News Updates

  After the first two years of operation, the NSW VAD Act requires a legislative review by the Ministry of Health. This review is a crucial opportunity. It allows the community, healthcare professionals and...

Susan Carter’s heartless bill was defeated by 23 -16 votes With the amazing help of our members and supporters, the attempt by religious groups and MPs to restrict access to voluntary assisted dying (VAD)...

The first full year of official data The NSW VAD Board released its Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 2025 on Friday 28 November - coinciding with the second anniversary of the...

   In our Spring 2025 Newsletter new DWD board member Rowan Huppert writes about his mother’s VAD death. We cover some of the key messages from our recent webinar about palliative care and give...

Public health pioneer and longstanding DWD advocate Dr Tony Adams died last month using the VAD laws he’d campaigned for over many years.  This loving tribute is written by his friend and colleague, Dr...

If you missed our webinar on 29 July (or would like to watch it again) you can access the recording below or use this link to view on our You Tube Channel. Over 350...

If you missed our webinar on 9 April (or would like to watch it again) you can access the recording below or use this link to view on our You Tube Channel. Please feel free...

   Our 2025 Autumn Newsletter covers the celebration of our 50th anniversary and the first year of VAD in NSW. We also share the very moving story of the death of Marie Brogan’s mother...

  Loss, grief and the comfort of a good death The late Queen Elizabeth II famously addressed the country after the terrorist attacks on London in 2001with the words “grief is the price we...

Sarah Barry is a mortality doula, funeral/living wake celebrant and holistic funeral director working with Life Rites Funerals. She’s a professional tarot reader, an artist, chai-maker, and a Vipassana meditator. She loves wearing all...

Seven months of official data The NSW VAD Board Report was released on 29 November for the 7 month period from 28 Nov 2023 - 30 June 2024. During that period 398 terminally ill...

Webinar recording now available If you missed our webinar on 4 September (or would like to watch it again) you can access the recording below or use this link to view on our You Tube Channel....

Our Winter 2024 Newsletter is a bumper edition in a revamped format. We hope you like it. In this edition we have a special tribute to Shayne Higson who contributed so much to our...

It's important that the media and other commentary about voluntary assisted dying is accurate, ethical and respectful and that misinformation is not perpetuated.  Voluntary assisted dying can now be legally accessed by residents of...

Laura’s Choice is an award winning documentary, telling the story of an eccentric, outspoken and feisty 90-year-old, Laura Henkel, who decides she wants to end her life on her own terms. She asks her daughter...