Illawarra-born national seniors lifestyle and care service provider IRT Group was recognised on Friday with two Australian Business Awards for Employer of Choice and Contributor to the Community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is the second year in a row IRT Group has won the Australian Business Award for Employer of Choice, in recognition of the way it maximises the full potential of its NSW, ACT and Queensland workforce.
The judges said its practices demonstrated effective employee recruitment, engagement and retention.
Chief executive Nieves Murray said it was great to be recognised for the way IRT managed people because they truly were its most important asset.
"We've worked hard to develop a human resources management framework that enables us to attract and retain high quality employees, and support staff initiatives to improve service delivery and readily adapt to changing environments," she said.
Ms Murray said winning the employer of the year title for the second year in a row was also a reflection on the team effort by all staff who work together to make IRT workplaces supportive, enriching environments.
IRT has around 2200 staff in NSW, the ACT and Queensland.
It was established from humble beginnings in the Illawarra more than 45 years ago and now boasts 35 locations and corporate offices in the Illawarra, Queensland and the Eurobodalla.
Ms Murray said it was an equal opportunity employer with three-quarters of its staff aged over 35.
"More than half work on a part-time basis and on average stay with us for 5½ years," she said.
"That is about two years longer than the national average retention rate."
To be named employer of choice, IRT had to demonstrate its achievements in everything, from organisational culture to leadership and strategy, employee education, training and development, safety and satisfaction, performance management, recognition and remuneration.
Ms Murray said the other national award, for community contribution, recognised the work done by the new-look IRT Foundation in delivering a collaborative approach to making communities more age-friendly.
Since October IRT has invested $265,000 in research grants, hosted a series of education and advocacy events, and on Tuesday announced successful applicants to share in $150,000 in first-round funding from the new Community Grants Program.
Ms Murray said the foundation was effectively a fresh approach to delivering on IRT's commitment to enrich the lives of 20,000 customers and staff and give back $20 million in community dividends by 2020.
"We're thrilled our work is being recognised through an Australian Business Award and that IRT Foundation is improving our ability to support local communities to develop and deliver practical solutions for enriching the lives of older Australians," Ms Murray said.
For more about the Australian Business Awards and the 2015 ABA100 winners, see: business awards.com.au.
