Tarrawanna Gardens - an IRT Community (Retirement Village)

IRT Communities: Communities, Care and Locations Across New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland

IRT is one of Australia's largest community-owned providers of independent living, with more than 55 years' experience and more than 40 communities and home care service hubs across New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland. Find an IRT community near you below, or read on for costs, care details and what sets IRT apart. If you are thinking about downsizing, this page covers the main points to understand first and the questions worth asking when you visit a community in person.

Quick facts

About IRT

IRT was founded in 1969 and has grown into a network across New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland. Homes are villas, units and apartments for people aged 55 and over, and every community offers something different. In IRT's home region of the Illawarra, you will find a wide range of purpose-built retirement villages.

Residents hold a lease or licence to occupy their home and live independently. Before you decide, ask which of the two applies at the village you are considering and what that means for you day to day. IRT looks after site maintenance and landscaping, so your time goes to friends, family and the things you enjoy rather than to mowing and repairs. Amenities and activities differ from one community to the next.

IRT is a foundation member of the Retirement Living Code of Conduct, the retirement living industry's own voluntary code setting standards for how operators treat residents. All IRT communities follow it, so the same standards apply wherever you choose to live. IRT is community-owned and has been a not-for-profit organisation supporting older Australians since 1969.

Costs & fees

Prices change, so a figure quoted on a web page can be out of date by the time you read it. For a current price, call IRT directly on 134 478 or enquire through the listing for the community you're interested in. When you speak to the team, ask what you would pay to move in, what you would pay on an ongoing basis, and what happens to those amounts when you leave. Write the answers down for each community so you can compare them side by side.

Care & lifestyle services

You can stay independent in your own home for longer, with support added as your needs change. IRT arranges access to screened providers such as occupational therapists, doctors and physiotherapists, and it also offers its own home care. You can keep your current provider if you prefer. Ask how that would work in practice before you decide.

Residential aged care is only at some communities, on the same site as the homes, and care homes range from private rooms with ensuites to specialised care suites. It is worth asking about aged care at each community you consider. Ask what is on offer on site, how it is arranged and what you would need to do to access it.

Shared spaces may include a community centre, barbecue and entertaining areas, a library and landscaped gardens. Communities also offer a calendar of activities to choose from. The mix varies by community, and some have a swimming pool, gym or bowling green. Visitor parking makes it easy for family and friends to drop in. If a particular facility matters to you, confirm that it is at the community you are considering and look at it during your visit.

What makes IRT different

IRT offers independent living, aged care and home care, so one organisation can follow your needs as they change. Its size gives you a wide choice of locations and home styles, from villas to apartments. IRT also provides clear and transparent costs and pricing options for moving in, so you know what to expect before you commit.

Over 90% of residents feel safe and secure, over 97% feel connected and over 87% would recommend their local IRT retirement village to a friend. IRT was among the first aged care operators to register for the Retirement Living Council's Code of Conduct, and it is a member of the Council.

Last updated: October 2026.