Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel
1 Warrah Street, Chatswood NSW 2067
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 Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel side by side with other options near Chatswood: ratings, room availability signals, and the questions worth asking on a tour.
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What residents say about Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel
These are not online reviews. The Australian Government interviews residents of Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel 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
- Things are explained: 100% said always, against a national average of 46%.
- Concerns followed up: 92% said always, against a national average of 48%.
- Well run: 83% said always, against a national average of 46%.
| What residents were asked | Said “always” | Positive overall | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do staff treat you with respect? | 92% | 100% always or mostly | 68% |
| Are staff kind and caring toward you? | 83% | 100% always or mostly | 69% |
| Do you feel safe here? | 92% | 100% always or mostly | 78% |
| Do you get the care you need? | 83% | 100% always or mostly | 65% |
| Do staff know what they are doing? | 58% | 100% always or mostly | 44% |
| Do you feel at home here? | 100% | 100% always or mostly | 64% |
| Do staff explain things to you? | 100% | 100% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do staff follow up when you raise something? | 92% | 92% always or mostly | 48% |
| Do you have a say in your daily life? | 100% | 100% always or mostly | 72% |
| Are you encouraged to do things for yourself? | 83% | 91% always or mostly | 60% |
| Is this place well run? | 83% | 100% always or mostly | 46% |
| Do you like the food here? | 50% | 83% 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 Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel compares
Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel holds an overall Star Rating of 5 out of 5. That is above the NSW average of 3.89, and above the national average of 3.83. Nationally, 94% of rated homes score lower and 0% 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 40 funded places it is smaller than most (the national average is about 82).
Its strongest measure is residents' experience at 5 out of 5. Its weakest is quality measures at 4, 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 | Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Residents' experience | 5 | 3.63 |
| Compliance | 5 | 4.82 |
| Staffing | 5 | 3.25 |
| Quality measures | 4 | 3.04 |
Other homes near Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel
Families almost never choose the first home they look at, and they should not have to. These are the closest alternatives to Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel, with their official ratings beside them. None of them currently rate higher than Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel.
| Home | Suburb | Distance | Rating | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bupa Willoughby | Willoughby | 1.6 km | 4 | 85 |
| KOPWA Archbold House | Roseville | 1.8 km | 4 | 102 |
| Dougherty Apartments | Chatswood | 1.8 km | 4 | 70 |
| Estia Health Willoughby | Willoughby | 1.8 km | 4 | 74 |
| Columbia Aged Care Services - Willowood Centre | Chatswood | 1.9 km | 4 | 90 |
| Catholic Healthcare St Paul's Residential Aged Care | Northbridge | 2.7 km | 5 | 40 |
Ordered by distance, not by preference. No home pays to appear on this list.
Questions worth asking Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel
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 Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel with Dougherty Apartments
See all aged care homes in Chatswood
Common questions about Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel
What is the Star Rating of Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel?
Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel has an overall Star Rating of 5 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 Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel located?
Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel is at 1 Warrah Street, Chatswood, NSW 2067. You can see every other home nearby on our Chatswood page.
How many residents does Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel have?
Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel has 40 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 Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel?
Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel is operated by Willoughby Retirement Community Association (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 Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel?
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 Willoughby Retirement Community Hostel side by side with other options near Chatswood, free.