The Voluntary Assisted Dying Workforce in Western Australia

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Workforce in Western Australia

Background

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019 (the Act) enables eligible people in Western Australia (WA) to choose the manner and timing of their death.

As a relatively new end-of-life choice, the demand for VAD services has exceeded expected demand which has resulted in significant workforce challenges. As per the statutory review of the Act, urgent action is needed to support workforce sustainability ensuring access to VAD, alongside other end-of-life care choices, remains compassionate, safe, and accessible.

More specifically, this work aligns to:

Recommendation 6: That the Department of Health:

1. continues to monitor and evaluate the voluntary assisted dying workforce including the Statewide Care Navigator Service and the Statewide Pharmacy Service.
2. ensures that health service providers are meeting their responsibilities as outlined in the Managing Voluntary Assisted Dying Policy including appropriately resourcing the voluntary assisted dying workforce.

The full report is available here: Statutory Review – Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019 (parliament.wa.gov.au).

Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) became a legally available end-of-life choice for eligible Western Australians on 1 July 2021 under the Act.

The recent statutory review of the Act (Section 2.6 Workforce resourcing) found that the sector has experienced an unanticipated level of demand for VAD services during the first two years of implementation. This has resulted in workforce challenges, where a small number of practitioners support majority of people seeking to access VAD in WA. As per recommendation 6 of the Statutory Review, supporting workforce sustainability emerged as a key issue to ensure equitable access to VAD alongside other end-of-life care choices.

About this survey

The Department of Health is seeking feedback from medical and nurse practitioners eligible to provide VAD services in WA regarding their experiences undertaking VAD Approved Training, and roles designated by the Act.

The purpose of this survey is to understand the enablers and barriers that help or hinder medical and nurse practitioners to undertake VAD Approved Training, renewal training and roles under the Act.

The survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

Eligibility to participate in the survey

To participate in the survey you are required to:

1. Be practicing in Western Australia

2. Meet eligibility criteria described in the Act (for coordinating, consulting, or administrating practitioners) by holding current registration as either:

• A Generalist Medical Practitioner for at least 10 years
• A Specialist Medical Practitioner for at least 1 year
• Limited or Provisional Specialist Medical Practitioner (overseas trained), for at least 5 years
• A Nurse Practitioner for at least 2 years

You are NOT required to have acted in a role designated by the Act. The department wishes to hear from all eligible medical and nurse practitioners regardless of whether they have prior experience engaging with VAD.

The first section of this survey will determine if you are eligible.

For further information regarding the eligibility requirements to act in a role designated in the Act see: Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019 - [00-b0-00].pdf (legislation.wa.gov.au).  

Confidentiality

All responses will be kept confidential and anonymous. Your individual answers will not be shared with anyone outside of the End-of-life Care Program Team at the Department of Health.  

Paper-based surveys

If you would prefer to complete a paper-based version of the survey, please contact the End-of-life Care Program team at: VADpolicy@health.wa.gov.au

Contact Information

For questions regarding you participation in the survey or issues with completing the survey please contact the End-of-life Care Program team at: VADpolicy@health.wa.gov.au

Support

If reading this information on voluntary assisted dying has raised distressing issues for you the following helplines can be contacted for support:

Drs4Drs WA – 1300 374 377 for confidential and qualified advice (available 24/7) to any doctor in Australia

LifeLine WA – 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or online chat www.lifelinewa.org.au

The Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 (available 24/7) or online chat www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au