The NDIS aims to give people with disability more choice and control in their life, and to support and develop their capacity to make important decisions. For some people this may be more difficult than others, such as those with impaired capacity through developmental delay, intellectual disability, mental ill-health, dementia, or an acquired brain injury.
The NDIS is a game changer, and that includes new legislation and changes to who can make decisions on behalf of others
We’ve partnered with La Trobe University to define different types of decision-making, identify issues to think about with each type and to help you reflect on your role in the decision-making of a person with disability.
Independent decision-making is the most empowering option and allows the person to assess and manage the risk involved in designing and implementing their NDIS plan.
Some risks to independent decision-making could include an abuse of power toward the person with a disability, social isolation or marginalisation, and the challenges of managing any personalised budgets.
Seeking advice and support when we make decisions is called supported decision-making. Supported decision making is one form of decision-making for a person who needs help with managing the process and can include gathering the necessary information, thinking about the options and working out possible consequences of the decision.
Most adults make decisions in consultation with other people, particularly when those decisions affect others, or when those decisions are important. Social networks or ‘circles of support’ help to build supports for good decision-making.
Substitute decision-making involves one person making a decision on behalf of another. The law presumes that all people over 18 years of age have the capacity to make decisions.
If a parent, carer or other interested person wants to make a decision on behalf of someone else they will need to seek legal power to do so.
The NDIS recognises that not everyone has the capacity to make important decisions. Existing powers of attorney and guardianship orders are not affected by the NDIS but the new legislation provides for appointment of ‘nominees’ who can also make decisions on behalf of others.
The role of an informal decision-maker is different from that of a formal decision-maker or guardian appointed by a tribunal. The law in most states (with the exception of the Northern Territory) recognises that, depending on the issue, decisions can be made informally by a person’s family or support network without the need to appoint a guardian.
When a guardian is appointed by a tribunal, that person (or persons) become formal decision makers who are legally responsible and accountable for their actions and decisions.
Guardianship orders are made as a ‘last resort’ for people who do not have the capacity to make specific decisions. Guardians are appointed by a state tribunal.
We will have more on nominees and guardians in the coming weeks, or you can get your copy of the Discover Guide - see details below.
This article is one of a series extracted from the Discover Guide, a 122 page comprehensive guide to the NDIS prepared by La Trobe University in conjunction with Endeavour Foundation and funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency. The guide aims to help people understand the various parts of the NDIS and how to access them. It also includes additional legal information - such as wills, guardianship, trusts and estate planning - for people with a disability and their families. Casey, G., Keyzer, P., & O’Donovan, D. (2016) Discover (2nd ed.). Melbourne: La Trobe University.