SIRS provider resources

This page includes links to resources which help providers understand the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS). If you are an aged care consumer, please visit the SIRS consumer resources page.

Resources relevant to all providers of aged care services

Decision support tool 

• SIRS decision support tool

Guidance documents 

• Effective incident management systems: Best practice guidance 
• Reporting serious incidents: Using a problem solving approach to enhance effective incident management 
• Effective serious incident investigations guidance for providers  
• Effective incident management system checklist

Fact sheets

• What is an effective incident management system? 
• Recording incidents in an incident management system 
• SIRS readiness checklist 

Approved forms

Below are the Commission-approved forms providers must use in submitting to the Commission the following:

• a notice of additional information under section 15NE(5) of the Quality of Care Principles 2014 or the relevant program manual – SIRS – Notice of additional information (Priority 1)
• a notice of additional information under section 15NF(3) of the Quality of Care Principles 2014 or the relevant program manual – SIRS – Notice of additional information (Priority 2)
• a notice of significant new information under section 15NH of the Quality of Care Principles 2014 or the relevant program manual – SIRS – Notice of significant new information
• a final report about a reportable incident under section 15NI of the Quality of Care Principles 2014 or the relevant program manual – SIRS – Final report on reportable incident
• Investigation plan template - This template can be adjusted to reflect your specific IMS and needs

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• SIRS in general FAQs
• Incident management systems (IMS) FAQs
• Reporting through My Aged Care FAQs

Articles

The following articles from our Aged Care Quality Bulletin newsletter address the 6 essential elements of an effective incident management system (IMS):

• Ensure leadership and a safety culture (Quality Bulletin, February 2022)
• Responding to incidents (Quality Bulletin, March 2022)
• Record and report the incident (Quality Bulletin, April 2022)
• Analyse the incident (Quality Bulletin, May 2022)
• Implement actions (Quality Bulletin, June 2022)
• Close the loop (Quality Bulletin, July 2022)

Online learning modules

• Alis modules on incident management systems

Posters

• Essential elements of effective incident management systems – A3 poster

Videos

• Incident management under the SIRS
• Reportable incidents under the SIRS
• Early lessons learned from SIRS in home services

Webinars

• SIRS for residential aged care: Incident management systems (11 March 2021)
• Introduction to the SIRS: Incident management systems (26 September 2022)

Workshops

• Effective Incident Management Systems (IMS)

Roundtable outcome summaries

• June 2021 SIRS provider roundtable
• November 2021 SIRS provider roundtable

Resources specific to residential care

Guidance documents

• Serious Incident Response Scheme: Guidelines for residential aged care providers (updated July 2022)
• SIRS reportable incidents workflow for residential aged care

Example responses

The Commission has created example responses to help providers understand the level of detail that is required to ensure the Commission can appropriately assess the incident and their response to it.

Any similarities to an actual reportable incident or individual is purely coincidental.

• SIRS notification example response – Unreasonable use of force
• SIRS notification example response – Unlawful sexual contact
• SIRS notification example response – Psychological or emotional abuse
• SIRS notification example response – Unexpected death
• SIRS notification example response – Stealing or financial coercion
• SIRS notification example response – Neglect
• SIRS notification example response – Inappropriate use of restrictive practices
• SIRS notification example response – Unexplained absence from care

Fact sheets

• SIRS reportable incidents – Unreasonable use of force
• SIRS reportable incidents – Unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct
• SIRS reportable incidents – Psychological or emotional abuse
• SIRS reportable incidents – Unexpected death
• SIRS reportable incidents – Stealing or financial coercion by a staff member
• SIRS reportable incidents – Neglect
• SIRS reportable incidents – Inappropriate use of restrictive practices
• SIRS reportable incidents – Unexplained absence from care

Webinars

• Residential SIRS webinar: Introduction to the SIRS – 25 February 2021
• Residential SIRS webinar: Reporting under the SIRS – 18 March 2021
• Residential SIRS webinar: Overview of the Commission's role – 25 March 2021
• Residential SIRS webinar: SIRS and quality aged care – 8 April 2021

Workshops

• The Serious Incident Response Scheme within residential services (condensed)

Resources specific to home services

Guidance documents

• Serious Incident Response Scheme: Guidelines for home service providers
• SIRS reportable incidents workflow for home services
• Quality and safety in home services – 5 key areas of risk

Fact sheets

• SIRS reportable incidents – Unreasonable use of force
• SIRS reportable incidents – Unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct
• SIRS reportable incidents – Psychological or emotional abuse
• SIRS reportable incidents – Unexpected death
• SIRS reportable incidents – Stealing or financial coercion by a staff member
• SIRS reportable incidents – Neglect
• SIRS reportable incidents – Inappropriate use of restrictive practices
• SIRS reportable incidents – Missing consumers
• Reporting responsibilities for providers and their staff – SIRS for home services

Webinars

• Home services SIRS webinar: Introduction to the SIRS – incident management systems (26 September 2022)
• Home services SIRS webinar: SIRS reportable incidents (3 November 2022)
• Home services SIRS webinar: Reporting under the SIRS (16 November 2022)
• Home services SIRS webinar Q&As

Frequently asked questions

• SIRS home services FAQs

SIRS reports

Information about the SIRS is included in the Commission’s sector performance reports.

The first report in a new SIRS Insight Series on Unreasonable use of force: Notifications of resident to resident incidents was released in March 2023.

We encourage providers to examine their own reporting patterns and arrangements in comparison with sector averages.

Frequently asked questions

Our Frequently asked questions page provides answers to common questions that providers have about the SIRS.