Dying with Dignity NSW

01/09/2026

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HEALTH MINISTER, BLAIR BOYER, is putting pressure on the federal government to review and overturn the ban on using telehealth to access voluntary assisted dying (VAD) that seriously disadvantages Australians living in rural and remote parts of the country.
Mr Boyer and SA Attorney-General Kyam Maher have sent a letter to federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, co-signed by VAD practitioners, clinicians and advocates asking for the national criminal code to be amended so VAD care is not treated as "su***de" under federal law.
The current law means doctors could face fines of up to $220,000 and a criminal record for using phone, email or video to discuss the self-administration of VAD medication.
Telehealth can be used for all medical care except VAD.

Show your support to remove the telehealth ban for VAD by sending an email to the federal Attorney-General via the Go Gentle Australia campaign here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-01/south-australia-legal-voluntary-assisted-dying-telehealth-push/107076466

You can read the ABC article here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-01/south-australia-legal-voluntary-assisted-dying-telehealth-push/107076466

South Australia has become the first state to formally urge the Commonwealth to change a federal law preventing doctors from using telehealth in voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

31/08/2026

REMEMBERING JAMES VALENTINE Last week, we joined ABC Friends Central Coast for a special event honouring James, much loved radio and television broadcaster, and strong advocate for voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
The event, held at the Elanora Hotel in Gosford, featured a local panel of people with lived experience of VAD, including Dying with Dignity NSW.
DWD NSW Director, Dr Stephanie Short, who was on the panel said, ‘sharing reflections of James and his belief in living gratefully and positively right to the end positively impacted awareness of VAD nationally, and we are grateful to be involved in community discussions.
Shout out to panelists DWD NSW member Romaine Rutnam; Joanna Francis, psychotherapist working with people who have supported loved ones through VAD on the Central Coast; Warwick Barnes who generously shared his VAD journey supporting his beloved wife at her end-of-life; and the NSW VAD team for providing great resources for attendees.
“We are blessed with a great end of life team on the Central Coast, with palliative care working hand in glove with the VAD team,’ said Stephanie.
It was a meaningful morning of stories, honesty and connection and a fitting tribute to James’ legacy.

27/08/2026

A LONG AWAITED STEP FORWARD FOR TERRITORIANS. The NT Parliament has passed the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 2026, almost 30 years after a bill of the same name was overturned by the federal government in 1997.
This means Territorians will have access to voluntary assisted dying (VAD) at end-of-life, ensuring all Australians now have equal access to this compassionate choice.
NT MLAs debated the bill and a series of amendments over the past couple of days.
Disappointingly none of the amendments raised were successful. They voted to retain a 12 month timeframe for all terminal illnesses. This differs from the NSW legislation, which has a 6 month timeframe for most terminal illnesses, except for neurodegenerative diseases such as MND, where a 12 month timeframe applies.
We remain concerned about the bill’s inclusion of a ‘gag clause’, which prevents doctors and health practitioners from raising VAD with patients as an end of life option. Victoria previously had a similar clause in their legislation, which was removed in the legislation review.
The legislation will commence in 18 months and be reviewed three years after implementation.
The NT led the world in 1995 as the first jurisdiction to legalise VAD.

24/08/2026

Join ABC Friends Central Coast for Remembering James Valentine, a free community event honouring the life and impact of the late ABC radio host who publicly championed voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and chose to access it when facing his end-of-life.
At this celebration event you’ll hear directly from a panel of experts and people with lived experience supporting a loved one through VAD. Their stories offer clarity, compassion and practical insight into what the process looks like in NSW.
Friday 28 August 🕥 10.30am
Elanora Hotel, East Gosford
Free tickets — booking essential
We encourage anyone interested in learning more about VAD, or hearing firsthand experiences, to attend.
👉 Reserve your seat: https://events.humanitix.com/remembering-james-valentine-and-learning-about-voluntary-assisted-dying

17/08/2026

Roz Hervey was just 58 and living with motor neurone disease when she asked her daughter Tilda to record her last day before accessing voluntary assisted dying, saying, "I would really encourage people to talk about this. It is so, so important that people have the opportunity to die with dignity."
Tilda spent weeks interviewing her mum, but it was in the final hours that Roz delivered this impassioned plea about voluntary assisted dying.
Watch Australian Story tonight at 8pm, The Final Act, on ABC iview: https://ab.co/3TdgGsj

12/08/2026

THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! After announcing publicly at their recent party conference the federal government has backtracked on a conscience vote to allow people to use telehealth to access voluntary assisted dying. We know this means inequity for people living in regional, rural and remote places.

11/08/2026

The Go Gentle Australia national VAD survey is open. This survey helps evidence how VAD and end-of-life choice are working in Australia and what can be improved. If you have supported someone through VAD or have applied to access yourself, please take a few minutes to complete.
The survey is completely anonymous and only takes a few minutes. Please share it with your networks 🙏
Link to survey👇

Please click the link to complete this form.

04/08/2026

JOIN US TOMORROW at the Dying to Know Expo in south western Sydney to learn more about your end-of-life options. There will be more than 50 exhibitors in attendance and there's a great line up of speakers and presentations in English, Arabic and Samoan.
It's FREE to attend, there's plenty of available parking.
Date: Wednesday, 5 August 2026
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Location: The Cube, Campbelltown Catholic Club
20 – 22 Camden Rd, Campbelltown NSW 2560.
You can register for your free ticket online here:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/dying-to-know-day-expo-2026-tickets-1993794385679?aff=oddtdtcreator

29/07/2026

ANDREW DENTON DELIVERS another powerful message about the impact of telehealth being excluded nationally for VAD consultations in his article in The Guardian. He presents the impact for doctors trying to support their patients by travelling great distances to see them in person, and the tragic failings for dying people when an in-person consultation isn't possible.

💛 Andrew Denton has written a powerful new piece in The Guardian on how rural Australians are still being blocked from Voluntary Assisted Dying - all because of the outdated telehealth ban.

He shows what this means for real patients, real families and the doctors trying to support them. 🌿📞

And he’s crystal clear: the Prime Minister must allow Parliament to debate this issue so rural Australians who want VAD aren’t left behind.

Read the article 👇
https://ow.ly/agmY50ZtGEG