SIRS in Aged Care
The complete guide to the Serious Incident Response Scheme.
SIRS requires aged care providers to report 9 categories of serious incidents to the ACQSC within strict deadlines. This guide covers everything providers need to know — incident types, Priority 1 and Priority 2 timeframes, the investigation process, and how to stay compliant.
What is SIRS in aged care?
The Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) is a mandatory reporting framework under the Aged Care Act 2024. It requires providers to identify, report, investigate, and resolve serious incidents — and to take systemic action to prevent recurrence.
SIRS applies to all registered aged care providers — residential care and, since 1 November 2025, Support at Home providers. The scheme was originally introduced under the Aged Care Act 1997 in April 2021 for residential care and has been expanded and strengthened under the 2024 Act.
9
Reportable incident types
24 hrs
Priority 1 deadline
30 days
Priority 2 deadline
Both
Residential & home care
Reportable incidents
The 9 SIRS reportable incident types.
Unreasonable use of force
Physical contact that is disproportionate, unnecessary, or not clinically justified. Includes rough handling during care.
Unlawful sexual contact
Any sexual contact without consent. Always classified as Priority 1.
Psychological or emotional abuse
Verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, humiliation, or deliberate social isolation.
Unexpected death
A death not consistent with the person's known clinical condition or care plan.
Stealing or financial coercion
Theft of property, coercion to change wills, or misuse of powers of attorney.
Neglect
Failure to provide adequate care or supervision. Includes missed medications, inadequate nutrition, and failure to implement care plans.
Inappropriate restrictive practices
Use of restraint not authorised under a behaviour support plan, not used as a last resort, or without informed consent.
Unexplained absence
A care recipient missing from the service whose absence is unexplained and unusual.
Other serious incidents
Incidents causing serious injury, harm, or risk of harm not covered by categories 1-8.
Reporting deadlines
Priority 1 vs Priority 2 deadlines.
The 24-hour clock starts from the moment any staff member becomes aware — not from when management is informed. This is the most common source of late notifications.
- Caused or could cause injury requiring medical treatment
- Involves unlawful sexual contact (always Priority 1)
- Reasonable grounds for reporting to police
- Unexplained absence of person with cognitive impairment
- Unexpected death
- All other reportable incidents not meeting Priority 1 criteria
- Report as soon as practicable, not at the 30-day deadline
Final report deadline: All reportable incidents require a final report within 60 calendar days of the initial notification, including investigation findings, root cause analysis, and remediation evidence.
SIRS Resources
Guides, tools, and software.
SIRS Reporting Obligations: The Complete Guide
Detailed guide covering all 9 incident types, priority classification, workflow, common mistakes, and Support at Home obligations.
SIRS Compliance Checklist
Downloadable checklist covering every SIRS obligation — incident identification, notification, investigation, and record-keeping.
SIRS & Incidents Module
Automated deadline tracking, ACQSC notification templates, investigation workflows, and restrictive practices register.
Incident Reporting Software
See how purpose-built incident reporting software eliminates the compliance gaps that manual processes create.
Restrictive Practices Compliance Guide
Managing restrictive practices under the Act — types of restraint, behaviour support plans, and SIRS reporting obligations.
Open Disclosure Guide
When and how to disclose incidents to families — the 5-step framework, documentation, and managing complex conversations.
Frequently asked questions about SIRS.
What is SIRS in aged care?
SIRS stands for the Serious Incident Response Scheme. It is a mandatory reporting framework under the Aged Care Act 2024 requiring aged care providers to identify, report, investigate, and resolve 9 categories of serious incidents within strict timeframes. SIRS applies to all registered providers including residential care and Support at Home.
Is SIRS still used in 2025-2026?
Yes. SIRS continues under the Aged Care Act 2024 and has been expanded from residential care only (under the 1997 Act) to include Support at Home providers. The scheme is a permanent part of the Australian aged care regulatory framework.
What are the SIRS reporting deadlines?
Priority 1 incidents must be reported to the ACQSC within 24 hours. Priority 2 incidents must be reported within 30 calendar days. A final report for all incidents must be submitted within 60 days of the initial notification. The 24-hour clock starts from when any staff member becomes aware — not from management review.
What are the SIRS guidelines?
The ACQSC publishes SIRS guidance materials including a decision support tool to help providers classify incidents. The core obligations are set out in the Aged Care Act 2024 and the Aged Care Rules 2025. Providers should also refer to the ACQSC's SIRS Provider Portal guidance.
What is a SIRS reportable incident?
The Act defines 9 reportable incident types: unreasonable use of force, unlawful sexual contact, psychological abuse, unexpected death, stealing or financial coercion, neglect, inappropriate restrictive practices, unexplained absence, and other serious incidents. The obligation to report is triggered when the provider becomes aware — regardless of whether harm actually resulted.
What happens if we miss a SIRS deadline?
Late notifications are recorded by the ACQSC and may trigger compliance reviews, requests for information, or targeted assessment contacts. Persistent late reporting can lead to compliance notices, conditions on registration, or civil penalties of up to $1.65 million for body corporates.
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