvary Vonlea Manor | Norlane | 9 km | Not yet rated | 38 |
| Victorian Croatian Aged Care Services Inc | Bell Park | 10.6 km | 4 | 100 |
| Multicultural Aged Care Services Geelong Inc | North Geelong | 12 km | Not yet rated | 103 |
| McKellar Centre | North Geelong | 12 km | 4 | 193 |
| mecwacare Elstoft House | Hamlyn Heights | 12.5 km | 4 | 91 |
Ordered by distance, not by preference. No home pays to appear on this list.
Questions worth asking Costa House
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?
See all Respect Group Limited homes and services
See all aged care homes in Lara
Common questions about Costa House
What is the Star Rating of Costa House?
Costa House 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 Costa House located?
Costa House is at 1 Investigator Avenue, Lara, VIC 3212. You can see every other home nearby on our Lara page.
How many residents does Costa House have?
Costa House has 101 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 Costa House?
Costa House is operated by Respect Group Limited (charitable). 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 Costa House?
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 Costa House side by side with other options near Lara, free.