2023 Conference Program

Wednesday 27 Sept 2023 Voluntary Assisted Dying: In practice in Australia and New Zealand [Clinicians only]
8.00	Registration
8.45	Welcome Welcome to Country - Aunty Joan, Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council Introduction - Conference MC Molly Carlile AM and Dr Linda Swan, CEO of Go Gentle Australia
9.20	Official launch of a new peak body for VAD, VADANZ Dr Cam McLaren and Susan Jury present VADANZ (Voluntary Assisted Dying Australia & New Zealand)
9.30	Session 1 - The development of VAD in Australia and NZ: In conversation with the Review Boards Presentation by Professor Ben White, QUT, and panel discussion with representatives from state Review Boards: Julian Gardner AM (VIC), Linda Savage (WA), Dr Kristin Good (NZ), Louise Mollross (TAS), Associate Professor Melanie Turner (SA), Associate Professor Helen Irving (QLD) and Dr Wade Stedman, Clinical Lead NSW VAD Implementation.
10.45	Morning tea (30 mins)
11.15	Session 2 - Interactive breakout session: What hurts? Identifying pain points in the VAD process for clinicians and patients A chance to discuss key issues and meet interstate colleagues.
12.00	Lunch (1hr)
1.00	Session 2 continued - Sharing our findings
1.30	Session 3 - Is that better? Continuous improvement for VAD care Susan Jury, Head of Victoria's Care Navigator Service, will chair a discussion representing multidisciplinary perspectives: Dr Bu O'Brien (GP, WA), Lauren Cortis (Lead Pharmacist, VAD Pharmacy Service SA), Dr Greg Mewett (Palliative Care Specialist, VIC), and Susan Fryer (Intern Nurse Practitioner, NZ).
2.15	Session 4 - Grief and bereavement in VAD Hayley Russell, bereavement specialist in community palliative care, presents insights from her recent Churchill Fellowship: The Double-Edged Experience; Preparedness, Duality and the Pathways of Grief after Voluntary Assisted Dying Nick Hobbes, Tasmanian VAD Care Navigator and former Senior Social Worker with the Grief and Loss Counselling Service, Royal Hobart Hospital, presents: Human, lumen, sadness, madness: Learning to carry grief as a person and a professional.
2.45	Afternoon tea (30 mins)
3.15	Session 5 - Making the VAD model work long term Chair Lesley McLeod, the Assistant Director of Nursing at QVAD-Support in Queensland, leads a panel discussion with Dr Gareth Wahl (Emergency Physician and VAD practitioner) and Dr Anna Negus (Anaesthetist and VAD practitioner who has co-founded the WA VAD Group).
4.00	Session 6 - Your wishlist: How can VADANZ best support you? Molly Carlile AM leads an all-conference workshop to help define VADANZ's future role.
4.40	Session 7 - Have your say: Shaping the national policy agenda Audience votes for VAD policy priorities, to be presented to policymakers on Day 2 of the Conference.
4.50	Closing remarks Dr Linda Swan, CEO of Go Gentle Australia, and Dr Gareth Wahl, Emergency Physician and Secretary of VADANZ. Including a personal message from Andrew Denton.
5.00 - 6.30	Networking event: ‘The Power of Choice’ exhibition Your chance to preview a new exhibition from Go Gentle and renowned portrait photographer Julian Kingma.

Thursday 28 Sept 2023 Voluntary Assisted Dying: A safe and accessible system for patients and clinicians
8.00	Registration
8.45	Welcome Acknowledgement of Country and welcome from our MC, Molly Carlile AM
8.55	Session 1 - Opening address Delivered by the Attorney-General of South Australia, Kyam Maher
9.00	Session 2 - Insights from Day 1: Frontline perspectives Dr Linda Swan, CEO of Go Gentle Australia, Professor Michael Dooley, Director of Pharmacy at Alfred Health, and Professor Liz Reymond, Director of Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Support and Pharmacy Service, present insights from Day 1 of the conference.
9.10	Session 3 - The difference VAD makes Hear directly from individuals with first-hand experience.
9.30	Session 4 - Navigating VAD: The experience of participating and non-participating providers Dr Paul Eleftheriou, Principal of Nous, will chair this session featuring presentations from Tsultrim Pearse from Karuna Hospice, Queensland, Jane Pickering in her role as CEO of Eldercare (aged care and retirement living in South Australia) and a guide to adapting policies on VAD from Nicky Stitt, a Care Navigator in Victoria. Followed by a panel discussion.
10.30	Morning tea (30 mins)
11.00	Session 5 - Establishing VAD as part of usual practice Palliative medicine specialist Dr Rohan Vora is joined by a panel including Tina McCafferty, Chief Executive of Tōtara Hospice NZ; Josh Fear, Head of Policy at Palliative Care Australia; Dr Roger Hunt, Palliative Care Specialist in SA; and Suzie Hooper, Director of Clinical Services and VAD Response, Epworth, Victoria.
12.00	Session 6 - Meeting the needs of different patient groups in VAD Haley McNamara will share Queensland Health's approach to designing VAD resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We'll also hear about Australia's first case of organ donation for a VAD patient in Victoria from Larna Woodyatt.
12.30	Lunch (1hr)
1.30	Welcome back
1.40	Session 7 - Building a sustainable VAD service Dr Clare Fellingham is joined by Professor Liz Reymond, Director of QVAD Support Services, Dr Peter Allcroft, Senior Staff Specialist at Southern Adelaide Palliative Services, Dr Wade Stedman, NSW VAD Clinical Lead, and Dr Kerr Wright, GP New Zealand
2.40	Session 8 - How best to support and develop VAD clinicians? Dr Hannah Gould tells us how the Melbourne Medical School are building VAD into university education. Meg Plaster from the VAD Statewide Care Navigator Service WA reveals insights from her recent Churchill Fellowship.
3.00	Afternoon tea (30 minutes)
3.30	Session 9 - Future directions for VAD ACT Minister for Human Rights Tara Cheyne MLA and Co-Chair of the NT's VAD Expert Advisory Panel The Hon Vicki O’Halloran AO CVO with updates from the territories. This will be followed by a thought provoking session led by Professors Ben White and Lindy Willmott, QUT.
4.15	Closing remarks Molly Carlile AM, Dr Paul Eleftheriou, Dr Linda Swan and Dr Cam McLaren close the conference.
4.30 - 6.00	Networking event: ‘The Power of Choice’ exhibition Your chance to preview a new exhibition from Go Gentle and renowned portrait photographer Julian Kingma.