Australia

Overview

Australia has no federal VAD law — each state and territory legislated independently. Victoria led the way in 2019, and by 2023 all six states and both territories had active VAD laws. The federal government's previous prohibition (1997 Rights of the Terminally Ill Act override) was repealed in 2023, enabling territories to legislate.

State-by-State Timeline

• VictoriaActive June 2019
• Western AustraliaActive July 2021
• TasmaniaActive October 2021
• South AustraliaActive March 2023
• QueenslandActive January 2023
• New South WalesActive November 2023
• ACTActive November 2024
• Northern TerritoryActive 2024–2025

Common Eligibility Requirements (across states)

• Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and ordinarily reside in the state
• Must be 18 or older
• Must have a terminal illness expected to cause death within 12 months (6 months in some states)
• Must have decision-making capacity
• Must be experiencing suffering that cannot be relieved in a manner acceptable to the person
• Three separate requests required, including a written request
• Two independent medical practitioners must assess eligibility

Key Organizations & Resources

• Australian Department of Health — health.gov.au
• Dying with Dignity Australia — dwdaustralia.org
• VAD Info — vadinfo.com.au
• State health departments (search "[state] voluntary assisted dying")

Legal Contacts

• State and Territory Health Departments — Each jurisdiction has its own Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) law and oversight body. Contact your state's Department of Health for the applicable legislation, eligibility criteria, and access pathways (e.g., health.vic.gov.au for Victoria, health.qld.gov.au for Queensland).
• VAD Care Navigator Programs — Most states operate a dedicated navigator service to guide patients and families through the VAD request process. Contact your state health department or GP to access the navigator.
• Dying with Dignity Australia — National advocacy organisation providing legal information, advance-directive resources, and support for patients and families across all states.

Medical Contacts

• Australian Medical Association (AMA) — The national professional body for Australian doctors; publishes position statements and guidance on VAD participation and conscientious objection. ama.com.au
• Palliative Care Australia — Provides a national directory of palliative care providers and resources for patients seeking comfort care alongside or instead of VAD. palliativecare.org.au
• State VAD Navigator Services — Trained navigators help patients find willing practitioners, complete the multi-step request process, and access the prescribed medication. Your GP or specialist can initiate a referral to the navigator service.

Important: Contact details and eligibility requirements change. Always verify information directly with each organisation before taking any action.