About the Tribunal

Who are we?

The Guardianship Tribunal is a legal tribunal, located in Sydney, Australia. The Tribunal conducts hearings throughout New South Wales. Its purpose is to facilitate decision making for people with disabilities who lack the capacity to make certain decisions themselves.

The Guardianship Tribunal appoints guardians and financial managers, and consents to medical and dental treatment. The Tribunal may make a range of other orders as well.

The Guardianship Tribunal's host department is the Department of Human Services. However, the Tribunal is an independent body and operates under the Guardianship Act 1987 (link at end of page), which sets out the limits of its responsibilities and functions and the principles to be applied when making decisions.

The Guardianship Tribunal has specific and limited powers. The Tribunal can:

  1. make guardianship orders to appoint a private guardian (family member or friend) and/or the Public Guardian
  2. make financial management orders to appoint a private financial manager and/or the NSW Trustee
  3. provide consent for treatment by a doctor or dentist
  4. review enduring powers of attorney
  5. review an enduring guardianship appointment
  6. approve a clinical trial so that people with decision-making disabilities can take part.

The Tribunal considers applications about people who normally reside in NSW or who have property or other financial assets in NSW.

Where are we?

The Guardianship Tribunal is at 2a Rowntree Street, Balmain. The location is easy to reach by car or public transport and the building has undercover parking and is accessible to people with disabilities.

A location map and other directions for getting to the Tribunal are available in this website under the section Locations & Facilities.

More information

The brochure What Does The Guardianship Tribunal Do? provides more information about the Tribunal's role and functions.

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