Lara Aged Care
64 HOSPITAL Road, Dungog NSW 2420
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 Lara Aged Care side by side with other options near Dungog: ratings, room availability signals, and the questions worth asking on a tour.
We will put Lara Aged Care at the top of a shortlist beside the other options near Dungog, and can introduce you to the home if you would like.
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What residents say about Lara Aged Care
These are not online reviews. The Australian Government interviews residents of Lara Aged Care 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
- Concerns followed up: 69% said always, against a national average of 48%.
- Encouraged to be independent: 77% said always, against a national average of 60%.
- Feels like home: 77% said always, against a national average of 64%.
Where residents rate it lower
- Well run: 15% said always, against a national average of 46%. Worth asking about on a visit.
- Staff know what they are doing: 23% said always, against a national average of 44%. Worth asking about on a visit.
| What residents were asked | Said “always” | Positive overall | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do staff treat you with respect? | 77% | 100% always or mostly | 68% |
| Are staff kind and caring toward you? | 62% | 100% always or mostly | 69% |
| Do you feel safe here? | 85% | 100% always or mostly | 78% |
| Do you get the care you need? | 69% | 100% always or mostly | 65% |
| Do staff know what they are doing? | 23% | 100% always or mostly | 44% |
| Do you feel at home here? | 77% | 100% always or mostly | 64% |
| Do staff explain things to you? | 46% | 92% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do staff follow up when you raise something? | 69% | 100% always or mostly | 48% |
| Do you have a say in your daily life? | 69% | 100% always or mostly | 72% |
| Are you encouraged to do things for yourself? | 77% | 100% always or mostly | 60% |
| Is this place well run? | 15% | 100% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do you like the food here? | 23% | 85% 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 Lara Aged Care compares
Lara Aged Care holds an overall Star Rating of 4 out of 5. That is above the NSW average of 3.89, 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 65 funded places it is about average in size (the national average is about 82).
Its strongest measure is compliance at 5 out of 5. Its weakest is quality measures at 3, which covers clinical outcomes the home reports, such as pressure injuries, falls, medication management and unplanned weight loss. That is the area worth probing on a visit, and we have turned it into specific questions below.
| Measure | Lara Aged Care | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Residents' experience | 4 | 3.63 |
| Compliance | 5 | 4.82 |
| Staffing | 5 | 3.25 |
| Quality measures | 3 | 3.04 |
Questions worth asking Lara Aged Care
Tailored to this home’s own published scores rather than a generic checklist. Take them with you.
- What are your current rates for falls, pressure injuries and unplanned weight loss, and what are you doing to improve them?
- 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 RSL LifeCare Limited homes and services
See all aged care homes in Dungog
Common questions about Lara Aged Care
What is the Star Rating of Lara Aged Care?
Lara Aged Care 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 Lara Aged Care located?
Lara Aged Care is at 64 HOSPITAL Road, Dungog, NSW 2420. You can see every other home nearby on our Dungog page.
How many residents does Lara Aged Care have?
Lara Aged Care has 65 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 Lara Aged Care?
Lara Aged Care is operated by RSL LifeCare Limited (community based). 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 Lara Aged Care?
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 Lara Aged Care side by side with other options near Dungog, free.