Mandatory Reporting Policy (Non-SIRS) Template
The SIRS is not the only mandatory reporting obligation in aged care — this policy covers the full range of external reporting requirements to police, ombudsmen, the NDIS Commission, and other bodies.
Overview
While the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) is the most prominent mandatory reporting obligation in residential aged care, providers are subject to a range of additional reporting requirements across different legislative frameworks. These include reporting to police for criminal matters, to state aged care ombudsmen, to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for dual-registered providers, to the Coroner, and to child protection authorities where children are involved. This policy template maps and governs the full non-SIRS mandatory reporting landscape.
What This Policy Covers
- Reportable matters to police (assault, theft, suspected criminal conduct)
- State/territory Aged Care Complaints Commissioner and Ombudsman notifications
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission reporting for dual-registered providers
- Coroner notification obligations (see companion Coroner Policy)
- Child protection reporting where relevant
- Mandatory reporting for compulsory treatment orders
- Privacy breach notification to the OAIC under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme
- Workers' compensation and workplace injury reporting obligations
- Timeframes and documentation requirements for each reporting type
- Staff training on when and how to make external reports
Compliance Alignment
- Aged Care Act 1997 – Approved Provider obligations
- NDIS Act 2013 – Reportable incident obligations
- Privacy Act 1988 – Notifiable Data Breaches scheme
- State/territory aged care ombudsman legislation
- State/territory police reporting obligations
- Aged Care Quality Standard 8 – Organisational Governance
Why This Policy Matters
Providers who conflate SIRS reporting with all mandatory reporting obligations frequently miss critical external notifications — creating legal liability and ACQSC findings. A dedicated Non-SIRS Mandatory Reporting Policy ensures staff know exactly when to contact police, the ombudsman, or other bodies — independently of the SIRS process. This is especially important for dual-registered NDIS/aged care providers.
