Participant Death and Critical Incident Management Policy

A policy that sets out how the business responds to the death of a participant or another critical incident. It applies across in-home, community, SIL, respite and group settings, and guides workers and managers through a structured, respectful response.

What is inside:

• Definitions of participant death, critical incident and advance care directive
• Immediate response, including following any palliative care plan or advance care directive
• Securing the area, preserving dignity and not moving the participant unless directed
• Notifying management and the participant's decision-maker or emergency contact
• Mandatory reporting: the 24-hour NDIS Commission notification, the 5 business day follow-up, any final report, and the WHS regulator where work-related
• Documentation, a staff debrief within 72 hours and support for the family
• Formal review and root cause analysis for every participant death
• Coroner obligations, record keeping and media rules

Good to know: coronial reporting is governed by state and territory law. The policy directs management to seek legal advice where a death is unexpected or may relate to supports.

• Reviewed against the current NDIS Rules, Practice Standards and Commission guidance
• Editable DOCX with a placeholder legend, so you enter your details once
• Instant download

These templates are general information, not legal advice. No template can guarantee registration or audit outcomes.