AGAC (the Australian Guardianship and Administration Council) had its genesis in 1993 in Sydney at the second National Conference on Guardianship and Administration. 

AGAC provides a national forum for State and Territory agencies that protect adults with a disability through adult guardianship and administration.

This site provides information about AGAC and its member organisations.  These organisations have a role in protecting adults in Australia who have a disability that impairs their capacity to make personal or financial decisions. 

Public Advocates and Public and Adult Guardians, whether as advocates, investigators or guardians, seek to promote the best interests of persons with a disability and to protect them from abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Public and State Trustees can be appointed by a person under an enduring power of attorney or appointed by a Board or Tribunal.  Public and State Trustees can manage a person's financial and legal affairs and, in this way, promote their best interests.  

Boards and Tribunals have power including the power to appoint guardians or administrators to make decisions in the best interests of adults who have a disability.  Boards and Tribunals also have power to oversee the actions of these substitute decision-makers.

AGAC Aims

AGAC aims to advance the common goals of member organisations.  This includes working towards a consistent approach to common issues, adopting a collaborative focus on relevant matters, and sharing information between agencies.

What are AGAC's main functions and activities?

AGAC’s main functions and activities include:

• Developing consistency and uniformity, as far as practicable, in respect to significant issues and practices
• Developing a collaborative focus and analysis of relevant trends and issues
• Encouraging academic, analytical and policy related research on relevant trends and issues
• Encouraging dialogue at a national level, and across relevant jurisdictions, that enhances quality decision-making and client focussed outcomes and that promotes the principles and philosophies of substitute decision-making
• Providing advice to government in respect to significant issues and trends affecting agencies, persons with a decision-making disability, guardians, administrators, advocates and substitute decision-makers of last resort, and
• Promoting consistency of terminology

What are some of AGAC's achievements?

• Amendments to most State and Territory legislation to include recognition of interstate guardianship and administration orders
• Amendments to legislation in a number of States and Territories to include recognition of interstate financial enduring powers of attorney
• Amendments to the Aged Care Act 1997 (Commonwealth) which helped families avoid unnecessary legal processes for the appointment of guardians or administrators
• Protocols to guide decision-making about sterilisation of adults in the jurisdictions
• Establishing administrative arrangements between Boards and Tribunals to deal with guardianship and administration orders made in another jurisdiction
• Adopting national guardianship standards, and
• Holding national Guardianship and Administration conferences