Southern Cross Care Queensland (SCCQ) has officially taken on the operations of Southern Cross Care Broken Hill (SCCBH), following a structured transfer process, with the transition effective 13 June 2025.
The move will help to ensure the future of SCCBH's aged care and retirement living services, including:
- five aged care homes
- Aruma Lodge Residential Care, Broken Hill
- Harold Williams Home, Broken Hill
- St Anne’s Nursing Home, Broken Hill
- Oasis Aged Care, Mildura
- and three retirement villages
- Con Crowley Village, Broken Hill
- War Vets Retirement Living, Broken Hill
- The Vines Retirement Village, Mildura
Last year, The Weekly SOURCE reported that SCCBH had signed a Management Services Agreement (MSA) with SCCQ, commencing on 1 July 2024.
The arrangement arose because ACCBH – founded in 1974 by a branch of New South Wales Southern Cross Homes Inc – ran into serious difficulties. An audit by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission found its 121-bed St Anne’s Nursing Home was non-compliant in all eight Aged Care Quality Standards.
Local media also reported the provider was unable to keep its 261 beds operational due to a shortage of qualified staff in the region, leaving 40 older patients stranded in the 98-bed local hospital with nowhere else to go.
The MSA successfully stabilised the Broken Hill operations, strengthening governance, and improving care outcomes, with SCCQ providing operational, clinical, and governance support.
The transition arrangement was mutually agreed on by the boards of the two organisations following the 12-month period of close collaboration.
SCCQ CEO Jason Eldering (pictured) said, “This is a profound moment for both organisations.
"This transition is not an acquisition, it is a continuation of the mission established by the Knights of the Southern Cross and those who have faithfully served in this region.
“There are increasing complexities in delivering aged care, especially in rural and remote regions.
“Our priority is to ensure continuity of care for residents, to honour and support our dedicated teams, and to make the necessary long-term investments in people, infrastructure, and systems so that services in these communities remain viable and vibrant for decades to come."
