Ginny's trip, organised by IRT and The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, will give her the opportunity to learn from the Australian company and bring back some examples of good practice to ExtraCare's 27 retirement villages and schemes.

She will have the opportunity to visit many of IRT's 30 sites, and will also attend training sessions and meetings to develop a full understanding of how the organisation works.

ExtraCare signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IRT earlier this year to formalise a partnership to share knowledge between the two organisations. IRT is one of Australia's largest community-based senior lifestyle and care providers.

Next year, one of IRT's Area Managers, Helen Spence, will come to Birmingham for her part in the exchange.

Ginny, who will be back at her Northampton housing scheme at the end of the month, said she is really enjoying her time in Australia. "Everybody has been so friendly and welcoming," she said. "The staff at IRT have really put themselves out for me."

She admits that it has been a bit of an adjustment - on her first day at work in Australia, the temperatures reached 40C. But there are compensations: she's been able to visit IRT's locations near the coast and she's even met a kangaroo!

Picture: Ginny gets up close and personal with a kangaroo.

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For further information, please contact:

Lucy Henson, PR officer
0789 105 3062
lucy.henson@extracare.org.uk