About the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board (the Review Board) is an independent oversight body. Its role is to oversee, monitor and report on the operation of voluntary assisted dying in Queensland.
The Review Board provides an important safeguard for Queenslanders by reviewing each completed voluntary assisted dying case to ensure the process complied with the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 (the Act). It supports the safe, practical and transparent operation of voluntary assisted dying in Queensland.
The Review Board also has additional functions, including:
- referring any identified issues to relevant entities (such as the Health Ombudsman or the Queensland Police Service)
- keeping government informed about the operation of the Act, through annual and other reports, as outlined in the Act and the Voluntary Assisted Dying Regulation 2022
- researching and making strategic recommendations to improve voluntary assisted dying in Queensland.
The Review Board cannot:
- approve a person as eligible for voluntary assisted dying (it reviews completed cases retrospectively)
- overrule voluntary assisted dying eligibility assessments
- investigate individual complaints or breaches of the Act.
The Office of the Review Board provides secretariat and strategic support to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board. It also manages the Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board Information Management System (QVAD Review Board IMS).
Under the Act, approved forms are to be provided to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board. The Notification and availability of approved forms (PDF 342 kB) lists the forms approved by the Director-General, Queensland Health.
Members
Members of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board are appointed by the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services.
Board member profiles
Chairperson
Associate Professor Helen Irving PSM is nationally and internationally recognised for her contributions in the fields of paediatric and adolescent oncology, telemedicine, paediatric palliative care and medical ethics. She is Clinical Lead of the Queensland Paediatric Palliative Care Haematology and Oncology Network and established the Centre for Children’s Health Ethics and Law.
Deputy Chairperson
Professor Lisa Nissen is an experienced pharmacy practitioner, researcher and educator having worked in hospital and community pharmacies in both metropolitan and rural areas in Australia. Professor Nissen has a specific clinical interest in pain management and palliative care, having worked as a specialist pharmacist in oncology and palliative care before undertaking her PhD with the Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Members
Dr John (Will) Cairns OAM is a Consultant Emeritus with the Townsville University Hospital who has retired from clinical practice as a palliative medicine consultant. Dr Cairns was the founding Director of the Townsville Palliative Care Service for 25 years and has held a range of leadership roles supporting the development of palliative care in Australia at local, statewide and national levels. He is both a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and a Fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Ms Donisha Duff OAM has had an extensive career in health, particularly in Indigenous health. Ms Duff has held a range of board positions and is the current Chairperson of Stars Foundation Ltd.
Dr Leith Henry is a registered psychologist with 25 years of experience including as a trauma counsellor, rehabilitation psychologist, health researcher, wellness program director, Australian Army psychologist, board member, and lecturer at The University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology. Dr Henry holds tribunal positions as well as working in private practice as a consultant focused on developing strategic organisational health and wellbeing frameworks. With expertise in the application of legislation for health-related decision making, Dr Henry is passionate about human rights and identifies respect, integrity, fairness and autonomy as critical professional values.
Mr John Payne is an industrial relations and employment lawyer with over 40 years of experience assisting unions and community organisations with complex legal endeavours. Mr Payne is a consultant and former founding partner of Hall Payne Lawyers and has been awarded life membership at the Industrial Relations Society of Queensland, Queensland Services Union and Australian Services Union. Mr Payne has previously held board positions within residential aged care and not-for-profit organisations.
Mr Geoff Rowe is the Chief Executive Officer of Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia and brings over 40 years of experience in human services, including more than 30 years in senior executive positions in the Queensland Government and not-for-profit sector. His current statutory appointments include the Queensland Public Trustee Advisory & Monitoring Board and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s Aged Care Advisory Group.
Emeritus Professor Lindy Willmott is a legal academic who has worked in the regulatory field of end-of-life decision making for more than two decades. Her research focus is on voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and she is part of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) team that developed training programs for health professionals on end-of-life law, and mandatory VAD training for participating health professionals. She was the Foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research in the Faculty of Business and Law at QUT. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws and a PhD.