We believe everyone should experience a compassionate and personalised end to their life, in the company of people who matter, in a place they feel at home, with the support they need.

We are committed to providing compassionate end of life care, enabling individuals to make their own choices, which includes considering Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD). This will not detract from our care for the individual person. Each person and their wellbeing matters to us. We recognise and appreciate the importance of relationships between consumers, their families, and our staff.

Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) comes into effect in Queensland from 1 January 2023, and has been in Victoria since 2019. It is a legal process giving people the choice to undertake voluntary assisted dying. It provides people who are terminally ill and suffering from an advanced and progressive life-limiting condition the right to choose, as they near the end of their life, about how, when, and where they die. There are very clear criteria for who will be eligible to access voluntary assisted dying.

BallyCara will fulfill both our legal obligations and continue to enable a consumer to exercise dignity of choice. BallyCara will not provide or participate in VAD, however, a resident will not be asked to leave Residential Care, neither will services be stopped.

For more information, please visit the following sites:

We will not hinder a consumer accessing VAD. Should a person who resides in Residential Aged Care seek information about or wish to access VAD, BallyCara will ensure they are enabled to explore their choice. This is the individual’s process and cannot be initiated by staff or family.

BallyCara strongly believes:

• Consumers should have their spiritual, cultural, and psychological needs respected and fulfilled,
• The consumer will feel heard and enabled to access the information they need with compassion and without judgement, and
• Consumers are treated with dignity and respect in relation to their choices to access VAD.

VAD laws aim to balance rights of individuals at the end of their life with the rights of health care workers, health services and care providers. BallyCara respectively request that should this be an option you choose to explore, you advise the Residential Services Manager so we can fulfill our duty of care. As with all your care requirements, information and documentation is treated confidentially.