Tuesday 3 November | 10:00am
Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden
Free event

Twelve months after voluntary assisted dying became available in the ACT, Palliative Care ACT is hosting a forum to reflect on how the system is working in practice, what has been learned so far, and the experiences of people working within and alongside it.

Palliative care and voluntary assisted dying are not mutually exclusive. They exist within the same broader space of supporting people with life-limiting illness, their families and carers, and both may form part of conversations about choice, comfort, care and end-of-life decision-making.

This forum will bring together clinicians, service providers, sector representatives and lived experience to explore VAD from a range of perspectives and help build a clearer understanding of how the different parts of the system work alongside one another.

Speakers include:

• Dr Sivaraj Rajadorai, Medical Lead for Voluntary Assisted Dying in the ACT, discussing his role and the operation of VAD in the ACT.
• Kate Reed, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, sharing perspectives from her private practice and her experience supporting people with life-limiting illness.
• Julianne Semara, comparing the practical services and supports available in NSW and the ACT.
• Rachel Backhouse, discussing the role of the VAD Navigation Service and the support it provides.
• Darlene Cox, Chair of the ACT Voluntary Assisted Dying Oversight Board, reflecting on implementation and the broader picture after the first 12 months.
• Dr Michael Chapman, speaking from his perspective within the sector.
• More to come.

The forum will provide an opportunity to hear from people involved at different points across the VAD and palliative care landscape, better understand the practical realities of the first year, and consider how services can work alongside one another to support people and families navigating complex end-of-life decisions.

Attendance is free, however registration is essential.