Southern Cross Care
Southern Cross Care is a not-for-profit aged care and retirement living provider founded in 1968, operating across South Australia, Northern Territory, and Victoria with 60+ locations serving 10,000+ older Australians annually through integrated retirement living, home care, residential aged care, respite, and health & fitness services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersAdelaide, Australia
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Southern Cross Care does
Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC) Inc. is a charitable not-for-profit aged care and retirement living provider founded in 1968 by the Knights of the Southern Cross, an order of Catholic laymen. The organisation operates across three Australian states and territories — South Australia (headquarters in Glenside, Adelaide), Northern Territory (Darwin), and Victoria (Mornington, Box Hill, Forest Hill) — with more than 60 service locations spanning 16 residential aged care homes, 40+ retirement villages, 6 health & fitness centres, 3 respite cottages, and a volunteer-driven Care Car transport program. It employs approximately 3,000 staff and supports up to 10,000 older Australians each year, with services including residential aged care (nursing, dementia), home care (nursing, personal care, domestic assistance), retirement living (villas, units, apartments, serviced apartments), allied health and fitness services, and respite care.
The organisation's business model combines government-funded aged care revenues (Support at Home, Commonwealth Home Support Programme, residential aged care subsidies) with private client payments, retirement living ingoing contributions and ongoing fees, and Community Foundation donations/sponsorships. Retirement living properties range from approximately $83,500 to $928,000 depending on type and location; home care and allied health services are priced on a usage-based pay-as-you-go model (e.g., 60 minutes of registered nurse care at $167.60, allied health at $194-$215). The Community Foundation addresses social isolation through transport (buses and Care Cars), arts programs (SALA, Adelaide Fringe), and grants.
As a not-for-profit, all surpluses are reinvested into communities rather than distributed to shareholders. The organisation is governed by a Board and Executive Team, with no parent company. Technology infrastructure centres on operational care delivery, a website-driven enquiry process, My Aged Care government portal integration, telehealth video consultations, and an active social media and content marketing presence. Strategic positioning emphasises the integrated continuum-of-care model that enables ageing-in-place, leveraging 55+ years of brand heritage and not-for-profit charitable status as competitive differentiators against for-profit aged care providers.
Southern Cross Care firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southern Cross Care
- Legal name
- Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC) Inc.
- Website
- https://southerncrosscare.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Southern Cross Care is a not-for-profit aged care and retirement living provider founded in 1968, operating across South Australia, Northern Territory, and Victoria with 60+ locations serving 10,000+ older Australians annually through integrated retirement living, home care, residential aged care, respite, and health & fitness services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southern Cross Care industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aged Care and Retirement Living Services
- NAICS
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Home Health Care Services (62161), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Market-Rate Independent Living (Private Pay) Communities (HLADAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Planned/Vacation Respite (Scheduled Short-Term Coverage) (HLADAKAF), Community Resources, Social Services & Transportation Coordination (HLADALAK)
Keywords
Where Southern Cross Care is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Adelaide
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices12 records
Markets served
Southern Cross Care business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government-funded aged care services: Southern Cross Care receives Australian Government funding through Support at Home (formerly Home Care Packages), Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), and residential aged care subsidies. These programs fund clinical care, personal care, domestic assistance, and other services for eligible older Australians. Revenue is derived from government contributions combined with client contributions based on means-tested arrangements.
- Retirement living accommodation: Revenue from sale and lease of retirement living units, villas, apartments, and serviced apartments. Residents pay an ingoing contribution (purchase price), ongoing maintenance fees, and may pay additional service fees. As a not-for-profit organisation, funds are reinvested into the community.
- Private and out-of-pocket payments: Clients who are not eligible for government funding, or who wish to top up services, pay privately for home care, health and fitness services, and respite care. Private health insurance may also cover some allied health services.
- Donations and sponsorships: The Community Foundation raises funds through donations, sponsorships for bus programs, Care Car sponsorships, and event sponsorships (SALA, Adelaide Fringe) to support programs that reduce loneliness and isolation among older people.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Personal Care, Domestic Assistance, Social Support - weekday 7am-5pm |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Nursing Care - Enrolled Nurse weekday 7am-5pm |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Nursing Care - Registered Nurse weekday 7am-5pm |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Care Management |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Allied Health Professional services - weekday |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Therapeutic Supports - Fitness Instructor, Remedial Massage Therapist - weekday |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retirement Living Properties - Various prices |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Southern Cross Care product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southern Cross Care is a not-for-profit aged care and retirement living provider delivering residential nursing care, home care, retirement living communities, health and fitness (allied health and group classes), respite care, and Care Car transport across South Australia, Northern Territory, and Victoria. Services are funded through government programs (Support at Home, CHSP, residential aged care subsidies) and private payments, with a Community Foundation supporting social connection programs. The organisation operates 16 residential care homes, 40+ retirement villages, six health and fitness centres, and three respite cottages, supporting up to 10,000 people annually.
Product overview
Southern Cross Care is a not-for-profit aged care and retirement living provider offering an integrated portfolio of services across South Australia, Northern Territory, and Victoria. The core offerings include Health & Fitness services (allied health, group classes, hydrotherapy), Home Care (nursing, personal care, domestic assistance), Retirement Living (villas, units, apartments, serviced apartments across 40+ communities), Residential Care (16 nursing homes plus Darwin), Respite Care (in-home, dementia cottage, residential), and Care Car transport services. The Community Foundation supports social connection programs while the Volunteer Program engages over 350 community volunteers. Services are funded through government programs (Support at Home, CHSP) and private payments, with the company operating as a charitable not-for-profit established in 1968.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Community Foundation: A fundraising foundation that builds better lives free from loneliness and isolation through transport programs, arts and events, and grants for older Australians.
- Care Car
Products and services
- Health & Fitness
Companies that use Southern Cross Care
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Southern Cross Care technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Southern Cross Care partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- AltairaminorCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program. Drive loneliness away and reconnect older South Australians with the world they love by partnering with the vital Bus Program. Altaira was the inaugural sponsor of the Care Car program in 2022.
- Commercial & GeneralminorCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
- LustraminorCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
- Tandem BuildingminorCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
- Tony & MarksminorCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
- Walter BrookeminorCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
- Ascot GroupminorCorporate Care Car sponsor providing transport for older people who lack accessible transport options, preventing isolation and missed health appointments.
- Creative ConceptsminorCorporate Care Car sponsor providing transport for older people who lack accessible transport options.
- YNAminorCorporate Care Car sponsor providing transport for older people who lack accessible transport options.
- Knights of the Southern CrosscoreFounding organisation that established Southern Cross Care in 1968. The Knights of the Southern Cross is an order of Catholic laymen who saw a need for housing and support for older people in their community.
- Australian Government (Department of Health and Aged Care)coreGovernment funding partner providing Support at Home, Commonwealth Home Support Programme, and residential aged care subsidies. Southern Cross Care is an approved provider under these government programs.
- My Aged CarecoreGovernment portal for aged care assessment. Southern Cross Care works with My Aged Care for client assessment and referral to services.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Southern Cross Care competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bolton Clarke: One of Australia's largest not-for-profit aged care and retirement living providers, operating residential care, home care and retirement living across multiple states. Highly comparable to Southern Cross Care in mission, integrated service model and tri-state presence.
- ECH (ECH Inc.): South Australian NFP offering retirement living, home care and residential aged care. Directly comparable geographic peer with overlapping service mix and customer segments.
- Resthaven: South Australian not-for-profit aged care provider operating residential homes, retirement living and home care services across metropolitan and regional SA. Directly comparable in service mix, funding model and geographic footprint.
- Baptcare: Faith-based NFP operating residential aged care, home care and retirement living in Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia. Comparable integrated service model and government funding mix.
- Uniting (UnitingSA / Uniting Vic.Tas): Large faith-based NFP providing aged care, retirement living and community services across multiple Australian states. Comparable in integrated care model, government funding reliance and broad service portfolio.
- ACH Group: South Australian-based not-for-profit aged care provider offering residential care, home care and retirement living. Closest geographic and service-model peer to Southern Cross Care in the SA market.
- Catholic Healthcare: Faith-based NFP aged care provider with residential care, home care and retirement living across NSW and QLD. Strong peer on mission, scale and integrated aged care delivery.
Broad incumbents
- Opal HealthCare: One of Australia's largest residential aged care operators with 80+ homes. For-profit (PE-backed) competitor to Southern Cross Care's residential care business, with broader geographic reach.
- Regis Healthcare: ASX-listed residential aged care provider with ~70 homes nationally. Comparable in core residential care offering, though publicly listed for-profit model differs from Southern Cross Care's NFP structure.
- Calvary Health Care: Large NFP operator of public and private hospitals, residential aged care and retirement communities across multiple states. Broader portfolio than Southern Cross Care but overlapping on residential aged care and retirement living.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Southern Cross Care social profiles
Digital presenceSouthern Cross Care financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southern Cross Care leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Southern Cross Care funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southern Cross Care M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southern Cross Care
What does Southern Cross Care do?
Southern Cross Care is a not-for-profit aged care and retirement living provider delivering residential nursing care, home care, retirement living communities, health and fitness (allied health and group classes), respite care, and Care Car transport across South Australia, Northern Territory, and Victoria. Services are funded through government programs (Support at Home, CHSP, residential aged care subsidies) and private payments, with a Community Foundation supporting social connection programs. The organisation operates 16 residential care homes, 40+ retirement villages, six health and fitness centres, and three respite cottages, supporting up to 10,000 people annually.
Is Southern Cross Care a public or private company?
Southern Cross Care is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Southern Cross Care founded?
Southern Cross Care was founded in 1968. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Southern Cross Care based?
Southern Cross Care is headquartered in Adelaide, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Southern Cross Care make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government-funded aged care services are the primary driver. The others are retirement living accommodation, private and out-of-pocket payments and donations and sponsorships.
Who are Southern Cross Care's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bolton Clarke, ECH (ECH Inc.), Resthaven, Baptcare, Uniting (UnitingSA / Uniting Vic.Tas), ACH Group and Catholic Healthcare. Broad incumbents are Opal HealthCare, Regis Healthcare and Calvary Health Care.
Does Southern Cross Care have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southern Cross Care.
What industry is Southern Cross Care in?
Southern Cross Care's product category is Aged Care and Retirement Living Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLADAAAA, Market-Rate Independent Living (Private Pay) Communities, with a secondary code of HLADAKAF, Planned/Vacation Respite (Scheduled Short-Term Coverage). Its NAICS code is 62331 and its SIC code is 8050.