Staff at a private Melbourne retirement village have walked off the job, claiming they have not been paid in months.
One staff member at the Berkeley Living retirement village in Patterson Lakes said he was owed about $12,000 in unpaid wages.
He and other staff members stopped work on Friday.
There are 16 elderly residents in the village and some staff have returned to look after them on a voluntary basis.
Police confirmed they were called to the retirement village around 5:00pm on Friday to check on the welfare of residents.
An Aged Care Assessment team is due to inspect the facility today.
Deputy Premier James Merlino said residents were being cared for.
"This is a very distressing incident," he said.
"First and foremost is the welfare and the wellbeing of the residents — they are being looked after.
"We've got the Salvation Army on site, Monash Health on site, meals are being delivered, their care and their welfare is their first priority."
The retirement village, also known as Bayside Terrace, is not a Commonwealth-approved aged care provider and does not receive subsidies or funding to provide aged care services.
Separately, Consumer Affairs Victoria is investigating reports Berkeley Living's operators owe money to former residents.
It is looking at contractual issues relating to the payment of deferred management fees to former residents.
"It's been a nightmare" the daughter of one former resident said.
She said after her mother passed away the family sold the unit and are owed $100,000.
The woman also claimed staff had not been paid properly, but said they were providing the best care they were able to.
"They are feeding the patients out of their own pockets," she said.
