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Decision Making

ADA LAW

Decision Making Resources

In Queensland (and Australia) the law allows adults to make their own decisions about issues affecting their lives, such as where to live, who provides help and how money is spent. If there are concerns about decision making ability (capacity), then various laws allow for alternative decision makers for various types of decisions (such as a guardian or administrator). The law also allows for people whose capacity is questioned to have support for their decision making (supported or informal decision making).

This section gathers a range of helpful resources for the community and professionals regarding decision making for adults in Queensland.

ADA RESOURCES

ADA Guardianship Advocacy Publications

Supporting Decision Making

Supporting people to make their own decisions, rather than having someone else make them, doesn’t sound that hard. But in a world where service systems are complex, and where the focus on ‘consumer choice’ sees people asked to make ever more decisions about the services they receive, anyone who has difficulty making decisions is at risk of having others step in and take over.

But everyone has the right to make or participate in decisions about the things that impact their life.

This ‘Supported Decision Making’ Guide gives people, and those who are supporting them, valuable information that will enable them to keep making decisions about their own lives wherever possible.

Download your copy

Supporting Financial Decision-Making Resources

To access our Supporting Financial Decisions video resources and Information, click here.

Guiding Principles

  • General Principles: A guide for anyone who deals with a person with impaired capacity. If your guardian or administrator is not supporting these principles ADA Australia may be able to help.
  • Health Care Principles: A guide for anyone making health care decisions for a person with impaired capacity.
GLOSSARY
Glossary: useful definitions of words used in guardianship sector.
RELATED DOCUMENTS AND LINKS

QCAT Forms:

Relevant Legislation

Australian Guardianship Advocacy Organisations

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Elder Abuse Advocacy Page - Reuben's story

Ruben’s story

Ruben is a gentle natured Dutch speaking gentleman, who was living in an aged care home and was very unhappy. Ruben’s grandson Neils contacted the Older Persons Advocacy Network as he was concerned about his grandfather, claiming he had been moved into the aged care home unnecessarily and Ruben was now very isolated. Neils explained that his Aunty Dorma (Ruben’s daughter) was using Ruben’s inability to speak English to take his money. After gaining Ruben’s permission to become involved, through the use of an interpreter, an advocate met with Ruben and Neils at the aged care home to find out what was going on. It became clear that Dorma had taken her father Ruben to the doctor and used Ruben’s language barrier to get a medical directive that Ruben no longer had decision making capacity. This enacting his Enduring Power of Attorney document granting legal access to Dorma to manage all Rubens financial and personal affairs. Dorma had then sold Ruben’s house and moved him into an aged care home, where she asked the home to restrict access to his friends, thus isolating Ruben from people who could help him. The advocate assisted Ruben to see a GP (with an interpreter) to assess his decision-making capacity. The GP deemed him to have capacity, which enabled Ruben with the advocates help to stop Dorma accessing his money. Ruben then got a new phone and computer and has reconnected with his local friends and his family in his home country. He has also been connected to a Dutch speaking social group in the area.

Human Rights Advocacy Page - Aunty Lorna. Please only use lady in red.

Aunty Lorna’s story

Aunty Lorna explained that some of her family had moved in with her a few months ago to ‘help out’ after her stroke as she was unable to cope. She explained that even though they moved in she was still not getting any help. Aunty Lorna explained that she paid the rent, but she did not see any of her pension money anymore, as her large family used it for their needs. Aunty Lorna said that she did not want to upset her family, but she would like to have some money for herself. Aunty Lorna was also concerned about what would happen if she became unwell, whether her family would continue to pay the rent ensuring she would have somewhere to live. The advocate explained that they could assist her to look at her options. Aunty Lorna asked if an advocate could meet with her at her respite centre on one of the days she was there, so that her family would not know. The advocate reassured Aunty Lorna they would meet where she liked, and that the advocate would also not take any action without her permission.

The advocate met with Aunty Lorna and explained that she had a right to make her own financial decisions and that she could also ask someone she trusted to make decisions for her if she felt she was unable to make them for herself, by appointing them as her Enduring Power of Attorney for financial matters. Aunty Lorna decided that she believed her oldest daughter Karen (who did not live with her) would be the best person to make the financial decisions for her, which she felt were out of her ability. The advocate supported Aunty Lorna to appoint Karen as Aunty Lorna’s Attorney, so she could protect Aunty Lorna’s financial interests. The advocate also helped Aunty Lorna arrange some home care services to ensure she was cared for.

Human Rights Advocacy Page - Valerie

Valerie’s Story

Valerie contacted the Older Persons Advocacy Network as she was concerned that her daughter, who is acting in the role of Attorney under an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) Document, was misusing her money. Valerie told the advocate that she was no longer receiving bank statements, had no idea of what was being paid, and had received a letter from one of her utility providers stating she was in arrears, which had never happened before. Valerie was concerned that her daughter was overwhelmed by the EPA role and was unable to effectively manage the responsibility.

The advocate discussed all of the options available with Valerie. Valerie decided it would be best to revoke her Enduring Power of Attorney and appoint a new one. The advocate liaised with other services including an elder abuse specific legal service, which agreed to help Valerie revoke the EPA and write a new one. Valerie met with the lawyers, revoked her daughter as EPA and appointed a trusted friend instead. Once Valerie told her daughter about the change, her daughter revealed that she was overwhelmed by being the EPA and was relieved to not have to do it anymore. On a follow up phone call Valerie told the advocate that she was much happier now and she again felt confident with her financial management arrangements.

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ADA Law have a range of services that offer different types of support to eligible clients. To check if you are eligible for our service you can go to the following pages:

Human Rights
Elder Abuse
Disability Royal Commission
Mental Health Review Tribunal

For Aged Care and Disability Advocacy, please refer to

ADA Australia’s website.

Mental Health Review Tribunal Page - Anthony's story

ANTHONY’S STORY

Anthony is a 28-year-old man who has had a diagnosis of Depression for 10 years. Anthony lives by himself and accesses support from family and friends, as well as community support agencies. From time to time Anthony becomes very unwell and requires hospitalisation, and sometimes Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT). When Anthony is this unwell he does not have sufficient capacity to consent to the ECT, so his treating team must apply to the Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT) for permission to provide the therapy.

Legal Aid appointed ADA Law as Anthony’s legal representative, to assist him with his MHRT hearing. His legal representative is Tanya.

Anthony meets with Tanya prior to his hearing, either by phone or in person, and they discuss what his views and wishes are in relation to ECT, and what is important to Anthony. Tanya and Anthony attend his MHRT hearing and ensure his views, wishes and concerns are discussed with the Tribunal and Anthony’s treating team.

Disability Royal Commission Page - Kiara's Story

KIARA’S STORY

Kiara is a young woman who has lived with disability since birth. During that time Kiara has had good and bad experiences, and has found that sometimes she is discriminated against because of her disability.

When Kiara was younger, she found herself in trouble with the police, and this led to her experiencing physical and psychological abuse by the systems which were set up to protect and support her.

Kiara has been able to work through that experience and now is feeling strong enough to be able to tell her story, in the hope that her story can be used to make a better system for other people.

Kiara is working with an ADA Law Disability Royal Commission Advocate, Trevor, and together they are documenting Kiara’s experience, and creating a submission for the Royal Commission. Trevor will assist Kiara to send the submission to the Commission, and if Kiara is given the opportunity to appear at the Commission, Trevor will accompany her and provide her support. Trevor is working with Kiara to assist her to speak for herself. If Kiara is not ready to speak, Trevor will be there to tell Kiara’s story.