Finding and Training Your Support Team: Building Your Decision-Making Circle
Effective supported decision-making depends on having the right supporters. This guide walks you through identifying, recruiting, and training a support team that genuinely enables your decision-making.
Types of Supporters
Natural Supporters
Family and friends who know you well:
- Partners and close family members
- Long-term friends
- Community connections
- Faith community members
Natural supporters offer intimate knowledge of your values and preferences but may lack specific expertise.
Formal Supporters
Professionals or organizations:
- Disability advocates
- NDIS-funded support coordinators
- Allied health professionals
- Advocacy organizations
- Disability lawyers
Formal supporters offer expertise but may lack personal relationship depth.
Mixed Model
Most effective approach combines both: family provides relationship context, professionals provide specialized knowledge.
Identifying Your Supporters
Qualities of Effective Supporters
Trustworthiness: Track record of honoring confidences and commitments
Understanding: Grasps your values, preferences, and communication style
Respect: Respects your right to decide, even when disagreeing
Availability: Willing to invest time in supporting you
Communication: Can communicate clearly with you
No Conflicts: Doesn't have personal interest in your decisions
Diverse Perspectives: Your support team covers different areas and viewpoints
Who NOT to Choose
Avoid supporters who:
- Have financial interest in your decisions
- Pressure you toward particular outcomes
- Don't respect your autonomy
- Have history of abuse or exploitation
- Cannot commit time
- Don't understand your communication
Building Your Support Circle
Typical Team Structure
Core Circle (2-3 people):
- Know you best
- Involved in most major decisions
- Available frequently
- Examples: partner, close family member
Extended Circle (3-4 people):
- Specialized expertise or relationships
- Involved in specific decision areas
- Available for consultation
- Examples: advocate, health professional, friend
Backup Supporters (1-2 people):
- Available if primary supporters unavailable
- Understand your values
- Can step in quickly
Different Supporters for Different Areas
Consider appointing different supporters for various life domains:
Home and Living:
- Family member familiar with housing needs
- Disability advocate for tenant rights knowledge
Healthcare:
- Someone you trust with health information
- Possibly health professional or advocate
Employment/Education:
- Career advisor or mentor
- Friend or family with knowledge of your strengths
Financial:
- Family member with financial literacy
- Possibly accountant or financial advisor
Social/Community:
- Friends interested in your social participation
- Community organization representative
Recruitment Conversation
How to Ask
Be Direct: "I'd like you to be part of my support team for making decisions about..."
Explain What It Means: Describe the role, time commitment, and expectations
Emphasize Partnership: Frame it as supporting your autonomy, not controlling you
Offer Training: Let them know you'll provide guidance on their role
Start Small: Begin with one decision area, expand if successful
Sample Conversation
"I'm building a support team to help me make better decisions about employment. I've valued your career advice, and I'd like you to be part of my team. It wouldn't require much time—maybe one conversation per month to help me think through job options and interviews. Would you be willing to do that?"
Training Your Supporters
Initial Training
Your Communication Style: How you prefer to communicate, your pace, your communication strengths and needs
Your Values and Preferences: What matters to you, your goals, your priorities
Decision-Making Process: How you like information presented, time you need to decide, who else should be involved
Confidentiality: Privacy expectations and who else they can discuss decisions with
Your Rights: Your right to refuse advice, to change your mind, to make mistakes
Ongoing Development
- Regular check-ins about how the support is working
- Feedback about what's helping and what isn't
- Adjustment of approach based on your needs
- Annual review of support arrangements
Documentation
Create a simple guide documenting:
- Your communication methods
- Your core values and preferences
- Your decision-making timeline
- Key contacts and backup arrangements
- Important health or safety information
Share this with all supporters so consistency is maintained.
Managing Your Support Team
Regular Communication
Monthly Check-Ins: Quick conversations about current and upcoming decisions
Quarterly Reviews: Discuss what's working, what needs adjustment
Annual Planning: Comprehensive review of support arrangements
Coordinator Role
Consider designating one person as "coordinator" who:
- Facilitates communication between supporters
- Schedules meetings
- Ensures everyone understands your preferences
- Manages backup arrangements
Written Records
Maintain simple written records of:
- Major decisions made
- Who you consulted
- What influenced your decision
- How the decision worked out
These records help supporters learn your patterns and provide evidence of your decision-making capacity.
Resolving Supporter Issues
When Supporters Disagree
- Listen to each perspective
- Ask clarifying questions
- Identify areas of agreement and disagreement
- Seek additional information if needed
- Make your decision based on your values
- Communicate your decision clearly
Your supporters should accept your decision even if they disagree.
When a Supporter Isn't Working
If a supporter is:
- Disrespecting your decisions
- Not available when needed
- Communicating poorly
- Showing self-interest
- Abusing your trust
Take Action:
- Address the issue directly if safe to do so
- Reduce their role or responsibility
- Recruit additional or replacement supporter
- Discuss change with remaining support team
Adding New Supporters
As your life changes, you may need new supporters for:
- New decision areas
- Changed circumstances
- Relocating to new area
- Changing employment or education
Add new supporters following the same identification, recruitment, and training process.
Technology for Support Coordination
Digital Tools
Group Chat Apps: Facilitate supporter communication and decision discussion
Shared Documents: Central location for decision documentation
Calendar Apps: Schedule support meetings and important dates
Phone/Video Calls: Enable participation for geographically distant supporters
Self-Advocacy in Your Support Team
Ensuring Respectful Support
- Remind supporters of your right to decide
- Provide feedback when support isn't working
- Refuse inappropriate advice
- Change supporters if needed
- Document disrespectful treatment
Building Your Decision-Making Skills
Over time, many people reduce their support needs as confidence grows:
- Practice decision-making in low-stakes situations
- Learn from experience
- Develop relationships with supporters
- Build knowledge in your areas of interest
Accessing Professional Support
Disability Advocates
Many disability advocacy organizations offer:
- Help identifying supporters
- Training for supporters
- Facilitation of support team meetings
- Advocacy for your rights
Support Coordinators
NDIS-funded support coordinators can:
- Help build your support team
- Facilitate decision-making discussions
- Provide training to supporters
- Monitor support team effectiveness
Mentoring and Peer Support
Learn from others using SDM:
- Peer mentors who've built support teams
- Self-advocacy groups
- Online communities
- Training workshops
Conclusion
Your support team is crucial to your success with supported decision-making. Investing time in finding, recruiting, training, and maintaining relationships with supporters pays dividends in better decisions and greater autonomy. Regular communication and willingness to adjust arrangements ensure your support team continues serving your needs effectively.