Mark Donaldson VC House
301 Galston Road, Galston NSW 2159
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 Mark Donaldson VC House side by side with other options near Galston: ratings, room availability signals, and the questions worth asking on a tour.
We will put Mark Donaldson VC House at the top of a shortlist beside the other options near Galston, and can introduce you to the home if you would like.
CareShortlist is independent. This page is not an endorsement and Mark Donaldson VC House has not paid to appear here.
What residents say about Mark Donaldson VC House
These are not online reviews. The Australian Government interviews residents of Mark Donaldson VC 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 lower
- Feels safe: 43% said always, against a national average of 78%. Worth asking about on a visit.
- Gets the care needed: 36% said always, against a national average of 65%. Worth asking about on a visit.
- Concerns followed up: 21% 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? | 43% | 93% always or mostly | 68% |
| Are staff kind and caring toward you? | 64% | 93% always or mostly | 69% |
| Do you feel safe here? | 43% | 79% always or mostly | 78% |
| Do you get the care you need? | 36% | 93% always or mostly | 65% |
| Do staff know what they are doing? | 29% | 86% always or mostly | 44% |
| Do you feel at home here? | 64% | 78% always or mostly | 64% |
| Do staff explain things to you? | 36% | 65% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do staff follow up when you raise something? | 21% | 57% always or mostly | 48% |
| Do you have a say in your daily life? | 50% | 71% always or mostly | 72% |
| Are you encouraged to do things for yourself? | 36% | 57% always or mostly | 60% |
| Is this place well run? | 21% | 71% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do you like the food here? | 29% | 72% 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 Mark Donaldson VC House compares
Mark Donaldson VC House 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 74 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 | Mark Donaldson VC House | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Residents' experience | 3 | 3.63 |
| Compliance | 5 | 4.82 |
| Staffing | 5 | 3.25 |
| Quality measures | 3 | 3.04 |
Other homes near Mark Donaldson VC House
Families almost never choose the first home they look at, and they should not have to. These are the closest alternatives to Mark Donaldson VC House, with their official ratings beside them. None of them currently rate higher than Mark Donaldson VC House.
| Home | Suburb | Distance | Rating | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dural House Aged Care | Dural | 5.5 km | 4 | 145 |
| Christophorus House Hostel | Hornsby | 5.6 km | Not yet rated | 24 |
| Bupa Dural | Dural | 5.6 km | 3 | 102 |
| Regis Hornsby | Hornsby | 5.8 km | 3 | 76 |
| CASS Asquith Residential Aged Care Facility | Asquith | 5.9 km | 4 | 97 |
| Twilight Grace Gardens | Dural | 6.6 km | 3 | 52 |
Ordered by distance, not by preference. No home pays to appear on this list.
Questions worth asking Mark Donaldson VC House
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 Galston
Common questions about Mark Donaldson VC House
What is the Star Rating of Mark Donaldson VC House?
Mark Donaldson VC 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 Mark Donaldson VC House located?
Mark Donaldson VC House is at 301 Galston Road, Galston, NSW 2159. You can see every other home nearby on our Galston page.
How many residents does Mark Donaldson VC House have?
Mark Donaldson VC House has 74 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 Mark Donaldson VC House?
Mark Donaldson VC House 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 Mark Donaldson VC 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 Mark Donaldson VC House side by side with other options near Galston, free.