The Victorian Auditor-General recently reported on the effectiveness of the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) and the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) in providing guardianship and investigation services that promote and protect the rights and interests of vulnerable adults. 

In Victoria, the OPA acts as a guardian of “last resort” for people, even those with support, who are not able to make decisions for themselves and there is no other suitable person to do it. In such instances a guardian may be legally appointed to make decisions for the person. 

In its report, the Auditor-General found that, although the OPA provides crucial guardianship and investigation services for thousands of vulnerable adults each year in complex and challenging circumstances, it could do more to protect and promote their interests. The OPA could improve: 

The report recommends the OPA improves: 

It also recommends that the DJCS and OPA improve their planning and recruitment and their performance measures. 

In response to the report, the OPA reaffirmed its commitment to improving its guardianship and investigation services to better protect and promote the rights and interests of people with disability. It also said that the VAGO recommendations will complement and support the OPA’s quality improvement work. The high-level action plan included in the report will help the OPA identify how they will implement these recommendations. 

NDS would welcome improvements to guardianship, especially given the valuable role the OPA plays in supported decision making for people with disability and in the community visitors program.  

You can read the report or watch a short video on the Victorian Auditor-General Office webpage.