Episode 19 - Inside Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Reforms

Kyam Maher, South Australian Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, reveals how his mother's harrowing pancreatic cancer death drove him to introduce South Australia's successful 2020 voluntary assisted dying legislation—succeeding where 15 previous bills over 26 years had failed. Maher chairs South Australia's Legislative Council and championed VAD reform after witnessing his mother's excruciating final weeks. Modelling the bill closely on Victoria's scheme proved decisive, alongside powerful committee evidence from police, coroners and grieving families. He discusses VAD's operation since 2023, the "beautiful death" testimonies at annual remembrance events, and the mandatory legislative review due by early 2028. Maher canvasses likely reform areas: residency requirements, the doctor-initiated discussion ban unique to South Australia, prognosis timeframes, and access for people with neurodegenerative diseases who risk losing capacity. He also addresses persistent coercion myths, noting no evidence has emerged anywhere in Australia. Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department. If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marshall Perron drafted the world's first voluntary assisted dying legislation in 1995 as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory – decades before most nations even debated the issue, and years before it was overturned by federal intervention. Marshall reflects on his 21 years in Northern Territory politics and the personal conviction that drove him to champion VAD reform. He unpacks the 25-year political battle that followed, including the federal override that cost countless Australians a dignified death, and the recent passing of new Northern Territory legislation that, remarkably, offers fewer protections than his original 1995 law. Marshall discusses the ongoing fight to lift the federal telehealth ban restricting VAD access for rural and remote Australians, the political reluctance shaping this debate, and where he believes the movement must focus next – including eligibility reform and the complex question of advance directives for dementia patients. Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department. If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day

Voluntary assisted dying isn't just about end-of-life choice – it challenges medicine to rethink its purpose. Dr Clare Fellingham argues that while medicine cannot always cure, it can always heal by reducing suffering, preserving dignity, and putting patients at the centre of their care. Dr Fellingham is a consultant anaesthetist, palliative medicine advanced trainee, and WA Board director for VAD Australia and New Zealand (VADANZ), the peak body representing excellence in VAD care. As an active VAD practitioner, Dr Fellingham considers it an immense privilege filled with meaning and purpose to walk alongside people with a life limiting illness, as they explore all available end-of-life care options. In this episode, drawing on more than five years implementing and delivering voluntary assisted dying services, Clare reflects on why this work has transformed her life and career. She discusses patient-directed care, the misconceptions surrounding voluntary assisted dying, the emotional realities for practitioners, the importance of supporting families through grief, and why sustainable funding is essential if compassionate end-of-life care is to remain accessible. Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department. If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, Sandra was diagnosed with the same aggressive lung cancer that took her father's life. Having spent thirteen years as an ambulance clinician and watched her father suffer through chemotherapy, she understood exactly what aggressive treatment would cost her — and chose a different path. Sandra speaks with Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith about weighing an oncologist's optimism against her own clinical experience, the compassionate and thorough support she found through South Australia's Voluntary Assisted Dying process, and the relief of knowing the choice is now hers to make. She also shares how she's spending her remaining time: continuing a PhD project on trauma-informed care for children, tying up loose ends, and finding peace in a decision made entirely on her own terms. Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department. If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The experience of voluntary assisted dying is shaped not only by legislation, but by access. Nicole’s family discovered that geography, travel requirements and gaps in healthcare services can create significant barriers for people facing terminal illness, particularly in regional Australia. Nicole shares the story of her stepfather Shane, who lived with motor neurone disease for more than two years before choosing VAD. She reflects on the practical realities of navigating the approval process, the challenges of accessing qualified practitioners in rural Victoria, and the impact inadequate care services can have on end-of-life decisions. Nicole describes the deeply personal nature of Shane’s decision; and the peaceful circumstances of his death. She also discusses why greater awareness, telehealth access and legislative reform are essential to ensure people can access voluntary assisted dying with dignity, regardless of where they live. Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department. If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services: Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.