Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Implementation Conference

In October 2022, Queensland Health hosted the Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Implementation Conference. Healthcare workers were invited to learn how voluntary assisted dying is being implemented to support the delivery of high quality, safe and compassionate services.

The program featured:

  • a keynote address from Andrew Denton
  • expertise from clinicians with experience in the provision of voluntary assisted dying in Western Australia and Victoria
  • firsthand insights on what it means to support a family member through the voluntary assisted dying process
  • deep dives into the voluntary assisted dying process by unpicking case scenarios
  • overview of voluntary assisted dying in Queensland and the supports that will be available to clinicians involved in the provision of services.

Conference recordings

Welcome and opening address

This recording features:

  • Welcome to the voluntary assisted dying implementation conference—Hon Yvette D'Arth, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, and Professor Keith McNeil, Voluntary Assisted Implementation Taskforce Chair
  • Voluntary assisted dying in Australia—Keynote speaker, Andrew Denton
  • Supporting somone through the voluntary assisted dying process—Professor Ann Bonner, Head of School, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University

How voluntary assisted dying will be implemented in Queensland

This recording features:

  • Ms Tricia Matthews, Project Executive Director, Voluntary Assisted Dying, Queensland Health
  • Dr Fabian Jaramillo, General Practice Liaison Officer, Metro North Hospital and Health Service and Brisbane North Primary Health Network

How voluntary assisted dying will be implemented in Queensland—panel discussion

This recording features:

  • The Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Support and Pharmacy Service (QVAD SPS) and healthcare worker support and wellbeing, and the community of practice—Professor Liz Reymond, Director QVAD SPS, Metro South Health.
  • How to become an authorised voluntary assisted dying practitioner—Dr Bav Manoharan, Clinical Lead Voluntary Assisted Dying, Queensland Health.
  • The mandatory training and healthcare worker education module—Professor Ben White, Professor of End-of-Life Law and Regulation, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, QUT, Professor Lindy Willmott, Professor of Law, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, QUT.

Voluntary assisted dying in Hospital and Health Services

This recording features:

  • Dr Marlow Coates, Executive Director of Medical Services, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service
  • Dr Lynnette Knowles, Director Clinical Governance, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service
  • Lynette Fergusson, Director, Medical Workforce Planning and Projects, Metro South Health
  • Wendy Kinton, Program Manager, End-of-Life Care, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service

Voluntary assisted dying in practice—real case scenarios

This recording features:

  • Dr Bav Manoharan, Clinical Lead Voluntary Assisted Dying, Queensland Health
  • Dr Cameron McLaren, Medical Oncologist, Victoria
  • Dr Clare Fellingham, Clinical Lead Voluntary Assisted Dying, East Metropolitan Health Service, Western Australia
  • Dr Gareth Wahl, Emergency Physician, Toxicologist, Co-Director of Emergency Medicine Training, Western Australia
  • Professor Michael Dooley, Director of Pharmacy, Alfred Health, Victoria
  • Meg Plaster, Clinical Nurse Consultant, WA Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide Care Navigator Service

Voluntary assisted dying in practice panel Q&A—facilitated by Andrew Denton

This recording features:

  • Professor Ann Bonner, Head of School, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University
  • Dr Cameron McLaren, Medical Oncologist, Victoria
  • Dr Clare Fellingham, Clinical Lead Voluntary Assisted Dying, East Metropolitan Health Service, Western Australia
  • Meg Plaster, Clinical Nurse Consultant, WA Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide Care Navigator Service
  • Professor Michael Dooley, Director of Pharmacy, Alfred Health, Victoria

Last updated: 11 November 2022