Whiddon Kelso
15 Ilumba Way, Kelso NSW 2795
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.
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A Star Rating is a starting point, not an answer. Get a free shortlist that puts Whiddon Kelso side by side with other options near Kelso: ratings, room availability signals, and the questions worth asking on a tour.
We will put Whiddon Kelso at the top of a shortlist beside the other options near Kelso, and can introduce you to the home if you would like.
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What residents say about Whiddon Kelso
These are not online reviews. The Australian Government interviews residents of Whiddon Kelso 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
- Encouraged to be independent: 76% said always, against a national average of 60%.
Where residents rate it lower
- Staff are kind and caring: 43% said always, against a national average of 69%. Worth asking about on a visit.
- Likes the food: 10% said always, against a national average of 28%. Worth asking about on a visit.
- Well run: 29% said always, against a national average of 46%. Worth asking about on a visit.
| What residents were asked | Said “always” | Positive overall | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do staff treat you with respect? | 62% | 100% always or mostly | 68% |
| Are staff kind and caring toward you? | 43% | 95% always or mostly | 69% |
| Do you feel safe here? | 67% | 86% always or mostly | 78% |
| Do you get the care you need? | 52% | 95% always or mostly | 65% |
| Do staff know what they are doing? | 48% | 86% always or mostly | 44% |
| Do you feel at home here? | 48% | 91% always or mostly | 64% |
| Do staff explain things to you? | 43% | 76% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do staff follow up when you raise something? | 33% | 81% always or mostly | 48% |
| Do you have a say in your daily life? | 67% | 91% always or mostly | 72% |
| Are you encouraged to do things for yourself? | 76% | 95% always or mostly | 60% |
| Is this place well run? | 29% | 72% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do you like the food here? | 10% | 67% 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 Whiddon Kelso compares
Whiddon Kelso holds an overall Star Rating of 3 out of 5. That is below the NSW average of 3.89, and below the national average of 3.83. Nationally, 0% of rated homes score lower and 78% 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 112 funded places it is about average in size (the national average is about 82).
Its strongest measure is compliance at 4 out of 5. Its weakest is quality measures at 1, 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 | Whiddon Kelso | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Residents' experience | 3 | 3.63 |
| Compliance | 4 | 4.82 |
| Staffing | 3 | 3.25 |
| Quality measures | 1 | 3.04 |
Other homes near Whiddon Kelso
Families almost never choose the first home they look at, and they should not have to. These are the closest alternatives to Whiddon Kelso, with their official ratings beside them. 2 of them currently rate higher.
| Home | Suburb | Distance | Rating | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bathurst Riverview Care Community | Bathurst | 2.9 km | Not yet rated | 158 |
| Catholic Healthcare Macquarie Care Centre | Bathurst | 3.1 km | 4 | 55 |
| RFBI Bathurst Masonic Village | Bathurst | 3.6 km | 4 | 45 |
| Catholic Healthcare St Catherine's Aged Care | Gormans Hill | 3.7 km | 3 | 130 |
Ordered by distance, not by preference. No home pays to appear on this list.
Questions worth asking Whiddon Kelso
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 The Frank Whiddon Masonic Homes of New South Wales homes and services
See all aged care homes in Kelso
Common questions about Whiddon Kelso
What is the Star Rating of Whiddon Kelso?
Whiddon Kelso has an overall Star Rating of 3 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 Whiddon Kelso located?
Whiddon Kelso is at 15 Ilumba Way, Kelso, NSW 2795. You can see every other home nearby on our Kelso page.
How many residents does Whiddon Kelso have?
Whiddon Kelso has 112 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 Whiddon Kelso?
Whiddon Kelso is operated by The Frank Whiddon Masonic Homes of New South Wales (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 Whiddon Kelso?
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 Whiddon Kelso side by side with other options near Kelso, free.