Course Overview

This course has been developed to provide learners with an understanding of how to identify, report and respond to the abuse of older people who are in a care relationship.

Legislation changes have updated the reporting requirements for all workers in residential aged care. Kineo Course’s updated Reporting Abuse and Serious Incidents in Residential Aged Care covers these requirements, meeting the new legislative need and helping provide person-centred care to all consumers. 

Elder abuse is a violation of human rights and significant cause of injury, illness, isolation and despair in aged care. Worse yet, it only occurs in relationships that require a deal of trust to be effective. 

However, by focusing on providing good person-centred care, and reporting serious incidents as well as abuse, incidents of elder abuse can be reduced. In 2021, amendments to the Aged Care Act 1997 were passed, bringing into effect the Serious Incident Response Scheme (or SIRS). This new legislation aims to strengthen the reporting requirements for residential aged care services and help support the Charter of Aged Care Rights and Aged Care Quality Standards. 

Learning Outcomes

This course provides an understanding of:

• the background, definitions and prevalence of abuse of older people in Australia 
• common types of abuse experienced by older people 
• requirements for reporting abuse and serious incidents in residential aged care 
• barriers that can prevent staff from reporting, and 
• actions to take in the event of abuse or serious incidents. 

Target Audience

This course is suitable for caregivers and other healthcare professionals who provide care to older people in Australia. This course is designed to form a part of a healthcare organisation’s duty of care and elder abuse training.