Who SIRS covers
SIRS applies to residential care homes and to home services. The Commission lists home services as including the Support at Home program, the Commonwealth Home Support Program, flexible care delivered in a home or community setting (such as Multi-Purpose Services and the Transition Care Program) and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program. In home services, you report incidents that happen in connection with the care you deliver.
The 8 types of reportable incident
- Unreasonable use of force, such as hitting, pushing or rough handling
- Unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct
- Psychological or emotional abuse, such as yelling, name calling, ignoring or threatening gestures
- Unexpected death resulting from care delivered, or a failure to deliver care
- Stealing or financial coercion by a staff member
- Neglect
- Inappropriate use of restrictive practices
- Unexplained absence during the delivery of care
From 1 November 2025 the old missing consumer type for home services and unexplained absence type for residential care were merged into one type, unexplained absence, for all settings. Neglect was also redefined: it now covers care that exposes the person to risk of serious injury or illness, reckless or intentionally negligent care, causing or contributing to a significant failure of care or a repeated pattern of poor conduct, and grossly inadequate care.
The reporting criteria: is it reportable?
An incident is reportable when it is one of the 8 types and it has happened, or is alleged or suspected to have happened, to a person receiving aged care. That means you report:
- alleged and suspected incidents, even when you cannot confirm them
- incidents already under internal or police investigation
- incidents where the older person does not want it reported
- incidents involving people with cognitive impairment, including dementia
- incidents between older people, whatever the intent of the person involved.
You do not need permission from the people involved to notify the Commission. You also do not need to notify incidents caused by an informed older person refusing care or not following a recommended course of action, but document the refusal, your understanding of why, and the steps you took to reduce the risk in their care plan.
Priority 1 and Priority 2
Under the new definitions, a reportable incident is Priority 1 if:
- it caused physical or psychological injury or discomfort that needs medical or psychological treatment to resolve, or
- there are reasonable grounds to report it to police, or
- it involves unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct, or
- it involves an unexpected death resulting from care delivered, or not delivered, or
- it involves an unexplained absence where there are reasonable grounds to call police.
Medical or psychological treatment now means treatment that only a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, psychologist or social worker can provide. Basic first aid that anyone could give does not on its own make an incident Priority 1. The phrase about what an incident could reasonably have been expected to cause was removed from the Priority 1 test, so you assess the actual impact on the person, with a person centred, culturally informed and trauma informed approach. A person who cannot tell you how they were affected may still have been affected, so watch for changes such as withdrawal or fear of certain care.
Priority 2 is every other reportable incident, including incidents, allegations or suspicions that could reasonably have been expected to cause harm. The Commission's SIRS decision support tool helps with borderline calls, and when in doubt, treat it as Priority 1.
Timeframes and police
- Priority 1: notify the Commission within 24 hours of becoming aware, and give any information you did not have within the following 5 days.
- Priority 2: notify within 30 calendar days of becoming aware.
- Significant new information: tell the Commission as soon as reasonably practical.
- Police: where there are reasonable grounds to believe a crime or ongoing danger is involved, notify police within 24 hours. If unsure whether it is criminal, report it.
The clock starts when the provider becomes aware, which can be the moment a worker finds out. That is why workers must tell the person in charge straight away, day or night.
Where to report
Notifications go to the Commission through the SIRS notification webform in the My Aged Care Service and Support portal. Include the names of everyone involved, or provide them as soon as you know them. For SIRS questions the Commission's line is 1800 081 549, 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, or email sirs@agedcarequality.gov.au.
Incident management systems and record keeping
Notification is only one part of SIRS. Every registered provider must keep an effective incident management system (IMS) for all incidents and near misses, reportable or not, use open disclosure, support the people affected, and use incident data to prevent repeats. The Commission can ask to see your IMS records, and your IMS procedures must be documented. Its guidance on recording incidents says to keep incident records for 7 years after the incident was identified, keep related records such as letters together with them, and protect their confidentiality. Providers must also assign who reports and train those staff.
What SIRS software needs to do
The Commission says an IMS can be a paper system or a spreadsheet for a small service, or dedicated software for a larger one. Whatever you use, check it can:
- capture incidents, allegations and near misses quickly, including from home and community settings
- record the who, what, where, when and how, the person's own words, actions taken and who was notified
- prompt the reportable test and the Priority 1 or 2 decision, and track the 24 hour, 5 day and 30 day deadlines
- link related incidents so patterns show, with reports on trends, types and severity
- track investigations, open disclosure and follow up actions to completion
- restrict access to protect privacy, keep an audit trail of changes, and retain records for 7 years
- be accessible to every worker who needs to report, including those with accessibility needs.
Software supports the system; it does not replace trained staff who recognise an incident and speak up.
SIRS training
The Commission offers free online learning on reportable incidents for employees of government funded aged care providers through its education portal, Alis, plus facilitated workshops. Our courses add structured, scenario based training for workers and managers, with assessments and certificates for your training records.
Train your team
These courses cover SIRS and incident management for every role:
55 minIntroduction to the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS)
The Serious Incident Response Scheme, known as SIRS, helps prevent and reduce abuse and neglect of older people receiving aged care. This course introduces how SIRS works under the Aged Care Act 2024, which started on 1 November 2025. You will learn the eight types of reportable incident, how to decide whether an incident is Priority 1 or Priority 2, and the timeframes for notifying the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: within 24 hours for Priority 1 and within 30 days for Priority 2. The course also explains your role as an aged care worker, when police must be told, the protections for people who speak up, and how incident management helps us learn and prevent harm. Two case studies show how it works in practice. Duration: 55 minutes.
50 minIncident Reporting
Incidents happen in every support setting, and how we respond in the first minutes and hours makes a real difference to the people involved. This course explains what an incident is, the different types you may come across, and the immediate steps to take to keep everyone safe. You will learn how to report and document incidents through our internal system, what makes a good incident report, and which incidents are reportable incidents that registered NDIS providers must notify to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, including the 24 hour and 5 business day timeframes. Case studies about a fall at home and an unreported restrictive practice show how it all fits together. Duration: 50 minutes.
55 minIncident Management for Team Leaders and Managers
When something goes wrong, the way a team leader or manager responds shapes the safety of the participant, the quality of our reporting and what we learn. This course covers what the NDIS rules expect from our incident management system, the reportable incident types and the 24 hour and 5 business day notification timeframes, how to support the participant, and how to run a proportionate investigation and write clear findings. It also covers complaints, learning from patterns and a short overview of the Serious Incident Response Scheme for our aged care services. Two case studies follow a night shift head injury and an allegation against a worker. Duration: 55 minutes.
45 minResponding to Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
Every older person has the right to be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation, a right set out in the Statement of Rights under the Aged Care Act 2024. As an aged care worker you are often the person best placed to notice when something is wrong. This course explains the main types of elder abuse, the signs to look for, and how abuse can come from family members, friends, other residents or staff. You will learn how to respond when an older person tells you something, why you must report to us immediately, how the Serious Incident Response Scheme priorities and timeframes work, when police are involved, and how to respect the person's dignity and choices throughout. Two case studies, in home care and residential care, show these steps in practice. Duration: 45 minutes.
50 minNavigating the New Aged Care Act and Quality Standards
The Aged Care Act 2024 commenced on 1 November 2025 and changed the way aged care works in Australia. It puts the rights of older people at the centre. This course explains the rights based approach, the Statement of Rights and the Statement of Principles, and the seven strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. It also covers registered supporters, the Support at Home program, the new Complaints Commissioner and the whistleblower protections for workers, older people and families. Most importantly, it explains what these changes mean for you on every shift, in residential care and in people's own homes. Three case studies show the Act in action. Duration: 50 minutes.
45 minAged Care Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct for Aged Care sets out how every aged care worker, provider and responsible person is expected to behave towards the older people we support. This course walks through all eight elements of the Code in plain language, with examples from residential care and care in people's own homes. You will learn who the Code applies to, how to raise concerns early, how whistleblower protections under the Aged Care Act 2024 keep you safe when you speak up, and what the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can do when the Code is breached, including banning orders. Two case studies, one in a residential home and one in home care, show how the Code guides everyday decisions. The course finishes with a final assessment. Duration: 45 minutes.
50 minStandard 2: The Organisation
Standard 2 of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards is about how an aged care organisation is run. It makes the governing body responsible for safe, quality care, but every worker helps the systems work. This course explains the ten outcomes in plain language, grouped into what they mean for you: partnering with older people, a culture of quality and safety, managing risk and incidents, welcoming feedback and complaints, handling information properly, having a skilled workforce, and being ready for emergencies. You will learn practical examples, such as reporting a near miss, writing clear notes and knowing your part in an emergency plan. Three case studies follow a fall in residential care, feedback from a client at home and a storm warning in the community. Duration: 50 minutes.
60 minStarting Work in Aged Care
This induction course gives new aged care workers a clear picture of the system they are joining and what we expect on every shift. It explains the main settings of aged care: residential care, the Support at Home program and the Commonwealth Home Support Program. It introduces the rights based Aged Care Act 2024, which commenced on 1 November 2025, the Statement of Rights, the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and the Code of Conduct for Aged Care, and shows how they apply in daily work. You will learn about person centred care, supported decision making, infection control and safety basics, good records and privacy, incidents and the Serious Incident Response Scheme, complaints and whistleblower protections, and where to learn more. Duration: 60 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 8 SIRS reportable incident types?
Unreasonable use of force; unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct; psychological or emotional abuse; unexpected death; stealing or financial coercion by a staff member; neglect; inappropriate use of restrictive practices; and unexplained absence during the delivery of care.
What is the difference between a Priority 1 and Priority 2 incident?
Priority 1 covers incidents causing injury or discomfort that needs treatment from a doctor, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, psychologist or social worker, incidents with reasonable grounds to tell police, sexual incidents, unexpected deaths from care, and unexplained absences with grounds to call police. Everything else is Priority 2.
How quickly must SIRS incidents be reported?
Priority 1 within 24 hours of becoming aware, with missing information within the next 5 days. Priority 2 within 30 calendar days. Police must be told within 24 hours if a crime or ongoing danger is suspected.
Does SIRS apply to Support at Home?
Yes. SIRS covers home services, including Support at Home, the Commonwealth Home Support Program and flexible care in home or community settings, for incidents in connection with care.
Where do providers lodge SIRS notifications?
Through the SIRS notification webform in the My Aged Care Service and Support portal.
How long must incident records be kept?
The Commission's guidance is 7 years after the incident was identified, with related records kept together and confidentiality protected.
Source: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Checked 10/11/2026. Provider Compliance is not affiliated with the Victorian Government.