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Private Guardian Support Unit
Welcome to the Private Guardian Support Unit
The Private Guardian Support Unit (PGSU) is a free and confidential service to assist legally appointed guardians in their role. Our information officers can provide support and information using the knowledge and experience of the NSW Public Guardian.
What is a guardian?
A guardian is someone that has been appointed to make decisions on behalf of a family member or friend. A guardian can be appointed by the NSW Guardianship Tribunal or as an enduring guardian.
A guardian is legally responsible for making decisions in the areas, which they have been appointed, and for making those decisions in line with the general principles of the NSW Guardianship Act 1987. Some of the decision-making areas include;
accommodation (deciding where a person may reside),
medical and dental treatment,
health care
services.
As a guardian you can assist the person to make decisions in lifestyle areas that will be in the person’s best interests. You may assist the person get the services and care they need and that may protect them from abuse, neglect or exploitation.
A person with a guardian may not need a financial manager. A person with a financial manager may not need a guardian. If you are a financial manager, you should call the NSW Trustee and Guardian's Private Management Branch unit for assistance.
An example of the role of a guardian
Mary, aged 49 years, has an intellectual disability and has insulin-dependent diabetes. Mary has been living in a large residential centre for the past 20 years. There has been disagreement within her family as to where she should now live.
The NSW Guardianship Tribunal appointed Mary's sister, Joan, as Mary's guardian. In the guardianship order Joan was given the functions (decision-making areas) of medical and dental consent, health care, and accommodation. With the accommodation function Joan has the authority to decide where Mary might live. Mary expressed a wish to live close to her sister. Joan made a decision for Mary to move to a suburb close to Joan, where she was able to have better family contact.
What are some areas in which the PGSU can provide assistance?
help in understanding the role and responsibilities of a guardian
help in understanding the NSW Guardianship Act
providing information to assist you to make the best decision on behalf of the person under guardianship
providing practical support for guardians who may be making decisions in situations of conflict or dispute such as assistance where advocacy is needed or where decision-making may be helped by knowledge of a range of services and options available to people with disabilities
providing information to assist in working with service providers
keep you up-to-date with current guardianship issues through our regular newsletter.
Resources available from PGSU
The following resources are available to help you understand your responsibilities and decision-making authorities in greater detail:
Now You're the Guardian - a comprehensive booklet on the role and functions of guardians in NSW. The booklet, released in September 2009 will be sent to current private guardians and on request. View this publication
Onguard - a regular newsletter reporting on issues of concern for NSW private guardians. This publication is mailed to every private guardian appointed by the Guardianship Tribunal. Please contact the unit if you would like to receive this publication regularly or to be removed from the mailing list.
These resources are also available from the box at the top of this page or the Publications page of this site.
Contacting Us
Guardians can contact the PGSU, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm by:
Phone: 02 8688 6060
FAX: 02 8688 9797
Toll free (for NSW country callers): 1800 451 510
TTY: 1800 882 889
E-mail: informationsupport@opg.nsw.gov.au
or write to us at: Private Guardian Support Unit Locked Bag 5116, Parramatta NSW 2124
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