Most workers know SIRS exists and could name three or four of the categories. The gaps are usually in the same three places: the categories that do not look like abuse, the fact that the clock starts when the provider finds out rather than when the incident happened, and what a provider is actually required to do after the notification is lodged.
This module covers the scheme itself. If you want the detail on recognising abuse, warning signs, risk factors, how to respond to a disclosure, that is the Recognising and Responding to Elder Abuse Indicators module.
How this module works Read the content straight through. It takes most people around an hour. Then complete the quiz at the end. You need 80% to pass, and your certificate appears on screen immediately. The quiz is open book, there is no time limit, and you can reattempt as many times as you need.
Currency statement and scope This module reflects the position as at August 2026. SIRS has applied to residential aged care since 1 April 2021 and was extended to home care and flexible care delivered in the community on 1 December 2022. The Aged Care Act 2024 commenced on 1 November 2025, and the scheme continues under the new Act, covering residential aged care and the Support at Home program that replaced Home Care Packages.
Your provider's incident management policy is the operational authority for how, where and to whom you report. This module explains the scheme so you understand what your policy is doing and why the timeframes matter. It does not replace it. Nothing here authorises a worker to investigate an incident.