In December 2022, the OPA was awarded a grant through the Australian Department of Social Services to pilot a project titled Culturally Safe Supported Decision-making.
The project aligns with Australia's Disability Strategy Safety Targeted Action Plan objectives 3.2 and 3.3
The project began on 1 April 2023 and will run until 30 June 2024.
About the project
The pilot project aims to:
- assist OPA staff to ascertain the life preferences, future health care and accommodation wishes, and access to mainstream services for Aboriginal clients using culturally appropriate supported decision-making tools and practices
- enhance overall practice within OPA in relation to working with Aboriginal clients
- assist other agencies and systems to understand and adopt supported decision-making practice as a means of supporting human rights, particularly in relation to Aboriginal people.
The project will ultimately deliver:
- culturally appropriate supported decision-making tools
- a training package to support culturally safe practices
- documentation of the will and preferences of OPA's Aboriginal clients through a pilot of developed tools and practice
- evaluation of tools and practice
- community education and information for other systems and agencies, to increase their understanding of supported decision-making and its benefits for all those who need support in making decisions.
For more information, contact the Office of the Public Advocate on 1800 066 969 or OPAMailbox@sa.gov.au