Southern Cross Care QLD CEO departs
- Leadership: Jason Eldering leaves after almost seven years
- Expansion: Oversaw Broken Hill acquisition and new developments
- Growth: Secured $50m+ for new Broken Hill aged care home
- Next step: Permanent CEO yet to be announced
One of Queensland’s largest retirement living, home and aged care providers, has farewelled its CEO.
Southern Cross Care QLD (SCCQ) CEO Jason Eldering finished with the organisation on Friday, 26 June, bringing to a close over six-and-a-half years of leading the Catholic Not For Profit through a period of transformation that included new developments, regional expansion and the acquisition of Southern Cross Care Broken Hill.
Jason joined Southern Cross Care QLD in November 2019 after senior executive roles with Aveo, St Vincent’s Health Australia, Domain Principal (now Opal HealthCare), Regis Healthcare and Anglicare Queensland.
During his tenure, SCCQ expanded its footprint across residential aged care, retirement living and home care, overseeing 13 aged care homes, five retirement villages, around 1,200 home care clients and approximately 1,200 staff.
Among the organisation’s major milestones was the opening of the $36 million 81-bed Illoura aged care home in Chinchilla in 2025 including staff accommodation and a health and wellness centre.
The organisation also completed the transition of Southern Cross Care Broken Hill in June 2025 after a year-long management agreement, adding four aged care homes and three retirement villages to its operations.
More recently, SCCQ secured more than $50 million through Round 3 of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program to build a new 94-bed aged care home in Broken Hill, further strengthening its regional strategy.
Before entering aged care more than two decades ago, Jason pursued a career as a professional golfer. He previously shared with SATURDAY that the move into the sector came after one of his golf students, Regis Healthcare co-founder Bryan Dorman, encouraged him to consider a career in aged care and retirement living.
SCCQ Chair Francis Price thanked Jason for his leadership and contribution during a period of significant growth, change and reform across both the organisation and the aged care sector.
“Jason has led SCCQ through a period of considerable transformation, including the COVID-19 pandemic, major aged care reforms, and the strengthening of the organisation’s culture, systems and long-term sustainability,” he said.
“Under his leadership, SCCQ expanded its services across regional and remote communities, strengthened partnerships across government, local councils and the sector, and progressed significant initiatives.”
Ken Freer has been appointed as Interim CEO. He has held senior leadership roles with PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay business and served as Chief Executive Officer of Lion Co (Castlemaine Perkins XXXX) and Queensland Rugby.
“Ken brings more than 35 years of CEO and senior executive leadership experience and has developed a strong understanding of SCCQ through his service on the Board’s People and Operations Committee over the past 18 months,” Francis said.
The Board is conducting an extensive search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer and expects the interim arrangement to remain in place for several months, or until a long-term appointment is made.
