South Coast Aged Care Employees Shine at IRT Awards

South Coast employees shone at this year's inaugural IRT Group Employee Awards, taking home the coveted Kathleen O’Sullivan Memorial Award and Superior Customer Service Award. 

"At IRT we truly value our employees and understand that it's their passion and professionalism that enables us to provide excellent care services and operate lifestyle communities that seniors want to be a part of," said IRT Group Chief Executive, Nieves Murray.

"We have a 2250 strong national workforce, many of whom work in the beautiful Shoalhaven and South Coast.

"At our annual awards night we acknowledge and celebrate our high achievers who have done something exceptional to improve the lives of our customers, or enrich our organisation," she said.

IRT Moruya employee Helen Bogart took home the Kathleen O’Sullivan Memorial Award for demonstrating outstanding dedication, commitment to excellence and continuing professionalism.

"Helen is a Care Centre Lifestyle Officer who undertook a Certificate IV in Leisure and Health in her own time and at her own expense to gain new professional skills and insights," Ms Murray said.

"She has a real passion for dementia care and Helen used her newfound knowledge to introduce a oneon-one dementia-specific activities program for IRT Moruya residents."

The program focuses on sensory skills, through the use of individualised fiddle muffs and sensory aprons matched with and owned by individual residents.

"Helen's been working hard to brighten the lives of our residents living with dementia, such as by involving them in a game of chocolate Santas skittles at Christmas," Ms Murray said.

"Residents and employees agreed the best part was eating the chocolate when the game was over!"

Another award winner was IRT St Georges Basin's Anna Everts, who won the Superior Customer Service Award for helping a resident fulfil his wish to return home to the UK.

"This is one of the most heart-warming tales I have heard in a long time," said Ms Murray.

"Anna took it upon herself to help a resident who was distressed and alone fulfil his wish to return home to his extended family in the UK.

"This was no easy feat and Anna had to liaise with three government bodies, but with her help, the resident achieved his wish and flew home to live out his final days in his beloved UK.

"There is truly no better example of customer-centred care," she said.

Click here to find out more about IRT's aged care services.