What will you learn?

Decision-making capacity is often misunderstood. In practice, it can feel unclear, subjective and high risk.

This session breaks it down, offering a clear and practical introduction to how capacity is defined, assessed and applied across different areas of a person’s life.

You’ll leave with greater confidence in your role, a clear understanding of your responsibilities as an OT and practical tools to assess and document capacity in a way that stands up clinically and legally.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Understand how decision-making capacity is defined, including the key components of a reasoned decision
• Recognise the principles of presumption of capacity and dignity of risk
• Identify how capacity is decision-specific, time-specific, and can fluctuate
• Understand who is responsible for assessing capacity in different contexts
• Recognise when further assessment or second opinions are required
• Apply the DIN framework (Disability, Incapacity, Need) when evidencing decision-making concerns
• Understand the legal and practical frameworks across different Australian states and territories
• Identify how capacity applies across domains such as personal, health, and financial decision-making

Who is this workshop for?

This training is designed for:

• Occupational Therapists working in disability, aged care, rehabilitation, or community settings
• OTs involved in functional assessments, consent, or guardianship-related matters
• Clinicians who need to document capacity clearly in reports
• Clinicians managing complex or high-risk cases

Why attend?
Decision-making capacity sits at the intersection of clinical reasoning, ethics and law. Getting it wrong can have significant consequences for both the client and the clinician.

Attending this workshop will help you:

• Build confidence in identifying potential issues with decision-making capacity in clients
• Navigate complex situations where there are differing opinions between family, services and the client
• Understand your role in supporting autonomy while managing risk
• Apply consistent frameworks across a wide range of real-world scenarios
• Understand what to do next if concerns about decision-making capacity are identified

What's included?

• Gain online access to the workshop – live workshops are delivered via Zoom, while self-paced options include access to recorded sessions
• Download workshop slides and any resources provided by the presenter
• Enjoy six months of access to the recording and resources via your Verve OT Learning Library
• Receive a certificate of completion for your CPD records, available via email upon completion of the workshop