Who is eligible for voluntary assisted dying? Is it the same as euthanasia? Can I die at home? Answers to these questions and more.
Frequently asked questions
Voluntary assisted dying allows a dying person who is suffering in the final stages of life to ask their doctor for medication to help them die. The person must be an adult, have decision making capacity and be assessed as eligible by two independent medical practitioners.
Euthanasia means a doctor administers a life-ending substance to a dying person – rather than the person taking it themselves. The word euthanasia carries negative historical connotations and is often associated with something that is done to a person without their consent.
In Australia, the term ‘voluntary assisted dying’ is preferred because it centres the dying person’s choice i.e. VAD is not something that is done to you, but something you choose.
In the majority of cases in Victoria and South Australia, for example, people have taken the medication themselves. This is because in those states self-administration is the default method and only in cases where the person is too sick to take it themselves can a doctor step in to help. In Western Australia, Queensland and NSW, where people are permitted to choose the method of administration, a significant majority elect for their doctor to administer the medication for them.
Other countries have chosen different terminology. For example, Canada uses the abbreviation MAiD, which stands for medical assistance in dying.
Every state and the Australian Capital Territory has passed and implemented voluntary assisted dying legislation. Only the Northern Territory is yet to pass a law.
After two public inquiries, the NT Government has committed to draft and debate a VAD law, but as yet there is no timetable. Sign up for free updates here.
The Northern Territory (NT) does not yet have a voluntary assisted dying law. However, two public inquiries have recommended a law be drafted in line with other Australian jurisdictions, and the NT Government has committed to drafting legislation in 2026.
There are some exceptional circumstances where an eligible person in the NT could access a voluntary assisted dying law in a neighbouring state.
a) you live on the border and receive the majority of your health care in that state or
b) you can show on compassionate grounds (e.g. your family live in the state) why you should be able to access their voluntary assisted dying laws.
If you think this applies to you, please email [email protected] and we can provide further details.
Australian assisted dying laws are some of the most restrictive in the world, intended to help a small number of dying people in extreme circumstances. To access voluntary assisted dying a person must:
- Have a terminal illness likely to end their life imminently and be experiencing unbearable suffering
- Have decision-making capacity about voluntary assisted dying
- Act freely and without coercion
- Be aged 18+ and an Australian citizen/meet residency requirements
- Have lived in the state or territory for at least 12 months
Advanced age, disability or mental health conditions by themselves do not make a person eligible for voluntary assisted dying. To be eligible, a person must be terminally ill and satisfy all other eligibility requirements.
While there is an ‘Australian model’ of voluntary assisted dying, the law in each state and territory is slightly different. Visit our Voluntary assisted dying law in my state page to find out more.
The best people to speak to are the Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigators (or equivalent) in your state or territory. This is a free service staffed by health professionals who are experts in providing the right information. Visit our VAD in my state page and select your jurisdiction to get their contact details.
Only if you satisfy all other criteria, including having another terminal illness such as cancer that is likely to end your life. There are two main reasons why dementia on its own is not an eligible condition for VAD in Australia.
1. Decision-making ability. One of the main reasons is the need for decision-making capacity, something that the vast majority of people with dementia lose over the course of their illness. For someone to be eligible for VAD in Australia, they have to be able to make informed decisions about their medical treatment and communicate those decisions throughout the process. This isn’t just a ‘tick-a-box’ exercise – it’s a key principle of VAD under existing laws. It is to make sure that the serious decision to use VAD is truly voluntary, carefully considered, and consistent over time.
2. Approaching the end of life. Another reason is that VAD in Australia is intended only for people at the very end of life. This means that two qualified medical practitioners must agree that the person has a terminal illness and has only a short time left to live. Even in the ACT, where there’s no set time frame in the VAD law, two practitioners must still agree that the person is ‘approaching the end of life’. For someone newly diagnosed with dementia, death may be years – sometimes even a decade – away.
Read more about the complexity of VAD and dementia here
The successful operation of voluntary assisted dying laws relies on there being enough participating health professionals . Thank you for seeking further information in this important area.
If you are a medical practitioner or nurse interested in providing voluntary assisted dying services to your patients, you are required to complete an online training program and pass an eligibility assessment.
Click on your state to find out more: Health Practitioner information Victoria, Health Practitioner information Western Australia, Health practitioner information Queensland, Health Practitioner information South Australia, Health Practitioner information NSW, Health Practitioner information Tasmania
Voluntary assisted dying is one of several options for terminally ill people at the end of life.
Palliative care and end-of-life care are excellent in Australia. They help the vast majority of people to die without excessive pain and suffering.
However, in a small number of cases palliative care cannot relieve all suffering. Palliative Care Australia estimates this happens to around 4% of people. Other estimates are up to 10%. For those dying people, voluntary assisted dying is another option.
Speak to your doctor to find out about your end-of-life options.
There is a strict assessment process with multiple safeguards, including sign-off from two independent medical practitioners that the person meets all the eligibility criteria. If there are any doubts, a specialist and/or psychiatrist will give a third opinion.
If doctors or care teams suspect a person is under pressure or being coerced to request assisted dying, the process stops immediately.
A person can pause or stop their application at any time.
Applying for voluntary assisted dying is a complicated process with robust safeguards, and for this reason it takes time. After years of voluntary assisted dying operating around the country, the advice is to start as early as possible to avoid delays.
In some circumstances, applications can be accelerated. However, this invariably adds stress at an already challenging time. Starting early is best.
There are a range of health practitioners who can help with voluntary assisted dying. Depending on who you see, you may be able to claim some of the costs on Medicare. However, there may also be some out-of-pocket expenses you need to plan for. It's always best to check with your doctor first. You may also need to factor in travel to see a doctor or specialist, or pay for documents such as proof of residency and citizenship.
Voluntary assisted dying does not affect life insurance claims or death benefits from superannuation funds. Most policies will exclude payouts for deaths from suicide. However, Australian laws make clear that voluntary assisted dying and suicide are not the same. A person’s death certificate lists their underlying illness as the cause of death, not suicide or voluntary assisted dying.
Yes, but there are no guarantees; it depends on someone’s circumstances and the services in their area. That said, people are often better able to plan ahead if they know they are going to have an assisted death. For many that will mean planning to be at home, often with loved ones present.
Voluntary assisted dying can also happen in hospitals and residential facilities like nursing homes and retirement villages.
All Australian laws require you to have been resident in the state or territory for at least 12 months before using their voluntary assisted dying law. There are exceptions in Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales and the ACT - where you can apply for a special consideration if you live outside the state or territory but have ‘substantial connections’ (such as being a former resident or your family living in the state).
Australia’s voluntary assisted dying laws are working safely and as intended. There have been no reported major complications and the drugs work effectively. Care teams say the most common words they hear loved ones use to describe assisted deaths include ‘perfect’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘peaceful’. Read an account from a Victorian family whose loved one died by voluntary assisted dying.
You should discuss your end-of-life options with your doctor. However, some health professionals do not agree with voluntary assisted dying and the law grants them the right to conscientiously object. This means they can decide not to help you with your application for VAD. In this case, they should let you know so you can find another doctor willing to provide you with information.
Best practice in Australian health care is that you (the patient) are central to all decisions about your care and treatment. This is often called ‘person-centred care’. This means if your doctor will not discuss voluntary assisted dying with you, you’re entitled to look for another who will.
Yes, organ donation after VAD is possible and has the potential to save lives. Even those who cannot donate organs may be suitable for tissue donation. Suitability is assessed on an individual basis. To find out more about organ donation visit: DonateLife
For some people, death and dying are still taboo and difficult to talk about. But it’s important that we do, so we can plan ahead and make appropriate choices. Visit Advance Care Planning Australia for resources to help you start the conversation.
Ideally, your family will respect whatever choice you make. However, if you prefer, you can keep the conversation confidential between you and your doctor. Just like any other aspect of your healthcare and treatment, you do not have to share details if you don’t want to.
People seeking voluntary assisted dying are not suicidal; they don’t want to die but nevertheless are dying of a terminal illness and want to control how and when it happens including how much they need to suffer at the end.
Australian laws expressly state that voluntary assisted dying is not suicide.
If you are affected by the issue of suicide or know someone experiencing suicidal ideation, visit Conversations Matter or Beyond Blue
If you (or someone you know) requires immediate assistance, contact one of the following 24/7 crisis support services: Lifeline (13 11 14), Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467), MensLine (1300 78 99 78), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) or Headspace (1800 650 890).
Australians are overwhelmingly in favour of voluntary assisted dying. Polls from the past 20 years show public support at more than 70%. The vast majority of peak medical bodies are either supportive or neutral on voluntary assisted dying, including Palliative Care Australia, Royal Australian College of GPs, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Australian Medical Association, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, Australian Psychological Society and Australian Association of Social Workers to name a few.
For more information about voluntary assisted dying laws and policies in Australia, please visit:
Voluntary assisted deaths make up a tiny proportion of all deaths in Australia, between 1% and 3% annually. This is consistent with other countries where assisted dying is legal.
