Resource Library

This factsheet provides guidance to providers of aged care on the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS), a new Government initiative to help reduce the risk of abuse and neglect for people living or staying in a residential aged care home. Australians have a right to live free from abuse or neglect. The SIRS will strengthen aged care systems to reduce the risk of abuse and neglect. It will also help to build providers’ capability to respond to serious incidents promptly and decisively, and to ensure that aged care consumers have the support they need.

This factsheet provides guidance to aged care consumers, on their right to safe and quality care and to live without abuse or neglect. The Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) is a new Government initiative to help reduce the risk of abuse and neglect for people living or staying in a residential aged care home. The scheme requires aged care providers to identify, record, manage, resolve, and report all serious incidents that occur or are alleged or suspected to have occurred, in a residential aged care service.

This factsheet provides updated information for providers of aged care on effective infection prevention and control capability. This is critical to the safe, effective delivery of personal and clinical care in aged care. This is particularly the case during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

This factsheet includes information on:
- What is the infection prevention and control (IPC) lead?
- What are the requirements of the IPC lead?
- Where can I find out more about the requirements and timing of implementation of the IPC lead(s)?
- Which approved providers need to appoint an IPC lead?

Practical guidance to support COVID-19 outbreak management planning and preparation in residential aged care facilities

The Storyboards and User Guides for this series are combined into one resource. To support the aged care sector, the Commission has developed a range of storyboards that are designed to illustrate key behaviours and priority issues. The storyboards are particularly helpful in supporting people whose English or literacy levels may be a barrier when it comes to accessing content and are relevant to all providers and consumers, their families and representatives across the aged care sector.

'Minimising Restraint in Home Services' storyboard and user guide

To support the aged care sector, the Commission has developed a range of storyboards that are designed to illustrate key behaviours and priority issues. The Storyboards and User Guides for this series are combined into one resource. The storyboards are particularly helpful in supporting people whose English or literacy levels may be a barrier when it comes to accessing content and are relevant to all providers and consumers, their families and representatives across the aged care sector. 

‘Minimising Restraint – Residential Aged Care Facilities’ storyboard

This factsheet provides a brief overview of the process for preparing to return several residents to their residential aged care facility (RACF) from hospital.

The Commission has produced a video - How to stay safe from COVID-19 - and it is now available in 15 different languages. The video aims to help consumers understand the steps they can take to keep themselves safe during the current pandemic. 

If someone has COVID-19 in your residential aged care service, a number of changes will take place. These changes will be made very quickly. You might be anxious when these changes take place but the aim is to keep you safe.

This poster has been translated into 15 languages to help residents understand what to expect in the time of COIVD-19.

These translated guides will help you understand what to expect if someone has COVID-19 in your residential aged care service, including that a number of changes will take place. These changes will be made very quickly. You might be anxious when these changes take place but the aim is to keep you safe.

COVID-19 is an infection that’s more serious in some older people. You might be worried but there are ways you can connect with your loved ones while protecting yourself and others. The translated versions of this poster will show you how.

COVID-19 is an infection that can be more serious for some older people. The Commission has developed a range of resources to help consumers understand their options on staying safe, keeping in touch with loved ones and keeping fit and active.

These translated guides provide useful information on how to stay safe in a time of COVID-19.

In the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 at a residential service, the service’s Outbreak Management Team and key personnel at the service will be working in close co-operation with public health authorities and other parties to ensure an effective emergency response.  A key personnel template has been developed to assist providers in identifying key personnel of the service and their contact details to support this response. 

You, your friends and family have a right to know how your residential aged care service is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have developed some common questions that you can ask your service provider during this time.

This Regulatory Bulletin outlines the Commission’s policy regarding provider requests to exclude specific dates for an unannounced activity and includes criteria to guide providers when determining those dates.