Core Principles Preparation for Guardianship and Administration - - PDF document

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MurphySchmidt

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Preparation for Guardianship and Administration Tribunal Hearings

Matthew Holmes Senior Associate MurphySchmidt Solicitors Accredited Specialist, Personal Injuries

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Core Principles

• Capacity
• Interests
• Need

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Understand the relevant law

• Essential:
• Guardianship and Administration Act 2000
• Powers of Attorney Act 1998
• Public Trustee 1978
• To some extent:
• Mental Health Act 1974 (repealed) and 2000
• Intellectually Disabled Citizens Act 1985 (repealed)

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Understand the relevant law

Intimate knowledge of:

• s5 – Acknowledgement
• s6 – Purpose to achieve balance
• s7 – Way purpose achieved
• s11 – Principles for adults with impaired capacity
• s12 - Appointment
• Schedule 1 – Principles
• Schedule 2 – Types of Matters

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Taking Instructions

Sources of Collateral information include:

• Family members
• Care providers
• Health and allied health professionals
• Accountants
• Financial planners
• Financial institutions
• Government agencies eg. Centrelink, Hospitals,

Veteran's Affairs, Disability Services Queensland, ACAT. MurphySchmidt

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Taking Instructions

• Regular Inspection of the Tribunals File
• Presidential Direction 1 of 2005

(see www.justice.qld.gov.au/guardian/gaat.htm)

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Taking Instructions

• Carefully scrutinise formal instruments for

validity

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Apply for leave to represent party

• s.124 Guardianship and Administration

Act 2000

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Assess the Adult’s Capacity

• Presumption of capacity
• Substantial task to disprove

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Assess the Adult’s Capacity

Medical Reports:

• Treating practitioners;
• Geriatrician;
• Rehabilitation Physician;
• Neurologist;
• Psychiatrists;
• Neuropsychologists;
• Occupational Therapists.

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Assess the Adult’s Capacity

Test = Whether the adult:

• Has an understanding of the nature and

effect of the matter;

• Is capable of freely and voluntarily making

a decision; and

• Can communicate that decision in some

way.

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Is there a need?

• Whether the adult’s health, welfare or property is

at risk if an appointment is not made; Consider other informal means of support:

• The family members;
• Social welfare and care organisations;
• Adaptive equipment;
• Modification of their living environment.

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Is the person/body seeking appointment appropriate?

• s15 Guardianship and Administration Act

2000

• Presidential Direction 2 of 2002

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Written Submissions

• Presidential Direction 2 of 2002

Consider:

• I.R.A.C (Issues, Relevant Principles,

Application, Conclusion)

• Format of Tribunal Decisions (AustLII)

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Summary

• 1. Understand Relevant Law
• 2. Instructions
• 3. Leave
• 4. Capacity
• 5. Need
• 6. Appropriateness
• 7. Submissions