Application Process for South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) Guideline
Version 1.0 approved 18 December 2023
SA Health is committed to providing the community with safe and equitable access to health care services and upholding the principles of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
In instances where a patient lacks capacity to make decisions or advocate for themselves, SA Health is committed to ensuring the rights and interests of the patient are protected and upheld.
This may include undertaking an application to SACAT for the legal appointment of a guardian and/or administrator to the role of third-party decision maker where no formal, or adequate informal, arrangements are already in place.
An application to SACAT is a legal step towards the appointment of a guardian to make decisions on behalf of an individual who lacks capacity to make their own decisions.
It is essential an application to SACAT is preceded with effective due diligence and not used as a mechanism to manage patient flow and/or discharge.
The Application Process for South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) Guideline (PDF 618KB) seeks to advise SA Health employees on how to manage applications to SACAT in line with the Managing Transfer or Discharge of Patients Policy.
Applicability
This Guideline applies to all employees and contractors of SA Health; that is all employees and contractors of the Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW), Local Health Networks (LHNs) including state-wide services aligned with those Networks and SA Ambulance Service (SAAS).
This Guideline does not apply in relation to children and adolescents under 18 years of age.