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.

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Mandatory Reporting & Sirs Training Guide