February 10, 2026
Inverell-based not-for-profit aged care provider McLean Care today announced its intention to transition its business - comprising residential care, independent living units (ILUs), home-care services and virtual healthcare hub iAge Health - to a new provider.
The move is in response to a range of financial pressures facing aged care providers, particularly in regional areas, including complex compliance requirements, rising operating costs, labour shortages and the increasing cost of maintaining and upgrading facilities.
With more than 700 full-time, part-time and casual employees McLean Care’s operations comprise:
● 370 beds across six residential aged care facilities in Inverell, Guyra and Gunnedah in northern NSW and Oakey and Milmerran in southern Queensland.
● 82 ILUs co-located with the residential aged care facilities
● At-home care services in Queensland, NSW and Victoria
● iAge Health, a virtual service connecting people in regional and remote locations with healthcare professionals.
McLean Care Board Chair, Manuel Meszaros, said the transition was necessary to ensure the long-term future of services provided by McLean Care in local regional communities.
“Unfortunately, the pressures on aged care providers, especially in regional areas, mean McLean Care’s operations are no longer viable under our current operating model,” Mr Meszaros said.
“The Board has made the difficult decision to seek new providers and operators of McLean Care’s facilities and services. This process will be led by expert financial and legal advisers with financial support from the Commonwealth Government,” he said.
“We will be seeking potential new providers that are aligned to our mission-led ethos, committed to high-quality care and resident wellbeing, and have the financial resources necessary to operate successfully into the future.
“There will be no impact on our residential aged care facilities - they will continue to operate during the process, all existing places are secure and we will be working toward a seamless transition. We are in close communication with residents, families, home-care clients and employees on this decision and will continue to keep them informed as the process unfolds,” Mr Meszaros said.
McLean Care’s history traces back to Hector McLean’s founding of a convalescent home for new mothers who lived in rural properties in Inverell in the 1930s.
June 1, 2026
As of 1 June 2026, the majority of McLean Care’s Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) clients and Support at Home (SAH) clients have transitioned to Australian Unity.
From this date, McLean Care will no longer provide in-home aged care services. The transition has been undertaken with a strong focus on continuity of care, ensuring clients continue to receive the support they need with as little disruption as possible. McLean Care has worked closely with clients, staff, Australian Unity and the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing throughout this process.
McLean Care sincerely thanks its Home and Community Services team for their dedication and commitment to supporting older Australians to remain independent in their own homes. The organisation also thanks its clients and families for the trust they have placed in McLean Care over many years and wishes them well as they continue their care journey with their chosen provider.
McLean Care’s residential aged care homes continue to operate as normal across its six regional facilities in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. Residents continue to receive the same high standard of care and support from dedicated staff, and there is no impact on day-to-day operations. While a new provider has not yet been appointed to manage these facilities, McLean Care remains in discussions with a number of interested parties regarding the future ownership and operation of its residential aged care homes. The organisation will continue to keep residents, families, staff and the community informed as this process progresses.