Enduring Guardianship

Many people focus on planning ahead for their financial and business affairs by making a Will and a power of attorney, but often do not consider what will happen if they find themselves unable to make lifestyle and medical decisions due to illness or accident

An enduring guardianship is a registered document that allows you to appoint an individual/ or individuals to make decisions about your health and wellbeing if you are unable to make those decisions.

Your enduring guardian may make decisions such as where you live, what services are provided to you at home and what medical treatments you receive.

Enduring guardianship only comes into effect if or when you lose capacity and will only be effective during that period of incapacity. Therefore, it may never become operational.

Your enduring guardianship document must be registered for it to be valid. If you would like to prepare an enduring guardian document with the Public Trustee, please fill out our APPOINTMENT BOOKING FORM and a representative will contact you to confirm your appointment. .

• What if a guardian has not been appointed?

  What if a guardian has not been appointed?

  If you lose capacity but have not appointed an enduring guardian, decisions about medical treatment may be made on your behalf by a ‘person responsible’ who your doctor believes has sufficient personal connection with you to consent or refuse treatment on your behalf.

  Alternatively, the Guardianship and Administration Board may appoint a guardian for you to make decisions such as where you live, what health care you have and who visits you. Generally, a guardian is only appointed by the Guardianship and Administration Board in circumstances of conflict or where some legal authority is required to promote your best interests.

  For more information about making an application to the Guardianship and Administration Board please go to www.guardianship.tas.gov.au/process or call (03) 6165 7500.

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• Duties and Responsibilities of an Enduring Guardian

  Your enduring guardian can make decisions about your health care and accommodation requirements. This includes medical treatment, whether you live in your own home or a nursing facility, who can visit you or what personal services you receive, for example home support or meals on wheels.

  Your guardian is responsible for:

  • acting in accordance with any conditions or wishes expressed by you in the instrument of appointment;

  • acting in your best interests and promoting your dignity;

  • ensuring that you retain as much freedom of action and decision making as is possible; and

  • considering your wishes before making decisions for you.

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• Enduring Guardianship Fees and Charges

  Enduring guardianship preparation (medical and lifestyle matters)	Private guardian	$149 for each document
  Enduring guardianship preparation fees are based on an appointment time of 30 minutes per document. Any additional time required will be charged at $295 per hour (pro-rata). There is an additional Government registration fee to register enduring guardianship. If the Public Trustee is asked to register these documents an administration fee is also charged. Time and travel fees apply for out of office attendances, such as hospital or nursing home visit.

  You can also view all Fees and Charges.

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• Enduring Guardianship FAQs

  We have compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions regarding enduring guardians. You can also view all Frequently Asked Questions.

  • What are the differences between an Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardian?

    An enduring power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to manage your financial affairs.

    An enduring guardian is a person appointed to make your personal or medical decisions.

    Enduring power of attorney = financial affairs

    Enduring guardian = lifestyle and medical affairs

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  • Why do I need an Enduring Guardian?

    If you have specific wishes in regards to your medical treatment, future lifestyle decisions and / or the person you would like to make those decisions, you should consider preparing an enduring guardianship document while you have the capacity to do so. 

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  • Who should I choose as my Guardian?

    Your guardian must be over 18 years of age. They cannot be a person who is involved in an administrative or professional capacity in your medical care or treatment (e.g. your GP). You also cannot appoint the Public Guardian or Public Trustee as your enduring guardian.

    You can appoint single or joint guardians. You can also appoint an alternative guardian to make decisions on your behalf in circumstances where the original guardian is absent or incapacitated.

    Your guardian should be someone you trust and who knows your wishes and preferences. They should preferably be a person who is decisive and able to advocate on your behalf to medical staff, care providers and members of your family.

     

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  • What is the difference between an advance care directive and enduring guardianship?

    An enduring guardianship is an appointment recognised under Tasmanian law. Your enduring guardian will be able to make legally binding personal decisions on your behalf, after you have lost capacity to make those decisions.

    Advance care directives have not been legislated for under Tasmanian law, but are recognised at common law. 

    Many advance care directive forms are expressed to be a “guide” and refer to “preferences” and “wishes”; it assumes that there will be a ‘person responsible’ making medical decisions, rather than the form itself actually giving your consent/refusal. 

    For an advance care directive consent or refusal to be binding, it must be clear and precise. When consent is given a considerable time before medical treatment, the instructions may or may not be valid. If the instructions were not specific enough to apply to the treatment in question, it may not be valid.

    If the validity of an advance care directive is challenged, such a challenge would be heard and determined by the Supreme Court and there could be significant legal costs associated with that challenge.

    Given there is some uncertainty that an advance care directive will be legally binding after you have lost capacity to make and enforce your own decisions, you may wish to consider appointing an enduring guardian.

    For more information on advanced care planning for healthy dying, please refer to the Department of Health and Human Services Palliative Care website. http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/palliativecare

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  • Can I fill in an Enduring Guardian document myself?

    You can prepare an enduring guardian document with the Public Trustee.

    If you would like to fill in the enduring guardian document yourself you can download a copy from: http://www.Guardianship.tas.gov.au/forms2

    Alternatively, the Office of Public Guardian can provide information concerning enduring guardianship and give advice on the powers of an enduring guardian - Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

    Phone: (03) 6165 3444.

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  • How do I register an Enduring Guardianship?

    If you prepare an enduring guardianship document with the Public Trustee, once your guardian has signed the document, if you choose, we can register the document on your behalf.

    If you are registering the document on your own there are strict requirements for the witnessing of an enduring guardianship. The witnesses must be over 18 years of age and must not be related to you or to your guardians. Instruments of appointment that are not appropriately witnessed may be rejected for registration or invalidated after a review by the Guardianship and Administration Board.

    Your guardian must have signed the instrument to indicate that he or she accepts appointment as your guardian.

    You can register an enduring guardianship for a fee at Service Tasmania.

    Upon registration, the Guardianship and Administration Board will return copies of the instrument to you. You should provide a copy to your guardian(s), your care providers and to your medical practitioner.

    Where can I get an Enduring Guardian form?

    You can prepare an Enduring Guardian document with the Public Trustee.

    If you would like to prepare an Enduring Guardian document on your own you can download a copy from: http://www.Guardianship.tas.gov.au/forms2

    Alternatively, the Office of Public Guardian can provide information concerning enduring guardianship and give advice on the powers of an enduring guardian - Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

    Phone: (03) 6165 3444.

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