Dying On My Own Terms
This episode of ABC TV’s program Compass was broadcast on Sunday 19th July 2026 and is available for streaming on ABC Iview.
Category: News.
DWD ACT
DWD Witness Program
Dying with Dignity ACT established a witness program in December 2025. The service provides witnesses for the written second request being signed by the person approved for voluntary assisted dying (VAD). The written request must be witnessed by two eligible persons and there are often cases where a person approved for VAD does not have anyone to act as a witness to their signature.
Citizens Jury to consider access to voluntary assisted dying for persons who have lost decision-making capacity
The Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith, announced today the establishment of a citizens jury to consider ‘what should happen if a person loses decision-making capacity after the final assessment stage of the voluntary assisted dying process’.
President of DwDACT, Sam Delaney responded ‘while we welcome any move to widen access to voluntary assisted dying in the ACT, this initiative is far too narrow in scope.
New DWDACT Committee elected
The annual general meeting of the association was held on Thursday 16 April 2026. Elections were held for the Committee and amendments to the constitution were approved.
DWDACT annual meeting
The Annual General Meeting of Dying with Dignity ACT will be held on Thursday, 16 April 2026 at 1.00pm, in the upstairs meeting room at the Canberra Raiders club, 1 Liardet Street, Weston.
VAD now in place in ACT
Dying with Dignity A.C.T pleased to see introduction of VAD in A.C.T. The ACT Government has given us legislation which is an improvement over that of other Australian jurisdictions.
VAD commences in ACT on 3 November
Voluntary Assisted Dying comes into effect in the ACT on Monday 3 November.
Information about the scheme is available at the ACT Govt website which sets out the process for applying for VAD.
ACT Voluntary Assisted Dying Board appointed
Members of the ACT Voluntary Assisted Dying Oversight Board have met for the first time, in preparation of their role in overseeing, monitoring, and reporting on the operation of voluntary assisted dying in the ACT.
ACT Health Minister’s stance on VAD and dementia
Dying with Dignity ACT has for some time been pressing the Health Minister about the guidelines for VAD practitioners, in the hope that there would be flexibility to allow options for people with dementia who still have mental capacity.
The Minister has responded that “I appreciate your view that the changes you propose to allow access to VAD for people with early stage dementia do not require legislative change and could instead be enacted through clinical guidelines. However, this would represent a major change to the policy underpinning the ACT’s VAD framework that could have ramifications far beyond early access for neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia.
The full text of the Minister’s letter can be read here.
VAD segment on ABC Radio
Roy Harvey from DWDACT interviewed by Georgia Stynes on ABC Radio 666AM on Wednesday, 21 May 2025.
Consumers should be consulted
The ACT government has, by accident or by design, excluded consumers from involvement in determining who will or will not be able to access VAD when the scheme starts operation in November this year’ says the President of Dying with Dignity ACT, Sam Delaney
Forum presentations – Updated
Read the presentations made by several of the speakers at our VAD Forum on 15th April 2025