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UK exchange program
28 November 2011
When Ginny Larkin landed at Sydney Airport two weeks ago she noted the weather was a little different from where she had departed.
“It was 11 degrees and drizzly when I left London,” she said. “And it was quite humid when I arrived in Sydney.”
Ginny, a scheme manager at ExtraCare Charitable Trust in the UK, is halfway through a four-week study tour exchange with IRT Corporate Services in Wollongong and is really enjoying her experience. “Everybody has been so friendly and welcoming,” she said. “The staff at IRT have really put themselves out for me.”
Her first day at work was also a challenge, with the mercury creeping up to almost 40 degrees.
IRT and ExtraCare signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year to formalise a partnership between the two organisations. The partnership enabled an annual staff exchange program to be established. Ginny applied to take part in the program and is the first person to embark on a study tour.
ExtraCare Charitable Trust is a UK-based aged-care provider and supports 3,500 older people in 18 housing schemes and 11 villages across the Midlands and north-west of England.
Ginny thought the exchange program was a wonderful opportunity to spend time in another country and gain and share knowledge with an overseas aged-care provider.
Since arriving at IRT, Ginny’s schedule has been full with site visits, training and meetings – ensuring she develops a well-rounded understanding of IRT.
Next year, IRT Area Manager - Eurobodalla Helen Spence will travel to Birmingham, England to take part in a study tour with ExtraCare. Helen will be IRT’s first exchange program recipient.
IRT Chief Executive, Nieves Murray said the exchange program was a great way to share knowledge between the two organisations and look at different approaches to aged care.
For further information please contact:
Melissa Michie
Communications Coordinator
Phone: 4221 6653 or 0419 789 841
Note to Editors: Please refer to IRT as “IRT” not “Illawarra Retirement Trust” – thank you
About IRT:
IRT is one of Australia’s largest community based seniors lifestyle and care providers. It has been providing seniors lifestyle and care solutions for over 40 years. IRT manages communities in more than 30 locations across the Illawarra, South Coast of NSW, Sydney and Canberra and provides solutions to over 6000 customers.
