We are seeking volunteers for the position of Community Guardian. The community guardian makes informed decisions in the person's best interests. Decisions may relate to consenting to medical treatment or dental work, improving the person's lifestyle and well-being and meeting their accommodation and support needs. Community guardians do not have the authority to control a person's finances. The Community Guardianship Program recruits suitable people as volunteers to act as the decision maker for an adult with a decision-making disability in their community. In most cases, the estimated 65,000 people who have decision-making disabilities in Western Australia have family or friends to make decisions in their best interests. Community guardians fulfil a similar role for those who have no-one suitable in their lives to advocate for their rights or make decisions on their behalf. It is important to note that this is not the type of volunteer role that may lead to paid employment in this office. (Should you be looking for a paid position as a guardian there are regular advertisements on the WA Jobs board, Seek and Ethical Jobs.)

The Office of the Public Advocate recruits, trains and supports volunteers who are appointed as community guardians to act in the best interests of a person in need of a guardian.

Western Australia was the first state to appoint a volunteer as a guardian for a person with a decision-making disability. This is a unique volunteer (unpaid) role in that there is an expectation that the volunteer remains involved for the longer term.

The Office of the Public Advocate provides training for community volunteers before matching them with a suitable client over a period of months. When a relationship has been established and shown to be successful for 6-12 months, the Public Advocate makes an application to the State Administrative Tribunal for the volunteer to be appointed the person's guardian.