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What is SIRS?

Also known as: Serious Incident Response Scheme

The Serious Incident Response Scheme requires approved aged-care providers to manage and report serious incidents involving people receiving care. Reportable categories include unreasonable use of force, unlawful or inappropriate sexual conduct, neglect, psychological or emotional abuse, unexpected death, stealing or coercion, and unexplained absence.

SIRS is the aged-care counterpart to the NDIS reportable incidents regime. Priority 1 incidents must be reported within 24 hours; Priority 2 within 30 days.

As with the NDIS, the external report is only half the obligation. Providers must operate an incident management system that records, investigates and learns from incidents regardless of whether they are externally reportable.

Related terms

Support at HomeSupport at Home is the Australian Government program for aged care delivered in a person’s own home, replacing Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. Older people are assessed into classification levels with a quarterly budget, and contribute to costs according to their means and the category of service.Reportable incidentA reportable incident is an event a registered NDIS provider must report to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. The categories are death, serious injury, abuse or neglect, unlawful sexual or physical contact, sexual misconduct, and the unauthorised use of a restrictive practice. Initial reports are due within 24 hours or five business days depending on category.DEXThe Data Exchange is the Australian Government’s reporting platform for funded community and aged-care programs. Providers report client details, the sessions of service delivered, and optionally outcomes data, on a defined reporting period cycle. Continued funding is conditional on reporting.

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