Miss Jodyne Greig1
1Anchorage Mentoring & Consultancy, Muchea, Australia
Biography:
Jodyne Greig is an accredited Disability Social Worker in Western Australia with over 20 years in the disability sector. Specialising in supporting youth and adults with complex presentations of disability and a history of disengagement with services, Jodyne has published articles with Social Work Focus and Australasian Society of Intellectual Disability. Regularly invited to speak at conferences, universities and to parents/carers on a variety of disability issues, Jodyne offers valuable insights through a unique triple lens of disability: identifying as neurodivergent, having a child with a disability and being a professional in the field.
Abstract:
As young adults with disabilities navigate increased autonomy, systems such as banking, Centrelink, and service access often present significant barriers. In response, many families and professionals default to guardianship and administration orders, often without fully exploring less restrictive alternatives that uphold the individual's rights, agency, and self-determination.
This presentation will examine supported decision-making as a viable and ethical alternative to formal guardianship. Using a real-world case study, we will follow the journey of a young man who successfully overturned a guardianship and administration order in favour of a customised supported and shared decision-making framework developed in collaboration with his social worker.
Attendees will gain insights into:
– The limitations and risks of over-reliance on formal guardianship
– Principles and best practices of supported decision-making
– How to balance protection with empowerment through individualised strategies
– Practical steps for developing shared decision-making models that promote autonomy
This session will highlight how strengths-based, collaborative approaches can foster greater independence, dignity, and engagement for individuals with disabilities. It will also challenge professionals to critically assess how they support decision-making within their practice, ensuring that least restrictive principles remain at the forefront of service provision.
Join me to explore how supported decision-making can be practically implemented to uphold rights and maximise choice while ensuring individuals receive the support they need to thrive.