Mandatory Reporting & SIRS Training Guide for Aged Care
Free downloadable guide covering Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) obligations and staff reporting responsibilities
Aged care providers in Australia have strict legal obligations to report certain incidents to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC). Under the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) and the Aged Care Act 2024, failure to report a reportable incident within the required timeframe can result in significant regulatory consequences — including civil penalties and reputational damage.
Despite this, mandatory reporting remains one of the most commonly misunderstood obligations for frontline aged care staff. This free Mandatory Reporting & SIRS Training Guide gives your team a clear, practical understanding of what to report, when to report it, and how — aligned to the current regulatory framework.
What Is the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS)?
The SIRS requires approved aged care providers to identify, manage, and report serious incidents that happen in a residential aged care setting or a home services context (from November 2021 for home care). It exists to protect older people and ensure providers take responsibility for incidents rather than managing them quietly internally.
There are eight categories of reportable incidents under SIRS, including:
- Unreasonable use of force against a care recipient
- Unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct
- Psychological or emotional abuse
- Unexpected or unexplained death of a care recipient
- Stealing or financial coercion by a staff member
- Neglect of a care recipient
- Inappropriate use of a restrictive practice
- Missing care recipient who cannot be located
Incidents fall into one of two priority levels: Priority 1 (must be reported within 24 hours) and Priority 2 (must be reported within 30 days).
What This Guide Covers
- Section 1: Overview of SIRS — what it is and why it exists
- Section 2: The 8 categories of reportable incidents with examples
- Section 3: Priority 1 vs Priority 2 — understanding the difference
- Section 4: How to report — step-by-step process and notification templates
- Section 5: Mandatory reporting beyond SIRS — police, coroner, and AHPRA obligations
- Section 6: What happens after a report is made — investigation and staff support
- Section 7: Common reporting mistakes and how to avoid them
- Section 8: Knowledge check quiz and staff sign-off sheet
Who Should Complete This Training?
All staff who work directly with care recipients should complete mandatory reporting training. This includes:
- Registered and Enrolled Nurses with notification responsibilities
- Personal Care Assistants and Home Care Workers (who must know how to identify and report incidents)
- Quality and Compliance Managers
- Facility and Service Managers
- Allied Health professionals working within aged care settings
Standards and Regulatory Alignment
- Aged Care Act 2024 — Serious incident reporting obligations
- Standard 2 — The Organisation: Risk management and governance systems
- Standard 1 — The Person: Safety and freedom from abuse and neglect
- Standard 5 — Clinical Care: Recognising and responding to deterioration and adverse events
- Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) — Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Download the Free Mandatory Reporting & SIRS Training Guide
Download the complete guide below for use in your next staff training session. Includes facilitator notes, reporting flowcharts, and a sign-off checklist. Pair it with Governa's Incident Management Policy Template for full coverage.
