Voluntary assisted dying five-year review

The Department of Health’s Centre for Evaluation and Research Evidence has reviewed the operation of the first four years of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017. The review took place between June 2023 and June 2024.

The review found that voluntary assisted dying is working as it was intended. Voluntary assisted dying provides a safe and compassionate end of life choice to eligible Victorians.

Five recommendations have been made to continue to improve access to voluntary assisted dying and the experience of Victorians who choose this end of life option. The recommendations are:

Recommendation 1: Increase the provision of sector guidance and build on approaches to continuous improvement.
Recommendation 2: Enhance community awareness of VAD and grief and bereavement supports.
Recommendation 3: Support the workforce to ensure VAD is accessible, viable and sustainable.
Recommendation 4: Consider enhancements to the statewide service models to meet anticipated future demand.
Recommendation 5: Advocate to the Commonwealth Government for greater federal support for VAD.

The Government has accepted all five recommendations.

Review of the Operation of Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017

pdf 7.86 MB

Review of the Operation of Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017

docx 1.71 MB

Appendix 5 - Victoria First Peoples’ Consultation: Five-year review of the operation of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017

docx 4.55 MB

Five year review of the operation of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 - Victorian Government response

pdf 198.05 KB

Reviewed 19 February 2025