Voluntary assisted dying care navigators (care navigators) are nurses and allied health professionals who help a person seeking voluntary assisted dying, as well as their carers, family, friends, their usual healthcare providers and health service when needed. They can:
- explain what voluntary assisted dying is.
- explain how to access voluntary assisted dying.
- find doctors who can assess a person for eligibility to access voluntary assisted dying.
- help to ensure a person can access the support they may need regarding voluntary assisted dying.
- provide information and support to carers, families, friends (support people) and healthcare providers.
They may assist with identifying appropriate service referral pathways and connecting people to health practitioners and services that best meet their specific needs and goals of care.
Care navigators provide education to health services and health practitioners on voluntary assisted dying. They can also run medical practitioner training days for health services.
When the care navigator service might help
Many people are supported through the voluntary assisted dying process by their own doctor, healthcare team, the health services they attend and their support people.
However, some people may need extra support. In these cases, care navigators can work with the person and others. For example, they may help with connecting people with VAD assessing doctors or other healthcare services as needed. They may also provide advice and support to the usual healthcare team caring for a person accessing voluntary assisted dying.
A person who receives support from the voluntary assisted dying care navigators does not have to go ahead with or use voluntary assisted dying if they decide not to or change their mind.
The care navigators may also be able to assist a person with some of the costs related to voluntary assisted dying.
Contact the care navigator service
The voluntary assisted dying care navigators are based in health services across Victoria and can be contacted Monday and Friday during business hours by the following methods:
- Phone: (03) 8559 5823
- Email: vadcarenavigator@petermac.org
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Reviewed 19 September 2024