Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS)
The Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) is helping to reduce abuse and neglect in Australian Government-subsidised residential aged care. The SIRS builds providers’ skills so they can better manage, respond to, and prevent incidents and better support care recipients.
About SIRS
The SIRS commenced on 1 April 2021 and is administered by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission). The SIRS sets new arrangements for residential aged care providers, including flexible care in a residential setting, to manage and take reasonable steps to prevent incidents, with a focus on the safety, health, well-being and quality of life of aged care consumers. The SIRS includes both incident management and reportable incident obligations to strengthen aged care systems and build providers’ skills so they are more able to respond to incidents and provide aged care recipients with the support they need.
Learn more
For more information on the SIRS, including why the SIRS is important, how the SIRS works and how the SIRS relates to other aged care requirements, visit the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission's website.
You can also read the:
- Report on the Outcome of Public Consultation on the SIRS
- Prevalence Study for a Serious Incident Response Scheme, which looks at incidents of abuse between aged care residents
- Strengthening Protections for Older Australians: Development of Models and Options for a Serious Incident Response Scheme report
Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) contact
Email the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) if you have any questions about SIRS for government-subsidised aged care.