Reportable incident deadline calculator.
Enter when you became aware and what happened. You'll get the exact due time for the immediate notification and the 5 Day Form, with weekends and your state's public holidays taken into account — and a calendar file so nobody misses them.
Timeframes from the NDIS (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018 and the NDIS Commission's reportable incidents guidance; public holidays from the Fair Work Ombudsman's lists, checked 7 October 2026. A planning aid, not legal advice — if in doubt, notify sooner. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
NDIS reportable incident timeframes, worked out
Registered NDIS providers must notify the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission of reportable incidents within set timeframes, counted from when key personnel became aware. The 24-hour clock runs straight through weekends; the 5-day clock counts business days, which change with public holidays in your state. This guide explains both and when a final report is due.
Key facts
The timeframes
- Within 24 hoursImmediate Notification FormDeath, serious injury, abuse or neglect, unlawful sexual or physical contact or assault, sexual misconduct, and an unauthorised restrictive practice that harmed the person.
- Within 5 business days5 Day FormFurther detail and actions taken since the immediate notification. For an unauthorised restrictive practice that didn't harm the person, this is the only notification.
- As soon as reasonably practicableUpdatesSignificant new information, or a change in the kind of incident.
- If the Commissioner asksFinal reportInvestigation findings and corrective action. The Commission sets the due date — generally within 60 business days.
Not sure whether the incident is reportable at all? Start with the reportable incident checker, then come back here for the dates.
When the clock starts
The deadlines run from when your organisation, through its key personnel, became aware of the incident or of an allegation — not from when the incident happened. An incident that happened last month but was disclosed today is due 24 hours from today.
Counting business days
A business day is a day that isn't a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in the place concerned. Count from the day after awareness, and the deadline keeps the same clock time. Suppose key personnel became aware of a serious injury at 4:00pm on Friday 2 October 2026:
| NSW, ACT, SA or Qld | Vic, WA, Tas or NT | |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate notification | 4:00pm Saturday 3 October | 4:00pm Saturday 3 October |
| Monday 5 October | Public holiday (Labour Day; King's Birthday in Qld) | Business day |
| 5 Day Form | 4:00pm Monday 12 October | 4:00pm Friday 9 October |
The calculator keeps the same clock time for the 5-day deadline, which is the cautious reading. Times are local and don't adjust if daylight saving starts or ends inside the 24 hours, so allow an extra hour around those weekends.
Public holidays we include
The calculator holds weekday public holidays for 2026 and 2027: national holidays (New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas and Boxing Day, including additional days when they fall on a weekend) and each state's fixed-date holidays such as Labour Day, King's Birthday, Canberra Day, Adelaide Cup, Western Australia Day, May Day, Picnic Day and Melbourne Cup.
Holidays that are proclaimed year by year or only apply in part of a state — Western Australia's King's Birthday, Victoria's AFL Grand Final Friday, Anzac Day additional days, regional show days and part-day holidays — are not included. Add them in the “Other local holidays” box if they fall inside your 5-day window, and check your state's official list.
Glossary
- Key personnel
- People with significant influence over the provider's operations, such as directors, the CEO and senior managers.
- Immediate notification
- The first notice to the NDIS Commission, due within 24 hours for most reportable incidents.
- 5 Day Form
- The follow-up notification, due within 5 business days of awareness.
- Business day
- Not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in the place concerned.
- Final report
- A report on investigation findings and action taken, only if the Commissioner asks.
- .ics file
- A standard calendar file that Outlook, Google Calendar and Apple Calendar can import.
Restrictive practice questions? See the restrictive practice checker.
References
Sources checked 7 October 2026.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018 (F2018L00633) — Federal Register of Legislation
- National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (section 73Z) — Federal Register of Legislation
- Reportable incidents — NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
- Reportable incidents — detailed guidance for registered NDIS providers — NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, published February 2026
- Acts Interpretation Act 1901, section 2B (definition of business day) — Federal Register of Legislation
- Public holidays — Fair Work Ombudsman, 2026 and 2027 lists
Frequently asked
How long do I have to report an incident to the NDIS Commission?+
For most reportable incidents, 24 hours from when key personnel became aware for the Immediate Notification Form, then 5 business days for the 5 Day Form. An unauthorised restrictive practice that didn't harm the person needs only the 5 Day Form, within 5 business days.
Which public holidays does the calculator skip?+
National weekday holidays for 2026 and 2027, plus fixed-date holidays for the state or territory you pick. Regional and proclaimed-each-year holidays aren't included — add them yourself in the box provided.
What does the calendar file contain?+
One event per deadline, ending at the due time, with a reminder two hours before. It's generated in your browser — nothing about the incident is sent anywhere.
Does the 24-hour deadline pause over a weekend or public holiday?+
No. The immediate notification is due 24 clock hours after key personnel became aware, whatever day that falls on. Only the 5-day timeframe counts business days. If you become aware at 4pm on a Friday, the immediate notification is due by 4pm Saturday.
What counts as a business day for the 5 Day Form?+
A day that isn't a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in the place concerned. Use the state or territory where your organisation will be lodging from; if your staff work across states and you're unsure, use the earlier date.
When does the clock start if a worker tells us the next morning?+
The timeframes run from when the provider became aware — in practice, when key personnel knew or should have known. That's why workers must tell a manager straight away rather than at the end of a shift; a delay inside your organisation doesn't extend the deadline.
Is there a deadline for the final report?+
Only if the NDIS Commissioner asks for one. The Commission tells you what it needs and by when — its guidance says generally within 60 business days.
What if an incident is more than one type?+
Use the shortest timeframe. If any type needs an immediate notification, notify within 24 hours. The 5-business-day restrictive practice timeframe only applies when that is the only type and the person wasn't harmed.
Deadlines tracked from the moment it's logged.
In Suppora, a support worker logs the incident on their phone, reportable categories raise the 24-hour or 5-day deadline automatically, and managers work the reportable-incident queue until it's closed.
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