Supported decision-making

Helping a person make their own decisions with support, rather than making the decisions for them.

What it means

Supported decision-making is an approach where a person with disability is supported to make their own decisions, rather than having someone else decide for them. It starts from the belief that everyone has the right to make choices about their own life.

The focus is on the person's own will and preferences, which means what they want and value. Instead of taking over, supporters give information in ways the person can understand, talk through the options and help them weigh things up. The aim is for the person to stay at the centre of decisions about their own life, from small everyday choices to bigger ones, with the right support around them to make those choices confidently.

In practice

In practice, supported decision-making can look like a family member, friend, worker or trusted person helping someone think through a decision. This might mean explaining information in plain language, using pictures or examples, allowing extra time, or breaking a big decision into smaller steps.

A supporter might help the person picture what each option could mean, ask questions to understand what matters most to them, and make sure their voice is heard when others are involved. The key is that the supporter helps the person reach their own decision rather than making it for them. This approach can build confidence and skills over time, so the person feels more able to make choices about where they live, how they spend their time, their supports and their goals.

A real example

For example, Priya wants to choose which day program to attend but finds it hard to compare her options. Her sister sits with her, explains each program in plain language, visits two of them together with her, and talks through what Priya enjoys and what matters to her. Priya then makes the final choice herself, feeling clear and confident because she was supported rather than told what to do.

Supported decision-making — FAQs

What is supported decision-making?
Supported decision-making is an approach where a person with disability is supported to make their own decisions, rather than having someone decide for them. It focuses on the person's will and preferences, gives them information in accessible ways, and helps them weigh up options. The goal is to keep the person at the centre of decisions about their own life, with the right support around them.
How is it different from substitute decision-making?
In supported decision-making, the person makes their own decision with help to understand and weigh options. In substitute decision-making, someone else makes the decision for the person, such as a guardian. Supported decision-making keeps the person in control and centres their will and preferences, whereas substitute decision-making hands that control to another person. The approaches reflect very different starting points.
Who can be a decision supporter?
A decision supporter can be anyone the person trusts, such as a family member, friend, carer or worker. There is no single required role. What matters is that the supporter helps the person understand information, think through options and reach their own decision, rather than making it for them. A person can have different supporters for different kinds of decisions.
What does a decision supporter actually do?
A supporter helps the person make their own choice. This can include explaining information in plain language, using pictures or examples, allowing extra time, breaking decisions into smaller steps, and talking through what each option might mean. They ask questions to understand what matters most to the person and make sure their voice is heard, without taking over the decision themselves.
How does supported decision-making relate to the NDIS?
The NDIS encourages supported decision-making so participants stay in control of choices about their plan, supports and goals. Rather than others deciding for a participant, the approach helps them understand their options and express what they want. Family, friends and workers can all play a supporting role, giving information in accessible ways and helping the person weigh things up while keeping them at the centre.

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