Guardian powers
The order issued by QCAT states the authority of the guardian including the:
- duration of the appointment
- extent of authority, for example, the guardian may be appointed to make some or all personal and health care decisions
- number of guardians appointed and the nature of the appointment, that is, whether the guardians will make decisions together or separately.
Decisions a guardian cannot make
Guardians are not allowed to make decisions about financial matters unless they have also been appointed as the adult's administrator or as attorney for financial matters under an enduring power of attorney.Access to information
Guardians have a right to access all the information that the adult would have been entitled to when making a decision about a matter.Appointed guardians are provided with copies of the QCAT order which they can show as evidence of their role, to make sure organisations and companies provide the information necessary for the guardian to make a sound decision.
Payment and reimbursement
Appointed guardians are entitled to reimbursement from the adult for any reasonable expenses incurred while acting as a guardian. However, they may not be paid for services. For example, if the guardian drives the adult to the shops, they are entitled to reimbursement for motor vehicle costs such as petrol but not for the time it took to drive them there.Guardianship Information Service
If you have been appointed as a guardian, you can find out more from the Office of the Adult Guardian's Guardianship Information Service (GIS). The GIS is a free service which can help understand more about the guardianship process and requirements.
Any description of QCAT's jurisdiction on this website is general information only and is not intended to precisely define the types of applications that QCAT has the power to decide. QCAT's jurisdiction is determined by the relevant legislation. If you are unsure about your legal rights you should seek legal advice. Any actions taken to resolve your dispute should be determined by your individual circumstances.