Decision making and consent policy

About this document

This document provides information about your rights to make decisions about your life.

Decision-making is all about what you want. You have the right to be respected and treated like other people.

In this document you will learn about:

your right to make decisions about your life
the meaning of consent
how we help you to make decisions
what happens during emergencies.

Our job is to provide support in a way that makes you feel safe and comfortable. If something makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable you can say now.

You have control over your life. We are here to support you to make decisions. You can make decisions about:

daily activities
food and drink
money
household tasks
hygiene (such as showering or brushing teeth)
what help you receive from us
medical visits and treatments
taking medicine
sharing your personal information.

We will give you as much time as you need to make decisions.

Consent

When you agree that something should take place, you are giving consent. Before giving consent you have to understand:

what will be happening
what you will have to do
how the activity or
treatment will make you feel better
what might go wrong.

You can make the decision all by yourself if you feel comfortable. You can ask questions if you are unsure or want more information at any time.

Withdrawing consent

Withdrawing consent means that you are changing your mind.
If you feel uncomfortable about something that is happening, you can withdraw consent at any time.

The law

We always follow the rules set by the government to make sure that you know your rights. If you are 18 years or older, you can make your own decisions and give consent. If you are under 18, you can make some decisions as well. However, your parent or guardian may need to help you.

How to give consent

You can choose how you give consent and tell us your decisions. You can give consent by:

using body language (such as pointing or moving
your head)
signing a piece of paper with a pen
saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’
showing us a picture
spelling out your answer.

Remember that the way you let us know about your decisions is up to you!

Substitute decision makers

Sometimes you might need help to make a decision. You can ask a person you trust and they can give you advice. You can talk to:

your parents or guardian
your support worker or carer
your close friends and family.

A substitute decision-maker may be assigned if:

you do not have anyone to help you make decisions
you are having trouble making your own decisions.

A substitute decision-maker can help make informed decisions for you. Their job is to help you make good decisions that will improve your life.

Emergency management

We will always help to protect you from harm. If you are in an emergency, we may NOT ask for consent if:

you are too hurt to give consent (for example, if you are not awake)
the doctor believes the emergency treatment will save your life
you haven’t told us that you DO NOT want the treatment
the person doing the treatment has looked at your care plans.

Source: NDIS.GOV.AU