Guardians, administrators and informal decision makers

Part of the Powers of Attorney and guardianship topic

Understand the roles that guardians, administrators and informal decision-makers play in Queensland's guardianship system.

On this page

In short

Guardians and administrators make decisions for adults who don’t have capacity to make decisions.

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal or Supreme Court appoints them. Sometimes informal decision-makers, such as family members or close friends, may also make certain decisions without formal appointment.

What you should know

All decision makers must follow:

These are the law.

If you do not follow the rules and principles, there can be legal action. You may have to pay compensation orders or be removed from a decision-making role.

Guardians

  • Responsibilities
  • Limitations

A guardian makes personal and health decisions for an adult without capacity.

Apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal to become a guardian.

Responsibilities

A guardian may:

  • decide where the adult lives
  • decide who they live with
  • arrange services and support
  • agree to health care and treatment
  • make daily life decisions, such as food and clothing.

Limitations

A guardian can’t manage money or property. They can only do this if they are also an administrator or attorney for financial matters.

A guardian can’t make major personal or health decisions, such as:

  • sterilisation or tissue donation
  • making or changing a will
  • agreeing to marriage.

Public Guardian

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal appoint the Public Guardian. They are only appointed if no suitable person is available. The Public Guardian, through the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), makes decisions for the adult about:

  • personal matters
  • health care
  • legal matters.

They don’t handle money or property.

Responsibilities

The Office of the Public Guardian:

  • checks claims of abuse or neglect
  • speaks up for the adult’s rights and interests
  • helps resolve disputes about decisions
  • runs the Community Visitor Program to check the quality of some services provided to the adult.

Administrators

  • Responsibilities
  • Limitations
  • Missing adults

An administrator makes decisions about money and property.

Apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal to become an administrator.

Responsibilities

An administrator may:

  • pay bills or rent
  • manage bank accounts
  • handle tax and money matters
  • get financial advice
  • buy, sell or rent property
  • signing contracts.

Limitations

An administrators can't make decisions about personal or health matters. They can only do this if they are also a guardian or attorney for those matters.

Missing adults

QCAT can appoint an administrator for a financial matter for a missing person where QCAT is satisfied that:

  • the adult is missing
  • a decision is needed
  • money is at risk.

The appointment ends if:

  • a coroner finds the adult has died
  • the Supreme Court declares they have died
  • the death is officially registered
  • the adult is found alive.

Informal decision makers

  • Responsibilities
  • Limitations

An informal decision-maker is a family member, friend or carer. They aren’t formally appointed.

Responsibilities

They should:

  • act in the adult’s best interests
  • follow the rules for guardianship in Queensland [Prod186]
  • follow the guiding principles of guardianship decision making [Prod187].

Limitations

They:

  • can make day-to-day decisions
  • can’t make major legal or financial decisions.

For major decisions, an appointed guardian or administrator may be needed.

Last updated:
29 June 2026