The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (the Act) provides a legal framework for eligible people to choose the manner and timing of their death. The Act came into effect on 19 June 2019, making Victoria the first state in Australia to pass voluntary assisted dying (VAD) legislation. 

This report reviews the first four years of the Act, finding it is generally operating safely and as intended. The report also identifies areas for improvement including enhancing community awareness, supporting the workforce, and ensuring equitable access, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and multicultural communities.

The review examined how the legislation has been implemented and is operating to enable access for Victorians seeking this end-of-life choice, as well as evaluating the systems, processes, and programs that support VAD.

The review highlights the need for clearer guidance for health practitioners and services, improved functionality of the VAD portal, culturally appropriate resources for diverse communities, and addressing barriers to access. The findings also point to the importance of addressing the psychological safety and wellbeing of the VAD workforce.

The report is accompanied by Appendix 5: Victoria's First Peoples consultation and the Government response. 

Key findings

• Between 2019 and 2023, 1,527 permits were issued for people who were eligible to access VAD.
• Of these, 912 individuals chose to use the VAD substance while another 400 individuals had the substance dispensed but did not use it.
• The number of permits issued each year has increased over time, effectively doubling between 2019–20 and 2022–23.
• Demand for VAD is anticipated to increase as community awareness of VAD increases, with modelling projecting that there will be about 700 applicants per year by 2028.
• The median time to obtain a permit has decreased from 28 days to 21 days.
• 77% of people seeking VAD and 93% of families reported that the process was compassionate.
• Departmental guidelines for health services, aged care services and health practitioners are not sufficiently clear about minimum expectations or obligations for practitioners and organisations.

Recommendations

1. Increase the provision of sector guidance and build on approaches to continuous improvement.
2. Enhance community awareness of VAD and grief and bereavement supports.
3. Support the workforce to ensure VAD is accessible, viable and sustainable.
4. Consider enhancements to the statewide service models to meet anticipated future demand.
5. Advocate to the Commonwealth Government for greater federal support for VAD.