User Profile

31 Jul 2025

New SATURDAY magazine: a home, not an institution - is Abbeyfield the answer for low-income seniors?

This is Abbeyfield, a 70-year-old model that has been adapted in Australia, and is looking to scale. CEO Dimitri Kiriacoulacos says “We should have 100 homes in this country, easily.” Exclusive interview and story only in the new issue of SATURDAY digital magazine, in your inbox at 12pm Friday.

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31 Jul 2025

189 aged care homes have COVID-19 vaccination rates below 10%

Though 57.9% of aged care residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the last six months, the recommended dose for over 75s, there remain aged care homes with perilously low COVID-19 vaccination rates, even thought it’s well known cases climb in winter.

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31 Jul 2025

Redevelopments

Helping Hand secures DA approval to upgrade Whyalla’s only two aged care homes in SA

SA provider Helping Hand has received approval from City of Whyalla council for the Copperhouse Court and Yeltana redevelopments in Whyalla, adding 8 rooms across the two sites. CEO Chris Stewart says they will take a phased approach to ensure rooms stay open amid strong demand for beds.

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Government Policy

Clinical staff leaving Single Assessment System jobs as in-person assessments abandoned

The Weekly Source has spoken to two highly experienced former aged care assessors with the Single Assessment System who describe corner cutting, lack of training, and unrealistic expectations about how many assessments they can conduct, which has resulted in both assessors leaving their roles.

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Legal Issues

Ex-police officer Kristian White avoids prison for manslaughter of aged care resident Clare Nowland

The Department of Public Prosecutions has lost its appeal against the sentencing of former police officer Kristian White, who was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order and community service after he was found guilty of the manslaughter of 95-year-old aged care resident Clare Nowland.

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Sector Moves & People

hayylo names former Telstra Health aged care head Michael Donnelly as Executive Chairman

Aged and home care software provider hayylo has announced the appointment of a new Executive Chairman, former Head of Aged and Disability at Telstra Health, Michael Donnelly (pictured above).

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Rebuilds

Ceremony to mark Resthaven’s $100M 150-bed aged care home and Wellness Centre redevelopment

The Not For Profit South Australian aged care, retirement living, and home care provider Resthaven has turned the first sod on Stage One of its $100M Marion site redevelopment, at an event attended by CEO Darren Birbeck, with work set to begin late next month.

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News & Headlines

Regis Aged Care co-founder Bryan Dorman sells $133M in shares days after major acquisition

After the market closed on Monday (28 July), investment bank Jarden Australia reportedly offloaded $133 million worth of Regis Aged Care shares for Dorman Family Trust, Ashburn Pty Ltd.

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Government Policy

Please explain? Aged care sector’s digital readiness questioned three months from reform rollout

A slide presentation accompanying the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s 7 July 2025 ‘Digital Transformation for the Aged Care Sector’ meeting has detailed questions provided on notice about the sector’s digital maturity, raising serious concerns about readiness ahead of the new Aged Care Act on 1 November.

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Govt target unmet: nearly 1,000 people under 65 living in residential aged care

In 2019 the Government set a target of having no people under the age of 65 living in residential aged care by 2025 in response to the Aged Care Royal Commission. But data from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing shows as of 31 March 2025, 959 younger people live in aged care.

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BaptistCare appoints Re, of M&C Saatchi Consulting, to lead unified brand rollout

BaptistCare has appointed Re, part of M&C Saatchi Consulting, to lead the development of its new brand identity, following the merger of BaptistCare NSW, ACT, WA, Baptcare VIC, TAS, SA, and Baptist Care SA. Amanda Vivian, BaptistCare Chief Strategy and Customer Experience Officer, said it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

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Mergers & Acquisitions

Whiddon expands to 23 homes with second site in Maclean, NSW

Whiddon has announced it will acquire family-owned, standalone Mareeba Aged Care Home in Maclean, northeast of Sydney, demonstrating the operator’s commitment to regional aged care, Whiddon CEO Chris Mamarelis said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Mareeba into the Whiddon family.”

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