Supporting research into ageing

The Men of League Foundation has provided the IRT Research Foundation with a $20,000 donation which will go towards research initiatives seeking to improve the mind, mobility and lifestyles of senior Australians.

The IRT Research Foundation, a division of leading Wollongong-based seniors’ lifestyle and aged care provider, IRT Group, welcomed the funds after receiving an overwhelming response from researchers to the latest grant rounds application which closed last month.

IRT chief executive, Nieves Murray, said the Men of League funds would be distributed through the IRT Research Foundation’s latest grant scheme, which allows for grants of up to $300,000 for long-term research.

“We have had 108 applications from across Australia for varying research projects – they have come from university academics through to community organisations,” Ms Murray said.

The IRT Research Foundation was established almost three years ago with a strategic plan to invest a proportion of IRT’s surplus earnings into research.

“We have recruited strongly, and former general manager, ageing for the Benevolent Society, Barbara Squires, has come on board to lead the new Research and Advocacy department,” Ms Murray said.

“Benevolence is an integral part of fulfilling our purpose and as a community-based not for profit, we are committed to properly investing in our research and advocacy capacity for the good of the sector, the industry and most of all –seniors.”

Australianbased researchers and institutions with expertise on topics affecting older people in Australia are invited for two levels of grants:

• Small grants of up to $50,000 will be considered for projects of one year’s duration.
• Larger grants will be considered for significant research projects that will make a considerable impact on the lives of older people.  The IRT Research Foundation will consider applications for projects of up to three years duration requesting total funding up to $300,000.