Role of a guardian
A guardian is legally responsible to act in accordance with the terms of the order to make all or some accommodation, health or lifestyle decisions in the interests of a protected person, after consultation with the protected person (if possible) and other relevant professionals or support agencies.
The guardian will only make a substitute decision on behalf of a protected person if they are not able to make the particular decision for themselves.
Decisions may include:
- accommodation - decisions about the appropriateness of current living arrangements, any/or suitable alternative accommodation options
- health - decisions about health care needs, preferred treatment options, consent to medical or dental treatment, consent to palliative care approaches and/or withdrawal of treatment under certain circumstances
- lifestyle - decisions about appropriate support programs, social activities, social contacts, education or employment
- access - decisions about contact between a protected person and other people if there are associated risks for the protected person or others, the nature and extent of contact and/or stopping contact.