Glen Eira City Council has announced it will explore the transfer of ownership and operation of its 90-bed residential aged care facility in Bentleigh East to an external aged care provider.
Mayor, Simone Zmood said the decision for the future of the Warrawee Community facility reflected the need to balance high-quality care with the long-term sustainability of Council services.
“This was a carefully considered decision about how we continue to support residents at Warrawee while also planning responsibly for the future of the entire Glen Eira community,” Mayor Zmood said.
“Importantly, Warrawee Community is not closing – residential aged care will continue at the site There are no immediate changes to care, staffing or day-to-day operations, and our focus remains on supporting residents, families and staff every step of the way.
“We know how important Warrawee Community is to residents, families and staff, and we are committed to making sure care continues in a way that is both high quality and sustainable into the future.”
Council undertook an engagement and consultation process earlier this year, speaking with residents, families, staff and the broader Glen Eira community.
It says feedback highlighted the importance of quality care, continuity, trusted relationships with staff, and access to local aged care services, and reinforced the need for Council to make balanced, transparent decisions about the future of the service.
The Council said residential aged care is becoming increasingly complex, with national reforms strengthening requirements for governance, clinical care and compliance.
Warrawee Community is forecast to operate at an annual loss of around $5.5 million in 2025–26, alongside ongoing investment needed to meet strengthened standards and maintain facilities over time.
According to Glen Eira’s Financial Sustainability Strategy – which nominates key levers such as service reviews, revenue growth, debt restructuring, and reprioritised infrastructure spending as urgent and necessary measures – by 2034–35, Council would no longer have enough cash to keep paying its day-to-day bills without decisive action.
Mayor Zmood said Council has a responsibility to consider the long-term sustainability of services for the entire community.
“We’ve listened closely to our community, and what we heard was clear — continuity of care, trusted relationships and stability matter most,” she said.
“At the same time, we need to make fair and sustainable decisions that ensure we can continue to deliver essential services for the whole Glen Eira community, now and into the future.”
Council will now begin a formal Expression of Interest and Request for Tender process to identify suitable aged care providers.
Providers will be assessed against clear criteria, including their ability to deliver high-quality care, support continuity for residents and staff, and align with community expectations.
“This is not a final decision to transfer the service,” Mayor Zmood said.
“We’re taking the next step to explore whether there is a provider who can meet the high standards our community expects, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the service.”
If a suitable provider is identified, a further Council decision will be required before any transfer takes place. Any transition would be carefully planned to minimise disruption and support residents, families and staff. In addition, any transfer would also be subject to approval by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
