How to read these examples
A reportable incident is Priority 1 if any one of these is true:
- It has caused an older person physical or psychological injury or discomfort that requires medical or psychological treatment (Aged Care Rules 2025, s165A-25(2)(a)).
- There are reasonable grounds to report it to police.
- It involves sexual contact or conduct.
- It involves an unexpected death.
- It involves an unexplained absence of the older person during the delivery of aged care services, which is defined by there being reasonable grounds to report it to police.
Every other reportable incident is Priority 2, including any incident, allegation or suspicion that could reasonably have been expected to have caused harm to an older person.
The treatment test is narrow. Treatment counts toward Priority 1 only when it is treatment that can only be provided by a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, psychologist or social worker. Treatment anyone can give, such as an ice pack, does not by itself make an incident Priority 1.
Judge the impact on the person, not what they can tell you. A person who cannot communicate how an incident affected them, or who cannot remember it, may still have been affected. Look for changes in behaviour such as becoming withdrawn or fearful.
1. Unreasonable use of force: Priority 1 and Priority 2 examples
Unwarranted or unjustified physical contact with an older person, from rough handling or shoving through to a deliberate attack. It does not have to be intentional: excessive force during a transfer or personal care can qualify. Gentle touch to guide or comfort (Aged Care Rules 2025, s16-5(3)) and a reflexive hands-on technique to guide or redirect an older person away from harm (s17-5(5)(b)) are excluded.
A support worker is frustrated when a client refuses a shower and slaps the client across the arm. The client is not hurt.
Why: A deliberate strike gives reasonable grounds to report the incident to police. That is a Priority 1 criterion on its own, so the lack of injury does not move it to Priority 2. Police must be told within 24 hours of becoming aware (s164-40(2)).
During a hoist-free transfer a worker pulls a client up by the arm. The client is later taken to their GP, who diagnoses a fracture and treats it.
Why: The incident has caused injury that needs medical treatment from a medical practitioner. Priority 1 applies even though the worker did not mean to hurt the client.
On a community access outing a worker grips a client’s wrist tightly to hurry them across a car park. The client is startled but unhurt and does not need treatment. Nothing suggests a crime.
Why: Rough handling is unreasonable use of force, so it is reportable. There is no injury needing practitioner-level treatment and no reasonable grounds to go to police, so no Priority 1 criterion is met.
A care worker shoves a resident’s hand away roughly when the resident grabs at their uniform. No mark, no distress that needs treatment.
Why: Unwarranted physical contact with an older person is reportable. No Priority 1 criterion is met.
A client with dementia swings at a worker, and the worker steps in and blocks the arm to protect the client from a fall.
Why: A reflexive hands-on technique to guide or redirect an older person away from harm (Rules s17-5(5)(b)) and gentle touch to guide or comfort (s16-5(3)) are excluded. Record it in your incident management system and in the behaviour support or care plan if the client has one.
2. Unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct: Priority 1 and Priority 2 examples
Any sexual conduct or contact by a worker is covered (Aged Care Rules 2025, s16-5(4)(a)), even where the older person appeared to consent. Consensual contact between a client and a non-worker is excluded (s16-5(5)). Every incident in this type is Priority 1.
A client tells their daughter that a support worker touched their genital area during a shower when no care task required it. The daughter phones the provider.
Why: Touching private areas without a genuine care need is unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct. The type is always Priority 1, and alleged or suspected incidents are reportable, so you do not wait for proof.
A worker makes sexual comments and innuendo to a client during every visit. The client laughs it off and says it does not bother them.
Why: Any sexual conduct by a worker is covered (Rules s16-5(4)(a)), so sexual comments and innuendo are reportable even if the client does not object. Every incident of this type is Priority 1.
A worker finds one resident exposing themselves in the presence of another resident in a lounge room.
Why: Sexual conduct inflicted on an older person is Priority 1. The exclusion for consensual contact between a client and a non-worker (Rules s16-5(5)) does not apply, because this was not consensual contact. The type is always Priority 1.
Two residents who are in a relationship hold hands and kiss goodnight. Both are happy and have capacity to consent.
Why: Consensual contact between a client and a non-worker is excluded (Rules s16-5(5)). Two residents who are in a relationship and both consent are not a reportable incident.
3. Psychological or emotional abuse: Priority 1 and Priority 2 examples
Conduct that causes, or could reasonably cause, an older person psychological or emotional distress (Aged Care Rules 2025, s16-5(6)(b)): taunting, bullying, intimidation, threats, humiliation, punishing someone by withholding care, or unreasonably refusing to interact with them. Raised voices to get the attention of someone with hearing loss, and reasonable requests, are not abuse.
A worker repeatedly tells a client they will be “put in a home” if they keep complaining. Over several weeks the client becomes withdrawn and anxious, stops eating well and is referred to a psychologist.
Why: The conduct has caused psychological distress that needs treatment from a psychologist, which is one of the practitioners named in the Priority 1 definition.
A worker shouts and calls a client names after a spilled drink. The client is upset at the time but settles within the hour and needs no treatment. The client is not hurt and nothing suggests a crime.
Why: Yelling and name calling are listed examples of psychological or emotional abuse, so the incident is reportable. No treatment is needed and there are no reasonable grounds to report it to police, so it is Priority 2.
A group-activity worker ignores one client on every outing and tells the others not to include them.
Why: Unreasonably refusing to interact with, or acknowledge, an older person is listed conduct. If the client’s distress later needs practitioner-level treatment, it would meet the Priority 1 criterion. Until then it is Priority 2.
A worker raises their voice so a client with severe hearing loss can hear a question about lunch.
Why: Raising your voice to get the attention of someone with hearing difficulties is not psychological or emotional abuse.
4. Unexpected death: Priority 1 and Priority 2 examples
The death resulted from services delivered or not delivered, or, in residential care, reasonable steps were not taken (Aged Care Rules 2025, s16-5(8)). Home care providers often do not see the circumstances of a death, so the test is whether the provider or its workers made a mistake, did not deliver care in line with assessed needs, or delivered poorly managed care. Every incident in this type is Priority 1.
A Support at Home client who relies on daily wound care misses a week of visits because of rostering errors. The wound becomes infected and the client dies in hospital.
Why: A death resulting from a failure of the registered provider to deliver funded aged care services is unexpected death (Rules s16-5(8)(b)(ii)). The type is always Priority 1.
Grab rails installed as part of a home modification come away from the wall. The client falls and dies from the injuries.
Why: Equipment or supports the provider supplied malfunctioned and caused the death. The type is always Priority 1.
A resident’s pressure injury is not assessed or treated, becomes infected and the resident dies.
Why: Not appropriately assessing or treating a person after an incident, with death resulting, is unexpected death. The type is always Priority 1.
A client with advanced heart failure, receiving palliative care and appropriate end-of-life medication, dies at home as expected.
Why: A death from an illness that was appropriately assessed, monitored and managed, including palliative care with appropriate end-of-life medication, is not unexpected death. Record it as you normally would.
5. Stealing or financial coercion by a staff member: Priority 1 and Priority 2 examples
Stealing from an older person by a worker, or conduct by a worker that is coercive or deceptive in relation to, or unreasonably controls, the person’s financial affairs (Aged Care Rules 2025, s16-5(9)(b)). It only applies where a worker is involved, suspected or alleged to be involved, and it applies whether the items are worth a lot or are of low or sentimental value.
A client’s camera footage shows a worker taking cash from the client’s wallet during a visit.
Why: Theft by a worker is reportable, and stealing is an offence, so there are reasonable grounds to report it to police. That is a Priority 1 criterion.
A worker who holds a client’s power of attorney transfers money from the client’s account to their own.
Why: Taking money from a client’s account is conduct that is coercive or deceptive in relation to, or unreasonably controls, financial affairs (Rules s16-5(9)(b)), and it is a crime, so there are reasonable grounds to report it to police.
A worker takes a client’s garden trolley home for the weekend without asking. It is returned undamaged.
Why: A worker taking a client’s property for their own use without permission raises the question of stealing. If there are reasonable grounds to report it to police, it is Priority 1 and police must be told within 24 hours (Rules s164-40(2)). If there are not, it is Priority 2. The client’s wishes do not decide whether there are grounds. Whether the facts amount to grounds is a judgement for your delegate. The Commission says: “If you’re unsure whether an incident is criminal, it’s best to report it to the police”.
A client with full capacity offers to buy their worker a coffee at an appointment, and the worker accepts.
Why: A client with cognitive capacity willingly buying a worker a coffee is not stealing or financial coercion. A missing item that is quickly found to have been misplaced is also not reportable.
6. Neglect: Priority 1 and Priority 2 examples
When a provider, worker or responsible person has, or is suspected of having, provided a service that puts an older person at risk of serious injury or illness, caused or contributed to a significant failure to provide a service or a systematic pattern of conduct (Aged Care Rules 2025, s16-5(10); the pattern factors are in Aged Care Act 2024, s19(2)), provided a grossly inadequate service, or been reckless or intentionally negligent. Serious injury or illness does not have to have happened. Exclusions include decline from disease when all care has been taken, and an informed choice in the narrow cases in s16-10(3) (home or community) and s16-10(2) (residential).
A client who needs help to reposition is left in bed for most of a day because the provider cancels two visits. The client develops a pressure injury and a registered nurse has to treat the wound.
Why: The incident has caused injury that needs treatment only a registered nurse (or other named practitioner) can provide. That meets the Priority 1 criterion.
A worker leaves a client who needs help to move in a sunny courtyard with no shade, water or way to call for help. The client is found 40 minutes later, hot and uncomfortable but not injured.
Why: The Commission’s own example of putting someone at risk of serious injury is leaving a person who needs help to move in the sun without shade, water or access to help. No treatment was needed and there are no police grounds, so it is Priority 2. If the client had needed hospital treatment for heat illness, it would be Priority 1.
A rostering failure means a client misses five scheduled personal care visits over two weeks. The client is uncomfortable and distressed but needs no treatment.
Why: Missing a run of scheduled services can be a significant failure to provide a service, which is reportable neglect. No Priority 1 criterion is met, so it is Priority 2. A single missed visit that is promptly corrected may not reach the threshold, but may still need recording. Check skin, continence and hydration. If an RN has to treat anything, it is Priority 1 and significant new information.
A home care client with diabetes was told the risks and options, told the provider they would not follow their diabetic diet, and the provider recorded this in writing in the care plan months before anything went wrong.
Why: In a home or community setting, an informed choice excludes an incident only if it would otherwise be neglect alone, the person told the provider, and the provider recorded it in writing before the incident (Rules s16-10(3)). All three are met here. If the choice had only been written down after the incident, the exclusion would not apply and it would be assessed as neglect.
7. Inappropriate use of restrictive practices: Priority 1 and Priority 2 examples
Any use of a restrictive practice (chemical, physical, mechanical or environmental restraint, or seclusion) that is not consistent with the requirements that apply to it. It is reportable regardless of whether anyone was hurt. In a home or community setting, a use is not reportable only if all of these hold (Aged Care Rules 2025, s16-15): before the use, the care and services plan set out the circumstances (including behaviours of concern) and the manner (duration, frequency, intended outcome); it was used in those circumstances, in that manner, and in line with the plan; and the details were documented as soon as practicable afterwards. The behaviour support plan and consent rules (Part 9) apply to approved residential care homes.
A resident is agitated overnight and a nurse gives a PRN sedative to settle them. The medication is not for a diagnosed condition and the resident’s plan does not authorise it. No harm results.
Why: Drugs used to control or sedate, rather than to treat a diagnosed health condition, are chemical restraint (Rules s17-5(2)). Used outside the requirements, that is inappropriate use of a restrictive practice, which is reportable even with no harm. No Priority 1 criterion is met.
A worker puts a client’s walking frame out of reach so the client stays in their chair while the worker is busy. The client tries to stand, falls, and is taken to hospital for a fracture.
Why: Putting mobility aids out of reach to limit movement is environmental restraint (Rules s17-5(3)). Because the incident has caused injury needing medical treatment, it is Priority 1.
A resident is physically held down by a worker while distressed, outside any approved plan, and is left with bruising that needs no treatment.
Why: Holding a person down is a physical restrictive practice. Without a Priority 1 criterion, it is reportable as Priority 2. If there are reasonable grounds to report it to police, it is Priority 1.
8. Unexplained absence: Priority 1 and Priority 2 examples
An unexplained absence, defined by there being reasonable grounds to report it to police. In a home setting it must be an absence from the setting during the delivery of funded aged care services (Aged Care Rules 2025, s16-5(11)). The old home services “missing consumer” type and the residential “unexplained absence” type were merged from 1 November 2025. When it is reportable it is Priority 1.
A worker takes a client with dementia shopping. The client walks off while the worker is paying and cannot be found. The worker phones the coordinator, who calls police.
Why: The client went missing during a scheduled service and police were reasonably called. An unexplained absence with reasonable grounds to report to police is Priority 1.
A worker arrives for a visit. The front door is open, the client, who has a history of wandering, is not there, and family cannot be reached. The coordinator calls police.
Why: There is concern for the person’s safety and reasonable grounds to report the absence to police. Treat it as Priority 1.
A resident living with dementia leaves the building after a visitor props open a door. Staff cannot find them and police are called.
Why: Absence from the service with reasonable grounds to report it to police.
A worker arrives for a scheduled visit and the client is out. A neighbour says the client mentioned a planned outing, and the client phones later to apologise.
Why: A client being absent for a scheduled visit where there is no reason for concern is not a missing person. Workers should still alert the service if there is a reason for concern, and follow the procedure in the care plan.
When the facts change, the priority can change
The same conduct can sit on either clock depending on what it caused. Rough handling that leaves a client shaken is Priority 2. The same handling followed by a fracture treated by a doctor is Priority 1. Assess the incident on what you know when you become aware of it, and if you learn something significant afterwards, tell the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable (s165A-40).
When you are unsure, we recommend treating the incident as the higher priority until your delegate reviews it. The Commission says: “If you’re unsure whether an incident is criminal, it’s best to report it to the police”. These examples are illustrative and de-identified. They are not a determination for any real case.
Frequently asked questions
What are examples of a SIRS Priority 1 incident?
Examples of Priority 1 incidents include a deliberate strike on a client, which gives reasonable grounds to report to police; a fracture treated by a doctor after a rough transfer; any unlawful sexual contact or inappropriate sexual conduct inflicted on an older person; an unexpected death resulting from care that was delivered or not delivered; and an unexplained absence. Priority 1 incidents must be reported within 24 hours of becoming aware.
What are examples of a SIRS Priority 2 incident?
Examples of Priority 2 incidents include rough handling during a transfer where the client is not injured and nothing suggests a crime; yelling and name calling that upsets a client but needs no treatment; a run of missed scheduled visits with no injury; and a restrictive practice used outside the requirements with no harm. Priority 2 incidents must be reported within 30 calendar days of becoming aware.
What decides whether a SIRS incident is Priority 1 or Priority 2?
An incident is Priority 1 if it has caused the older person injury or discomfort that requires medical or psychological treatment, if there are reasonable grounds to report it to police, or if it involves sexual contact or conduct, an unexpected death or an unexplained absence (Aged Care Rules 2025, s165A-25(2)). Any other reportable incident is Priority 2.
Do SIRS examples apply to home care and Support at Home?
Yes. SIRS applies to services in home or community settings as well as residential care homes, and the same eight incident types and the same Priority 1 and Priority 2 timeframes apply (Aged Care Rules 2025, s165A-10). Home settings have their own exclusions, for informed choice (s16-10(3)) and for restrictive practices used in line with the plan (s16-15).
Descriptions of each incident type
Primary source
This page is based on guidance published by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) under the Aged Care Act 2024 and the Aged Care Rules 2025, in force from 1 November 2025.