Introduction to the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS)

The Serious Incident Response Scheme requires registered aged care providers to prevent, manage and report serious incidents involving older people receiving aged care services. This lesson explains why SIRS exists, which services it covers, including residential care homes and services delivered in home or community settings, and how it changed under the Aged Care Act 2024 from 1 November 2025. Key points: SIRS covers incidents that happen, are alleged or are suspected, providers must also have an incident management system, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission oversees the scheme.

Every aged care worker has a part to play in SIRS. This lesson explains what we expect of you: recognise possible reportable incidents, keep the older person safe, tell your manager straight away, and record the facts. It also explains that incidents must be reported even when they are only alleged or suspected, even when the older person does not want them reported, and even when the person has a cognitive impairment. Key points: you do not need proof or permission, you can contact the Commission directly, and the Aged Care Act 2024 protects people who disclose reportable incidents.

SIRS has eight reportable incident types. This lesson covers the first four: unreasonable use of force, such as hitting, pushing or rough handling; unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct, such as unwanted touching or sexual comments; psychological or emotional abuse, such as yelling, threats, humiliation or ignoring a person; and unexpected death, where a death results from care that was delivered or that should have been delivered. Key points: the incident type depends on what happened, not on who did it or whether harm was intended, and all four can involve other residents, workers or visitors.

This lesson covers the remaining four incident types: stealing or financial coercion by a staff member; neglect, which under the Aged Care Act 2024 includes exposing a person to risk of serious injury or illness, reckless or intentionally negligent care, significant failures or systemic patterns of poor care, and grossly inadequate care; inappropriate use of restrictive practices; and unexplained absence during the delivery of care. Key points: stealing or coercion must involve a staff member to be this type, neglect now has a detailed definition, and missing person incidents are reported as unexplained absence in all settings.

Every reportable incident is either Priority 1 or Priority 2, which sets how quickly it must be notified. From 1 November 2025, a Priority 1 incident is one that has caused physical or psychological injury or discomfort needing medical or psychological treatment, where there are reasonable grounds to report to police, that involves unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct, that involves an unexpected death from care, or an unexplained absence where there are reasonable grounds to call police. All others are Priority 2. Key points: assess impact even if the person cannot tell you, and your manager decides the priority.

Registered providers must notify the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission of Priority 1 incidents within 24 hours of becoming aware, and provide any information not available at that time within the following 5 days. Priority 2 incidents must be notified within 30 calendar days. Significant new information must be provided as soon as reasonably practical. Where there are reasonable grounds to believe a crime has occurred, police must be told within 24 hours. Key points: timeframes start when the provider becomes aware, which can be when you find out, so tell your manager immediately.

The first response to a serious incident is about the older person's safety and wellbeing. This lesson sets out what to do: make the person safe, get medical help, call police when needed, preserve evidence, support the person and involve their supporters as they wish, tell your manager, and record the facts accurately in our incident management system. Key points: safety comes first, do not investigate or confront anyone, record exact words and facts rather than opinions, treat the person with dignity and respect, and remember the person's wishes and cultural needs matter throughout.

SIRS is not only about notification. Registered providers must have an effective incident management system that records all incidents, supports the people affected, investigates causes and makes changes to prevent harm. This lesson explains how incident management works, how your reports contribute to prevention, and how open disclosure means being honest with older people and their supporters when things go wrong. Key points: record all incidents, not only reportable ones, look for patterns, support people affected, including workers, and use what we learn to make care safer. It also describes what a good incident report looks like.

This case study follows Esi, a care worker on night shift in a residential care home, when she finds Mrs Chen on the floor after Mr Doyle, another resident living with dementia, pushes her. The lesson walks through the immediate response, getting clinical help, telling the registered nurse in charge, recording the facts and why the incident is notified as Priority 1. It then looks at how both residents are supported afterwards. Key points: safety and clinical assessment come first, incidents between residents are reportable, and learning focuses on preventing a repeat without blame.

This case study follows Ana, a support worker delivering Support at Home services, when her client Mr Sandhu mentions that his regular worker borrowed three hundred dollars and has not paid it back. The lesson explores how to respond with respect when an older person does not want anyone to get into trouble, why money taken from a client by a staff member can be a reportable incident, and how to record exactly what was said. Key points: listen and reassure, do not investigate or contact the worker, tell your manager the same day, and record facts rather than opinions.