Queenslanders are being encouraged to plan for the unexpected, with Queensland Law Week 2021 set to highlight the importance of having an Enduring Power of Attorney and Advanced Health Directive in place.
Attorney-General and Minster for Justice Shannon Fentiman said Law Week (17-23 May) provided an opportunity to raise awareness of the significant reform of the Guardianship and Administration Act 2000 which came into effect late last year.
“Law Week is about giving the community a better understanding of the important role that our legal system plays in their lives,” Minister Fentiman said.
“This year the theme for Law Week is Don’t wait until it’s too late.
“This is about encouraging Queenslanders to make sure they have the correct plans in place, so their wishes are carried out if, and when certain events occur in life.
“Unfortunately, for many of us a time may come where we are not able to make important decisions regarding our care and finances for ourselves.
“We know that many of us don’t want to think about these things. That is why the government made significant changes last year, to make the process of putting in place an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) or Advanced Health Directive (AHD) even easier.
“New EPOA and AHD forms which are simpler and less time consuming to complete are now available.
“In addition, new guidelines for the assessment of capacity have also been made available, to help those who are required to assess a person’s decision-making capacity, such as health professionals.
Minister Fentiman said the Palaszczuk Government had worked closely on the design and content of the forms with a range of stakeholders.
“The new EPOA and AHD forms are user-friendly, so more Queenslanders would have these important legal documents in place,” she said.
“There are also new explanatory guides available to make completing the forms quick and easy, so I encourage everyone to set aside some time this week to ensure they are in place, so your wishes are carried out as you want if that time comes.”
Law Week is an annual event, which aims to foster a better understanding of the roles law and justice play in our society.
