Types of decisions others can make for you

If you are unable to make decisions due to an injury, illness, or disability, someone else may help you make decisions or make them on your behalf. These decisions can be about your personal life, health care, or finance matters.

Personal decisions

What are personal decisions?

Personal decisions are choices about your everyday life and wellbeing. These include:

• where and with whom you live
• your physical and mental healthcare
• who you have contact with
• the supports and services you receive
• your education and employment
• legal issues not related to your money or property.

Who can make personal decisions for you?

If you have impaired decision-making ability, the following people may help you make personal decisions or make them for you:

• Making your own decisions with support: you can get help from someone you trust, such as a family member, friend, or professional to make your own decisions. This is an informal arrangement that respects your right to decide. You stay in control – it’s always your decision. This is called supported decision-making.

• Informal decision-makers: if you can’t make a decision with support, a trusted person such as a family member, friend or professional may step in to make decisions for you. This is an informal arrangement and does not require legal paperwork.

• Attorneys: you can appoint someone in advance using a legal document, such as an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) or Advance Health Directive (AHD). Your attorney can make personal and health decisions for you if you are unable to.

• Guardians and Administrators: if you don’t have an attorney, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) can formally appoint a Guardian to make personal and health decisions, or an Administrator to make financial decisions on your behalf.

• Statutory Health Attorney (SHA): a SHA can automatically make decisions for you on health matters if you are unable to due to illness or an accident.

What personal decisions can only a tribunal or court make?

Some important personal decisions can only be made by QCAT or the Supreme Court. These include:

• making or revoking a will
• consenting to marriage
• relinquishing a child for adoption.

Financial Decisions

What are financial decisions?

Financial decisions are choices about how you manage your money and property. These decisions include:

• budgeting and managing your day-to-day expenses
• paying your bills
• collecting your income, including pensions and other entitlements
• dealing with debts
• making and managing investments
• buying and selling real estate
• maintaining and managing property
• operating your business.

Who can make financial decisions for you?

If you are unable to make financial decisions due to impaired decision-making ability, the following people may help you or make decisions on your behalf:

• making your own decisions with support: you can get help from someone you trust, such as a family member, friend, or professional to make your own decisions. This is an informal arrangement that respects your right to decide. You stay in control – it’s always your decision. This is called supported decision making

• informal decision-makers: if you can’t make a decision with support, a trusted person such as a family member, friend or professional may step in to make decisions for you. This is an informal arrangement and does not require legal paperwork.

• attorneys: someone you appoint under an EPOA to make financial decisions for you if you are unable to.

• administrators: appointed by QCAT to manage your finance matters if you cannot.

More information

• Education and resources