St. Andrews Community Aged Care

17/11/2025

💙 Proud of Our People 💙

We’ve just released the results of our 2025 Staff Satisfaction Survey — and we’re feeling incredibly proud of our team!

✅ 96 staff took part
✅ Overall score: 3.94 out of 5
✅ Net Promoter Score: +46 — a fantastic result for aged care

Staff told us they feel well supported, have the tools they need, and take real pride in caring for our residents. Many spoke about the strong friendships in their teams and the sense of belonging they feel at St Andrew’s.

We also heard great ideas for how we can keep improving — and we’re already working on them.

Thank you to every staff member who shared their thoughts. Your voice helps us grow stronger together.

👉 Read more: https://standrew.com.au/2025-staff-satisfaction-survey-results/

12/11/2025

🌼 Why St Andrew’s is saying no to HELF packages 🌼

Since 1 November, aged care providers across Australia have had the option to introduce Higher Everyday Living Fees (HELF) — charging extra for upgraded meals, activities and lifestyle experiences.

At St Andrew’s, we’ve chosen not to go down that path.

💛 Comfort should never depend on what someone can afford.
💙 Care is about people, not packages.
💚 Community means belonging without barriers.

We’ve adjusted our room pricing so that every resident enjoys the same high-quality daily life — with no hidden extras and no upgrade tiers. Optional services like hairdressing and wellness sessions are still available, clearly priced and open to everyone.

This is about fairness, dignity and staying true to what makes our homes special.

👉 Read more about our decision and values here: https://standrew.com.au/why-st-andrews-is-not-implementing-helf-packages/

09/11/2025

Remembrance Day Services – Tuesday 11 November

We invite you to join us in honouring those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

Services will be held at 10:45am at the following locations:

St Andrew's Ballina
George's Cottages Byron
St Andrew's Byron Lodge

Everyone is welcome to attend. Let us come together in reflection and remembrance.
Lest we forget.

09/11/2025

04/11/2025

🎉🐎 Melbourne Cup Day Magic! 🐎🎉

What a fabulous day we had celebrating the race that stops the nation! Our residents and staff came together for a joyful afternoon filled with sweeps, a delicious lunch, and plenty of fashions on the field flair. 👗👒

From stylish suits to stunning dresses and creative hat designs, everyone brought their A-game to the Best Hat Competition – and the smiles said it all! 🌟

It was wonderful to see our community sharing laughs, stories, and a bit of friendly competition. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special. 💐

Here’s to more moments of connection, celebration, and fun! 🥂

31/10/2025

🎃👻 Spooktacular Fun at Our Halloween Afternoon Tea! 👻🎃

Today our amazing staff went all out, dressing up in their Halloween best to bring smiles and laughter to our residents during a special afternoon tea. From witches and zombie doctors to saucy devils, the costumes were a hit—and the joy was contagious!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day so memorable. It’s moments like these that remind us how powerful a little fun and creativity can be in brightening someone’s day. 🧡🕸️

29/10/2025

🎶 Feel the Rhythm at St Andrew’s Ballina! 🥁

Today was filled with energy, laughter, and connection as our residents and student trainees came together for a vibrant drumming session led by Gareth from Sound Synergy. The joy was contagious, with everyone joining in—whether tapping a drum, shaking a tambourine, or simply moving to the beat.

Drumming circles are becoming a powerful tool in aged care, offering not just fun but real health benefits. From boosting morale and reducing feelings of isolation to improving upper body movement, these sessions are making a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents.

We’re proud to be part of a growing movement that brings creativity, community, and wellness into aged care. And judging by the smiles today, we’ll definitely be keeping the rhythm going! 💙

21/10/2025

🌟✨ Diwali at St Andrew’s Aged Care Ballina ✨🌟

Today our residents and staff came together to celebrate the vibrant Festival of Lights — Diwali! 🪔

The spirit of joy, togetherness, and cultural appreciation lit up our home as we shared stories, enjoyed traditional sweets, and adorned our spaces with beautiful rangoli and glowing lanterns.

Residents joined in with colourful crafts, music, and henna tattoos, while staff dressed in festive attire to honour the occasion.

It was a heartwarming celebration of light, love, and community — reminding us all that joy multiplies when shared. 💛

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this day so special!

15/10/2025

Just another week in paradise at St Andrew’s Ballina and Byron. Bit of gardening, cooking delicious meals for our residents and some exciting training with fire!! 🔥 🧑🏽‍🚒Terrible views but what can you do? 🤷‍♀️🏖️🌴

12/10/2025

This week, we shout out the quiet strength, compassion, and dedication of those who care for our elderly community members.

Whether you're a family member supporting a loved one, a professional providing daily care, or someone who simply checks in on an older neighbour—your role matters deeply. Caring touches all of us. It’s not just something others do; it’s something we are, know, or will be part of.

To all the carers in our communities of the Northern Rivers, thank you. Your contribution is often unseen, but it matters so much. You bring dignity, comfort, and connection to those who need it most.

Let’s take a moment this week to recognise, support, and celebrate carers everywhere. 💙

09/10/2025

🌞 World Mental Health Week | Connect with your Community 🌞

George’s Cottages in Byron Bay is much beloved by the residents, the staff and the community. In this video, you’ll hear from members of our George’s Cottages community as they share what makes them happy.

As we celebrate World Mental Health Week, culminating in World Mental Health Day this Friday, 10 October, we recognise the collective wisdom held by the people we care for — decades of life experience in living well, overcoming challenges, and finding joy in the little things. Their stories are a powerful reminder of the strength and insight that comes with age, and the importance of listening, learning, and connecting across generations.

💬 This year’s theme — ‘Connect with your Community’ — is beautifully lived out here every day.

06/10/2025

🌿 World Mental Health Week | Connect with your Community 🌿

This week is World Mental Health Week and we are celebrating the theme for 2025, ‘Connect with your Community’, and there’s no better place to see that in action than at St Andrews Aged Care Ballina.

In the lead up to World Mental Health Day on Friday, we asked our residents and staff to open up about what makes them happy. Their comments are a beautiful reminder of how meaningful connections and moments support our mental wellbeing — at every stage of life.

💚 Join us in celebrating these voices and the joy that comes from community, compassion, and care.

🎥 Watch the video now and let us know — what makes you happy?

WorldMentalHealthWeek

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