SIRS incident documentation for aged care providers
Under the Serious Incident Response Scheme, an aged care provider must notify the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission of reportable incidents: within 24 hours for Priority 1 and within 30 days for Priority 2, counted from when the provider becomes aware.
Key takeaways
- There are 8 reportable incident types, and suspected or alleged incidents must be reported even if you cannot confirm them.
- The provider decides whether an incident is Priority 1 or Priority 2, and the priority sets the notification deadline.
- Reportable incidents are recorded in the provider’s incident management system and notified through the My Aged Care provider portal.
What are the reportable incident types under SIRS?
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission lists 8 types of reportable incident: 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 in the course of delivery of care. An incident is reportable if it is one of these types and has occurred, is alleged to have occurred or is suspected of occurring to a person receiving aged care.
What is the difference between Priority 1 and Priority 2?
| Priority | What it covers | Notify within |
|---|---|---|
| Priority 1 | For example an injury or discomfort needing medical or psychological treatment, unlawful sexual contact, unexpected death, unexplained absence, or where there are reasonable grounds to report to police | 24 hours of becoming aware |
| Priority 2 | All other reportable incidents | 30 days of becoming aware |
What should the record show?
The Commission tells providers to record all reportable incidents in their incident management system and to follow the service’s policies. A record that supports notification should say what happened or was alleged, who was involved, when the provider became aware, the priority decision and the reason for it, and the actions taken. The Commission also states that names of everyone involved must be provided when notifying, or as soon as they are known.
Where does NoteGate fit?
NoteGate provides structured, SIRS-aligned incident capture through Incident Reporting (IRA), linked to the related shift note. It supports the provider’s record. Deciding the priority level and notifying the Commission through the My Aged Care provider portal remain the provider’s responsibility. See NoteGate for aged care.
Frequently asked questions
Do I report an incident I only suspect?
Yes. The Commission says all reportable incidents must be reported, including those that are suspected or alleged, even if you cannot confirm them.
Do I need the consumer’s permission to report?
No. The Commission states you do not need permission from those involved to tell it about a reportable incident.
Sources
- About reportable incidents (SIRS) (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, retrieved 19 September 2026)
Related
Capture incidents in a structured record
See how NoteGate Incident Reporting supports SIRS-aligned documentation.
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