Southern Cross Care

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.

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

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

• Aged care services
• Retirement living
• Home care packages
• Residential nursing care
• Allied health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AltairaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate 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 & GeneralminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
• LustraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
• Tandem BuildingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
• Tony & MarksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
• Walter BrookeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate bus sponsor of the Community Foundation bus program.
• Ascot GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Care Car sponsor providing transport for older people who lack accessible transport options, preventing isolation and missed health appointments.
• Creative ConceptsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Care Car sponsor providing transport for older people who lack accessible transport options.
• YNAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Care Car sponsor providing transport for older people who lack accessible transport options.
• Knights of the Southern CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding 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)coreOthersGovernment 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 CarecoreOthersGovernment 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@southerncrosscare
• Facebookfacebook.com/southerncrosscare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-cross-care-sa-nt-&-vic-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/southerncrosscare
• Xx.com/southernxcsant

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Cross Care