When you have a guardian or administrator

Before your administrator makes a decision, they should check if they are allowed to make it. To find out, they look at what VCAT said in the order.

Your administrator should then check if you can make the decision yourself.

They should do what they can to help you to make your own decision about your money if you can make the decision.

The law says you can make a decision if you can:

• understand the information to make your decision
• remember the information to make your decision
• think about both the good and bad things that might happen because of the decision and
• let people know your decision in some way. For example, you tell them, or you point or nod.

What happens if you can make the decision with support?

Support means help.

For example, your administrator may help you by explaining information in a way you can understand or someone else might help you.

If you can make the decision with support, then you make the decision.

What happens if you can not make the decision?

If you can not make the decision, your administrator makes the decision for you.

To make the decision, your administrator should:

• find out what you want and what is important to you
• try to make the decision that you want, unless it will be very bad for you. For example, it might be very bad for you if you spend too much of your money, can not pay your rent, and then end up with nowhere to live.

If your administrator can not find out what you want, they should try to make a decision that helps you to be happy and healthy.

To do this, they should think about the important things in your life. For example, your friends or family, your community, or your pet.

Other things your administrator should do

Your administrator should:

• help protect you from abuse. For example, help protect you from someone taking your money
• help you get better at making decisions
• help look after your money and the things you own
• help you get Centrelink money if you can.

Your administrator must do a report to VCAT each year about the money and things you have, and how they have been used.

Before your guardian makes a decision, they should check if they are allowed to make it. To find out, they look at what VCAT said in the order.

Your guardian should check if they can help you to make the decision. Someone else might also help you to make the decision.

The law says you can make a decision if you can:

• understand the information to make your decision
• remember the information to make your decision
• think about both the good and bad things that might happen because of the decision and
• let people know your decision in some way. For example, you tell them, or you point or nod.

What happens if you can make the decision with support?

Support means help.

For example, your guardian may help you by explaining information in a way you can understand or someone else might help you.

If you can make the decision with support, then you make the decision.

What happens if you can not make the decision?

If you cannot make the decision, your guardian makes the decision for you.

To make the decision, your guardian should:

• find out what you want and how you like to live your life
• try to make the decision that you want, unless you would get badly hurt in some way.

If your guardian can not find out what you want, they should try to make a decision that helps you to be healthy and happy.

To do this, they should think about the important things in your life. For example, your friends or family, your community, or a pet.

If you don't need someone to make decisions for you but want or need help to make on a decision, another person can ask VCAT to appoint a supportive guardian or supportive administrator for you.

The person must suggest someone for VCAT to appoint and that person needs to agree. You also need to agree.

A supportive guardian can support you to make, communicate, and act on decisions about the personal matters in the VCAT order.

A supportive administrator can support you in relation to decisions about the financial matters in the VCAT order.

Your supportive guardian or supportive administrator cannot make a decision for you. However, they can:

• get information about you from other people or organisations (such as your bank)
• explain information in a way you can understand
• tell other people and organisations a decision you have made or information about a decision you have made
• do things so your decision can happen. For example, making phone calls to organise services that you decide you want.