Voluntary assisted dying is about choice. It provides an additional end-of-life option to people who are suffering and dying if they meet strict eligibility criteria.
Voluntary assisted dying is available to eligible Queenslanders from January 1, 2023 after the Queensland Parliament passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 in September 2021.
It is one of several choices a person who is suffering and dying may now consider when thinking about their end-of-life care options.
Voluntary assisted dying is not emergency healthcare. People may take weeks or months to work their way through the process and make the final decision.
Find out more about voluntary assisted dying here.
Rural and Remote
Residents in rural and remote areas of Queensland sometimes face difficulties accessing specialist services. The Mackay Hospital and Health Service’s Voluntary Assisted Dying team is committed to ensuring people living in rural and remote areas have equal access to timely, comprehensive care. The MHHS VAD team includes a dedicated rural VAD care coordinator to ensure access to the VAD process in isolated areas.
Information for people in regional and remote areas
Information for first nations people
Support
Thinking about end-of-life care options may be upsetting or confronting for some people. People who can support you include:
- your doctor and healthcare team
- your family, friends and carers
- Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Support Service (QVAD-Support)
- Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Pharmacy Service (QVAD-Pharmacy)
- 1300 MH CALL: Mental Health Access Line call 1300 64 22 55 (24/7)
- Other support services