Innovation Key to IRT's Future Growth

IRT Group has reported solid financial results in 2015/16; increasing its asset base to $1.1 billion and growing its annual income by almost 11% to $184 million.

IRT Group CEO, Nieves Murray announced the results at last night's Annual General Meeting, where she identified achieving a 90% customer satisfaction rating, the organisation's transformation journey, and an ongoing $200 million capital works program as key highlights of the year.

"2015/16 was another successful year for IRT," said Ms Murray. "We improved our services, provided a great place to work, gave back to the community and continued to answer the call of older Australians for more choice and control over how they live.

"Our industry's shift away from a government funded model to a consumer driven model presents significant opportunities for our business to innovate and partner with our customers," she said.

"IRT continues to invest in strategic projects to ensure we are well positioned for the future and succeed in the face of these significant changes."

During the year, much of this investment was directed towards further transformation of IRT's growing In-Home Care business and building innovation capability.

"We also began a major Culture Program that puts the customer at the heart of everything we do and celebrates innovation. There is high energy and vibrancy across our organisation as we work towards this goal," she said.

"I'm especially proud of this year's opening of Kemira at IRT William Beach Gardens, an innovative community that allows ageing people with intellectual disability to live with their primary carers in a supportive community setting, keeping families together," she said.

IRT continued to expand its Lifestyle and Care offering this year, opening IRT Tarrawanna in the Illawarra and IRT Woodlands on the Sunshine Coast. Work also began on Parkside at IRT Pioneer Place to bring connected seniors' living to the Wollongong CBD.

2015/16 was another award-winning year: Lifestyle Services Manager Southern Shoalhaven, Mark Surace, was named Property Council Retirement Living NSW/ACT Manager of the Year; IRT recognised six employees with over 25 years of service; and won the Employer of Choice category at the 2015 Australian Business Awards, as well as being named an ABA100 Winner of the Australian Business Award for Community Contribution.

Ms Murray told the Annual General Meeting that IRT's continued success enabled the community-owned organisation to keep working towards its 'northern star', which is to create the ecosystem that enables people to choose how they live and how they die.

"We are challenging stereotypes and reframing older Australians as dynamic contributors to society through the work of the IRT Foundation," she said.

IRT Foundation broke new ground in the area of mature workforce participation by delivering a Career Check Up Expo for Mature Workers in Canberra with plans for a second in the Illawarra next year; launching Australia's first dedicated YouTube channel for over 55s, The Good Life; and awarding more than $151,000 in Community Grants to local community groups to help address the issue of social isolation.

"The transformation of our business will position us to lead the changes older Australians want,” Ms Murray said.

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

Pictured above L to R — IRT CEO Nieves Murray, General Members and Residents Thelma Kohn and Keith Davis, and Chairman Bruce Allan.