Communities and Justice

All adults have the right to make decisions

Cartoon Hing sitting behind an office desk looking confused

Here is a scenario where adults have the right to make their own decisions.

As a financial advisor in a bank, Hing encounters all sorts of people everyday.

"For the most part, the people who come into the bank are capable of making their own decisions about their finances, property and assets. Sometimes though it's hard to tell if a customer can make their own decision."

Which customers do I assume can make their own decisions?

  1. An elderly man who needs help getting around
  2. A customer who doesn't speak English well
  3. A heavily tattooed tradie
  4. A woman in a wheelchair
  5. A middle-aged blind man
  6. A frazzled mother of two young children using sign language

Open the accordian below to find the correct answer.

Correct answer

All 6 answers are correct.

As we saw in the previous topic, decision-making is a common part of our lives. Under NSW law, every adult is presumed to have the ability to make their own decisions. We can't assume that a person lacks decision-making ability based on appearance, age, disability, behaviour, language skills or any other condition or characteristic.

Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) put a spotlight on the human right of persons with disabilities to make their own decisions.

Last updated:

27 Nov 2024