When there’s a VCAT application about you – Guardians and administrators

If there’s an application to VCAT to appoint a guardian, administrator or someone to support you to make decisions, find out what this means, how you’re involved, and what happens next.

When someone applies to VCAT to be your guardian or administrator, it means they will make decisions about important things in your life.

When they apply to be your supportive guardian or supportive administrator, it means they’ll help you make these decisions.

Whatever the role they take, the most important thing for them to understand is what’s important to you.

Support to communicate

If you have any problems with communicating, you or someone helping you can email or call us so we can give you the right support:

We can help you with spoken or written information. For example, we can organise alternative formats like braille, or we can dictate over the phone or in person. We can also organise the National Relay Service to help.

You can also ask for an interpreter or a disability liaison officer to support you to access our services and venues.

What the application is about

The person who applied to VCAT (if it wasn’t you) should have sent you a copy of the application. It explains what the decision is they’re asking for.

If you don’t have a copy of the application, you or someone helping you can contact us and we can ask them to send you a copy:

The application form shows what decisions might be made about you and what support you might need.  The person who applies can apply to make decisions for them or for another person to make decisions for you.

    What the roles mean

    What happens next

    We ask you, the applicant, and the person who wants to represent you to come to a meeting called a hearing.

    We want to learn more about you and your situation before we make a decision.

    We send you a letter with the time, date and location of the hearing. We may ask you to attend by phone or videoconference.

    What to expect at the hearing

    At the hearing we ask questions to understand what’s important to you.

    This helps us make the best decision for you.

    The hearing takes about 45-60 minutes. You’re welcome to bring someone to support you during the hearing.

    The person who makes the decision is called a member. They manage the hearing and ask everyone questions. They tell everyone their decision at the end of the hearing.

    Questions we may ask

    In a hearing about guardianship, we may ask:

    • where you want to live and who with
    • what services you use
    • who is important to you
    • who you like to see for your health care
    • about things you like and don’t like.

    Or for a hearing about administration we may ask:

    • about your income and expenses
    • if you own a car or a house
    • if you have any debts or bills
    • what you like to spend your money on and how much money you save
    • about any court cases or legal problems you have.

    How to tell us what you want

    It’s important that you come to the hearing so that you can have your say. We want to make it easy for you to come to the hearing. For example, we can make the hearing close to your home or organise things like an interpreter if you need one.

    However, you don’t have to come to the hearing and talk if you don’t want to. There are some other ways you can tell us what’s important to you so we can base our decisions on that.

    The questions we want you to answer are here, or you can:

    Talk to us on the phone

    When we get the application we call you.

    You can answer questions over the phone. You can read the questions we ask in How we make decisions.

    Send us a worksheet

    Complete the worksheet we have sent you or download it now. You don't have to complete all sections, but it may help you think about what's important to you.

    The worksheet asks questions about what’s important to you. If you do decide to go to the hearing, you can bring the worksheet with you. Otherwise you need to send it back to us once you’ve answered the questions.

    Send us a letter or email

    You can send us a letter or email about what’s important to you. Our postal address is GPO Box 5408, Melbourne VIC 3001 or email humanrights@vcat.vic.gov.au

    Visit us

    You can come to our office and tell someone face-to-face or give us a letter.

    Our counter is open from 8:30am – 4:30pm. If you need help to talk to us (for example an interpreter), tell us before you come.

    Do you have any questions?

    If you have any questions now, you can call our Customer Service team on 1300 01 8228. All of our staff can answer your questions.

    Related pages

    How we make decisions

    Find out how VCAT makes decisions in cases about guardians and administrators.

    /case-types/guardians-and-administrators/how-we-make-decisions

    Other things we can do

    We can help resolve issues or give you advice about existing guardians, administrators, supportive guardians or supportive administrators.

    /case-types/guardians-and-administrators/other-things-we-can-do

    Our commitment to you

    Our commitment to service excellence, what you can expect and your rights when you contact us.

    /about-vcat/our-commitment-to-you

    See more help and support