Create Allied Health provides specialist social work support for NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) guardianship matters. We help families and care teams prepare for guardianship matters, ensuring clients' rights are protected while facilitating the least restrictive outcomes. We work alongside legal professionals, families, and care teams to deliver comprehensive support from initial application through to post-decision implementation.
Available NSW-wide by video link. In-person support available in Sydney on request.
A plain-language guide for NSW families. What the Tribunal does, which application you need, the evidence NCAT expects, what to do if your hearing is adjourned, free legal and support services, and a one-page checklist.
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Open the guide (PDF)We support applicants with NCAT guardianship applications in NSW. Whether the application is for guardianship, financial management, or a combination of orders, our clinical social workers prepare the evidence and statements, support the applicant, and attend the hearing as a support person. We do not manage or run the matter.
In time-sensitive situations — such as when a patient cannot be safely discharged from hospital without a guardianship order, or when a person is at immediate risk — we respond within 24–48 hours to prepare and lodge urgent NCAT applications. Our clinical social workers are experienced in preparing urgent applications that meet the tribunal's requirements for expedited hearing.
Our clinical social workers provide expert support throughout the tribunal hearing process, ensuring all parties are well-prepared and informed.
When a person cannot make decisions about their medical treatment, health care, or accommodation due to disability, cognitive impairment, or mental health conditions, a medical guardianship application may be required. Our clinical social workers conduct capacity assessments that evaluate a person's ability to understand, retain, and weigh information relevant to specific decisions. These assessments are used to inform NCAT applications for guardianship over medical and health-related decisions, and are prepared to the standard required by the Guardianship Division of NCAT.
We also support families and treating teams navigating situations where medical decisions need to be made and there is no person lawfully authorised to consent on behalf of the patient. This includes coordinating with hospital teams, aged care providers, and legal professionals to ensure the appropriate guardianship arrangements are put in place.
We champion supported decision-making as an alternative to substitute decision-making wherever possible, in line with best practice and human rights frameworks.
When guardians are appointed, we provide ongoing support to ensure effective implementation and coordination of care.
Following a tribunal decision, we support clients and their families through the transition and ongoing implementation process.
Our guardianship and NCAT services are frequently engaged in situations including:
Consider referring a client to our guardianship and NCAT services when:
Our guardianship and NCAT services can be funded through a range of pathways:
We publish our fees so you can make a decision without having to call first. All prices include GST. Scope and a written quote are confirmed before any work begins, and anything outside the agreed scope is discussed with you first. Fees may be payable from the person's own funds where a financial manager or attorney agrees, or from NDIS, iCare or other funding where the person has it.
| Package | What it includes | Fee inc GST |
|---|---|---|
| Clarity Call | 45-minute consultation, a map of the evidence you have and need, and a written next-steps summary. Credited against any package taken within 14 days. | $180 |
| Submission Package | Initial consultation, review of your documents and the Tribunal's directions, drafting your statement and chronology with you, and guidance on filing. Approximately five hours. | $1,150 |
| Hearing Ready Package | Everything in the Submission Package, plus a hearing preparation session and attendance with you at one hearing as a support person, up to three hours. Hearings are attended by video link as standard; in-person attendance is available on request. | $2,200 |
| Social Work Report to the Tribunal | Interviews with you and, where appropriate, the person concerned, contact with other relevant people, and a written psychosocial report addressing their circumstances and the least restrictive options. | $1,400 |
Hourly rates outside the packages: $240 per hour for preparation and report writing, $300 per hour for hearing attendance. Consultations and hearing attendance are by video link as standard, so there is no travel cost. If you would prefer us to attend in person, travel time is charged at $130 per hour. Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice may be charged in full.
A solicitor gives legal advice and, with the Tribunal's permission, can represent you at the hearing. For a contested guardianship or power of attorney matter in Sydney, solicitor fees commonly run to several thousand dollars.
We are Accredited Social Workers, not lawyers. We do not give legal advice or legal representation, and our fees reflect that - they sit at roughly half a solicitor's rate. What we do is help you organise the evidence, write your statement, understand what the Tribunal is asking for, sit beside you at the hearing as a support person, and, where useful, prepare a social work report that the Tribunal can rely on. Many families use a free legal service for advice on their rights and Create Allied Health for the preparation. If your matter needs legal argument, we will tell you so and help you find a solicitor.
For a plain-English overview of how the NCAT guardianship process works in NSW — including who can apply, the different types of orders, and how capacity is assessed — read our guide: Understanding Guardianship and NCAT in NSW.
Last reviewed: April 2026
A capacity assessment evaluates a person's ability to make decisions about their finances, health, or living arrangements. Our assessments are conducted by experienced clinical social workers and can be used in NCAT proceedings.
Guardianship may be needed when a person cannot make important decisions due to disability, mental health conditions, or cognitive impairment, and there is no other appropriate arrangement in place.
Yes. We prepare detailed social work reports for NCAT (NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal) hearings including capacity assessments, risk assessments, and recommendations.
An NCAT guardianship application is made to the Guardianship Division of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. It requires supporting documentation including clinical evidence and functional assessments. We assist with the entire application process — from initial assessment and evidence gathering through to lodgement and tribunal hearing attendance.
Yes. For time-sensitive situations such as hospital discharge delays or immediate safety concerns, we respond within 24–48 hours to prepare and lodge urgent NCAT applications. Our clinical social workers are experienced in meeting the tribunal's requirements for expedited hearings.
Medical guardianship is required when a person cannot make decisions about their medical treatment or health care due to cognitive impairment, disability, or mental health conditions. A guardian is appointed by NCAT to make medical and health-related decisions on the person's behalf. We conduct capacity assessments and prepare applications for medical guardianship through the NCAT Guardianship Division.
The NCAT Guardianship Division makes decisions about the appointment of guardians and financial managers for people who are unable to make their own decisions due to disability. It handles applications for guardianship orders covering accommodation, medical treatment, and other personal decisions. We support clients and families through the application and hearing process.
Nothing. The Guardianship Division does not charge an application fee, and each party normally pays their own costs. Your only costs are any professional help you choose to use.
No. We are social workers, not lawyers. We help you prepare your evidence and statement, attend as a support person, and can prepare a social work report. For legal advice, we recommend Seniors Rights Service (1800 424 079) or LawAccess NSW (1300 888 529), both free.
Adjournments are common. Read the Tribunal's directions carefully, note the dates, and if the other party does not comply, write to the Tribunal before the next hearing. Our Submission Package is designed for exactly this situation.
Contact us to discuss how we can help, or refer a client directly.