Serious Incidents fall after new Aged Care Act

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has published figures on neglect and the unreasonable use of force in aged care.

According to the latest Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) data, residential aged care operators reported 2,803 cases of neglect in November – December 2025, the first two months under the new Aged Care Act. The figure equates to around 47 reports daily.

The result is a reduction on the 52 reports of neglect per day operators reported in the July – September 2025 quarter, with a total 4,678 reports for the three-month period.

There was similarly a decline in the rate of reports of unreasonable use of force in residential aged care in the first two months under the new Act.

There were 4,659 reports of unreasonable use of force in November – December 2025, a rate of 78 reports daily.

There were 7,200 reports of unreasonable use of force in the September 2025 quarter, a rate of 80 reports daily.

Home care incidents also lower under new Act

In home care, there were 430 cases of neglect in the first two months under the new Aged Care Act, or about seven reports per day.

In the first quarter of 2025-26, there were 897 reports, or 10 reports per day.

Complaints soared

Less positive was complaints data, which showed complaints rose 30% after the new Aged Care Act took effect. The Weekly SOURCE has previously reported on the result here.

10,000 incidents in two months

The SIRS commenced for residential aged care in April 2021, and was expanded to include home care in December 2022. The aim of the program is to prevent, manage and respond to serious incidents involving people receiving Government-funded aged care.

While this latest data shows a decline in the first two months of the new Aged Care Act, it’s too early to consider it a trend. No doubt aged care operators were busy during the period.

There were more than 10,000 reportable incidents in the two-month period.