Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge
85 Hester Avenue, Merriwa WA 6030
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 Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge side by side with other options near Merriwa: ratings, room availability signals, and the questions worth asking on a tour.
We will put Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge at the top of a shortlist beside the other options near Merriwa, and can introduce you to the home if you would like.
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What residents say about Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge
These are not online reviews. The Australian Government interviews residents of Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge 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
- Well run: 75% said always, against a national average of 46%.
- Gets the care needed: 94% said always, against a national average of 65%.
- Treated with respect: 94% said always, against a national average of 68%.
Where residents rate it lower
- Encouraged to be independent: 31% said always, against a national average of 60%. Worth asking about on a visit.
| What residents were asked | Said “always” | Positive overall | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do staff treat you with respect? | 94% | 100% always or mostly | 68% |
| Are staff kind and caring toward you? | 94% | 100% always or mostly | 69% |
| Do you feel safe here? | 100% | 100% always or mostly | 78% |
| Do you get the care you need? | 94% | 100% always or mostly | 65% |
| Do staff know what they are doing? | 50% | 100% always or mostly | 44% |
| Do you feel at home here? | 88% | 100% always or mostly | 64% |
| Do staff explain things to you? | 62% | 100% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do staff follow up when you raise something? | 50% | 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? | 31% | 81% always or mostly | 60% |
| Is this place well run? | 75% | 100% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do you like the food here? | 31% | 100% 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 Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge compares
Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge holds an overall Star Rating of 4 out of 5. That is above the WA average of 3.68, 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 79 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 | Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Residents' experience | 4 | 3.63 |
| Compliance | 5 | 4.82 |
| Staffing | 4 | 3.25 |
| Quality measures | 3 | 3.04 |
Other homes near Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge
Families almost never choose the first home they look at, and they should not have to. These are the closest alternatives to Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge, with their official ratings beside them. None of them currently rate higher than Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge.
| Home | Suburb | Distance | Rating | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aegis Anchorage | Mindarie | 1.2 km | 4 | 102 |
| Karri and Tuart Lodge | Merriwa | 1.8 km | 4 | 110 |
| Amana Living Kinross Care Community | Kinross | 5.5 km | 4 | 114 |
| Regents Garden Residential Aged Care Resort - Lake Joondalup | Wanneroo | 7.7 km | 4 | 100 |
| Aegis Shorehaven | Alkimos | 8 km | 4 | 134 |
| MercyCare Joondalup | Joondalup | 8.3 km | 4 | 102 |
Ordered by distance, not by preference. No home pays to appear on this list.
Questions worth asking Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge
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?
Compare Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge with Karri and Tuart Lodge
See all Air Force Association (Western Australian Division) Incorporated homes and services
See all aged care homes in Merriwa
Common questions about Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge
What is the Star Rating of Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge?
Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge 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 Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge located?
Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge is at 85 Hester Avenue, Merriwa, WA 6030. You can see every other home nearby on our Merriwa page.
How many residents does Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge have?
Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge has 79 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 Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge?
Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge is operated by Air Force Association (Western Australian Division) Incorporated (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 Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge?
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 Vivian Bullwinkel Lodge side by side with other options near Merriwa, free.