What is SIRS?

The eight reportable incident types

• Unreasonable use of force
• Unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct
• Neglect
• Psychological or emotional abuse
• Unexpected death
• Stealing or financial coercion by a staff member
• Inappropriate use of restrictive practices
• Unexplained absence in the course of delivery of care

Incidents outside these types are not reported to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, but must still be managed through the provider's incident management system.

Priority 1 and Priority 2

Priority 1 incidents must be reported to the Commission within 24 hours of the provider becoming aware. Priority 2 incidents, which do not meet the Priority 1 criteria, must be reported within 30 days.

From 1 November 2025 the Priority 1 test focuses on the actual impact on the person. Providers no longer have to predict the worst-case harm an incident could have caused. An incident is Priority 1 if it leads to a person needing medical or psychological treatment that only a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, psychologist or social worker can provide, or if any other Priority 1 criterion applies.

Home services are covered

SIRS has applied to home and community care since 1 December 2022, so it covers Support at Home providers. Since 1 November 2025 the old missing consumer type for home settings has been merged into unexplained absence, and the scheme uses the new Act's language: registered provider, older person and aged care worker.

In home settings, workers are often the only witnesses. Train them to recognise the eight types and escalate the same day, because the 24-hour clock starts when the provider becomes aware.

How Rostery helps

Rostery lets workers log incidents from the carer app, records the SIRS type and priority, and tracks the 24-hour or 30-day deadline from the moment the provider became aware.