End-of-Life Choice in Victoria

Thank you to the Victorian Parliament for passing the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) amendments. These improvements bring me great peace of mind, because it’s reassuring to know that I have choices – and good choices – at the end of my life.

Personally, I’m not afraid of death, but I’ve always worried about how I’m going to die. My father, towards the end, struggled for each breath and finally gave up the fight – alone – in a hospital bed. I don’t want that to happen to me.

It’s why I campaigned so determinedly, alongside many others, to bring Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) into Victoria. When it passed through Parliament in 2017, I was overjoyed. It meant that if I ever face a terminal illness, I’ll have a choice about how my story ends, and the people I love can be beside me.

But after several years and a thorough review, it became clear that the law needed improving. The amendments that have just passed both houses of Parliament will vastly improve the process and access to VAD – for example, by extending the eligibility from six months to twelve, and removing the ‘gag clause’ so doctors can speak freely about all end-of-life options.

I warmly thank organisations such as Go Gentle Australia and everyone who cared enough – and fought – to make these amendments happen. I also thank every politician in the Victorian Parliament who voted to pass them.

Finally, I want to acknowledge Julian Kingma, whose stunningly beautiful photos capture the love, compassion and care that surround a VAD death. The image I’ve used here, from his book The Power of Choice, reminds me that in the end, it’s not about death at all, but about how we live – with compassion, honesty, and the freedom to choose peace when the time is right.

#VoluntaryAssistedDying #VADVictoria #EndOfLifeChoice #DyingWithDignity #Compassion #ChoiceAndDignity #GoGentleAustralia #ThePowerOfChoice