Supported decision-making

“Supported decision-making is a way for people to make their own decisions based on their will and preferences, so they have control of their life. It ensures the person who needs support is at the centre of all decisions that concern them.
“Supported decision-making is an important process for people who might need support to make decisions, like some people with dementia, acquired brain injuries, neurodisabilities, mental health issues, and other kinds of cognitive or physical conditions.
“The person who needs to make a decision works with appropriate support, which can be one or more supporters. The supporters make sure the person gets the right information, at the right time, in the right way, with the time they need to consider their decision.”
*The above information has been provided by the Ministry of Social Development.
“Supported decision-making is different from ‘substitute decision-making’.
- Substitute decision-making is when someone else makes decisions for a person, including making decisions in the person’s best interests.
- While substitute decision-making has often been used informally, by family or friends, or formally, such as an Enduring Power of Attorney or by service providers, there is now a move to supported decision-making.”
*The above information has been provided by the Ministry of Social Development.

Supported decision-making is considered best practice
by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with a Disability (UNCRPD)

and is recognised as a right for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand.

New Zealand is a signatory to the UNCRPD.

Identify when a decision needs to be made (such as for health care, finances, relationships, preparing a Will – and other legal matters, where and how the person wishes to live).
Provide information that’s clear, simple and easy to understand – even when the matter itself is complex, and providing it in ways that ensure the information is accessible to the person, so they can consider the information and make their own, informed decisions.
Discuss and explore options, to help the person identify what they want - giving them enough time, space and support to carefully weigh up the pros and cons of the options and to consider the level of risk involved, and how to mitigate that risk.

Enable the person to shape and then confirm their own preferred decision – including checking their level of comfort with their chosen option.
Assist the person to act on the decision, providing support as needed.
Review the decision as its being actioned, checking that it’s what the person anticipated and it’s working out the way it was expected. If things aren’t going to plan, what needs to be considered and changed?

- Whaimana – Support my decisions: Information and resources about supported decision-making, co-designed in New Zealand, 2025. Support My Decisions or Support My Decisions:Resources.
  
  See also: Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People: New resource a go-to for supported decision-making
- Information and decision-making tools from the perspective of the person making the decision:
  People First NZ: Your rights
- For information about what you can do as a family, carer or a supporter to help people make decisions.
- Providing support for decision making is part of the advocacy support that some safeguarding agencies provide. For example, the Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust (PASAT) delivers workshops and training for disabled people’s organisations, disability support providers, and community groups on Supported Decision Making principles and approaches. See PASAT: Support for Decision Making
- Support for Decision Making is also a stand-alone and funded service offered to participants in the Mana Whaikaha and Enabling Good Lives (EGL) disability system transformation sites.