Public Advocates and Guardianship lists Boards,

							Public Advocates and Guardianship lists / Boards,
These government Agency Sites can have useful information.

Advocacy
If your parent is having difficulty gaining services or support
Advocates can often assist to advocate on your parents or your behalf.

Office of Public Advocates and Guardianship Boards
May have information on, and how to apply for,

      an Advocate to be appointed. or
      A Financial Administrator. This can be a responsible family member
      Or A Guardian. This can be a responsible family member

   and info on making a,

      Power of Attorney
      Enduring Powers of Attorney                    ( for some one to act on behalf of a person, at a time in the
       future, when the person is no longer unable to make their own decisions ).
      Medical Powers of Attorney
      Guardianship
      Reviewing above Documents / Orders

For people with impaired decision making ability (with disabilities illness or
mental illness). (Or for people likely to become impaired in the future).

Consult a solicitor, or Legal Aid Office for advice re above,
Your local solicitor can advise you re making above declarations and
documents.

The following are links to Office of Public Advocate and Guardianship Lists /
Boards in Australia.
Please Note Laws and Regulations vary in each state, and sites and information may
change.

                                                  Victoria

Office of the Public Advocate Victoria
www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au/CA256A76007E8265/Home?OpenPage

Guardianship List VCAT Victoria
www.vcat.vic.gov.au/CA256DBB0022825D/page/Guardianship+%26+Admin%2e?Open
Document&1=60-Guardianship+%26+Admin%2e~&2=~&3=~
                                 New South Wales
Office of the Public Guardian
www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/opg

The Guardianship Tribunal
www.gt.nsw.gov.au/links.cfm
                              South Australia
Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) South Australia
www.opa.sa.gov.au/


                                    Western Australia
Guardianship, Administration and Advocacy Western Australia
www.justice.wa.gov.au/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_323_201_0_43/http%3B
/justicecontent.extranet.justice.wa.gov.au/displayPage.aspx/Guardianship+Administration
+and+Advocacy/Guardianship+Administration+and+Advocacy/structureID=58321652/re
sourceID=78327746

Guardianship and Administration Board Western Australia
www.justice.wa.gov.au/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_323_201_0_43/http;/just
icecontent.extranet.justice.wa.gov.au/displayPage.aspx/Courts%20Tribunals%20%20Boa
rds/Courts%20Tribunals%20%20Boards/Tribunals%20and%20Boards/Guardianship%20
and%20Administration%20Board/structureID=28527836/resourceID=16302286

Public Advocate Western Australia
www.justice.wa.gov.au/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_323_201_0_43/http;/just
icecontent.extranet.justice.wa.gov.au/displayPage.aspx/The%20Department/The%20Dep
artment/Public%20Advocate/structureID=77181095/resourceID=66301522/division=The
%20Department

                               Northern Territory
Office of Adult Guardianship
www.nt.gov.au/health/org_supp/performance_audit/adult_guard/guardianship.shtml


                                     Tasmania
Guardianship Board Tasmania
www.justice.tas.gov.au/guar/

The Public Guardian
www.justice.tas.gov.au/guar/info_4.htm
Some thoughts on above.
You may need to consider who in your family is the best person to take on responsibility
for making financial or legal decisions or even decisions for instance regarding where a
parent resides. (This person could already be performing this role. Having his/her role
formalised or another to take on the role or specific tasks and have the role designated is
important particularly when relating to statutory authorities and organisations).

Enduring Power of Attorney generally means that your parent can select in advance now
(when legally competent to do so), the person they wish to take on and make decisions on
their behalf for the inevitable time in the future when they are no longer able to make
decisions for themself.

If a person parent has not got that capacity to make decisions, then it is often necessary to
make application on their behalf, to the above authorities ( Guardian Boards) to make an
order to appoint some one to act on behalf as a financial advocate or guardian. This needs
to be a person who is recognised that they will act in the best interests of a person with
mental illness or disability. Boards may appoint a variety of people. It may be a family
member friend or government body or authorised organisation.

If you feel that some one is not acting in the best interests of the person with an illness or
disability consult the above organisations and authorities. In most Australian States,
Guardian Boards have authority to appoint new administrators or guardians where
necessary or to review and revise arrangements.