Note: the responsibility for compulsory reporting transferred from the Department of Health to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1 January 2020
To help protect aged care residents, the law (the Aged Care Act 1997) has compulsory reporting provisions. This means that approved providers of residential aged care services are responsible for ensuring that suspicions or allegations of reportable assaults occurring at their services are reported within 24 hours to
- local police
- the Commission.
The law also requires service providers to report that a resident is absent without explanation (also known as a missing resident).
These requirements ensure that those affected receive timely help and support, and that operational and organisational strategies are put in place to prevent the situation from occurring again. Such strategies help maintain a safe and secure environment for residents.
Making a report to the Commission
Aged care workers are often the first to suspect or become aware that a resident has allegedly been assaulted, or a resident is missing.
To report a suspicion or allegation of a reportable assault or a missing resident approved providers should click on the relevant link below and submit the compulsory report using the Commission’s webform:
Note: Once a submission has been made, a receipt number will automatically be issued and a compulsory reporting officer will be in contact to provide a notification case number and to request any further information that may be required.
If you have any additions or amendments you wish to make to a submitted notification, please email compulsoryreports@agedcarequality.gov.au and quote the receipt number. Please do not submit multiple webforms regarding the same incident or missing resident.
The webform is the Commission’s preferred way to receive reports however, you will still be able to complete a reportable assault form or an unexplained absence form and email it to compulsoryreports@agedcarequality.gov.au until 31 December 2020. After this date, the Commission will only accept emailed forms in exceptional circumstances such as system or access failure.
Contacts
Email: compulsoryreports@agedcarequality.gov.au
Compulsory reporting line: 1800 081 549
More information
- Guide for reporting reportable assaults
- Guide for reporting unexplained absences
- Guide for aged care staff – compulsory reporting
- Compulsory reporting flowchart
This information is intended to help approved providers and personnel understand their reporting responsibilities for reportable assaults and unexplained absences.
This notice provides advice for approved providers about information the Commission may collect to perform its functions, how that information may be used and how it can be accessed.