Multicultural communities—voluntary assisted dying
Support in your language
You can get support in your own language:
- Multicultural Connect Line free hotline number 1300 079 020
- Interpreter Service (Help with English) call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) and ask for an interpreter
- Translating and Interpreting Service call 13 14 50
Help communicating
It is important that you understand what is happening at each stage of the voluntary assisted dying process. It is also important that you can communicate your needs and decisions at each stage of the process.
Learn more about what help is available.
Resources on voluntary assisted dying
Easy read
Translated resources
Queensland Health has developed resources about voluntary assisted dying in other languages. It is not possible to translate resources into every language spoken in Queensland. If your language is not listed below, you can get help in your language.
| Language | Title | Type | Created |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic (عربي) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 859.7 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:21:34 |
| Bosnian (Bosanski) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 725.7 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:21:37 |
| Chinese Simplified (简体中文) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 816.0 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:21:41 |
| Chinese Traditional (繁體中文) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 868.7 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:21:43 |
| Croatian (Hrvatski) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 722.0 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:21:45 |
| Dinka (Thuɔŋjäŋ) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 724.2 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:21:48 |
| English | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 719.7 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:21:52 |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 712.1 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:21:56 |
| French (français) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 725.4 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:00 |
| German (Deutsch) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 723.4 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:03 |
| Greek (Ελληνικά) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 717.9 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:06 |
| Hindi (हिंदी) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 895.3 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:11 |
| Italian (Italiano) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 719.7 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:15 |
| Japanese (日本語) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 787.7 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:19 |
| Korean (한국어) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 879.1 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:21 |
| Kurmanji (Kurmancî) | Kurdish Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 725.1 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:26 |
| Nepali (नेपाली) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 884.3 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:32 |
| Portuguese (Português) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 723.0 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:35 |
| Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 786.0 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:37 |
| Samoan (Gagana Sāmoa) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 715.9 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:41 |
| Spanish (Español) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 721.0 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:44 |
| Swahili (Kiswahili) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 717.6 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:47 |
| Thai (ไทย) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 729.1 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:51 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 749.7 KB) | pdf_file | 2022-12-13 12:22:54 |
Video: an overview of voluntary assisted dying
Voluntary assisted dying is one of several choices that a person may have at the end of their life.
It gives people who meet eligibility criteria, and who are suffering and already dying, the option of asking for medical help to end their life. It won't be for everyone.
There are strict eligibility criteria for accessing it.
This is one of the safeguards in place to protect vulnerable people. To be eligible to access voluntary assisted dying, a person must one:
1. Have an eligible condition — an eligible condition is one that is advanced, progressive and will cause death, is expected to cause death within 12 months, and causing suffering that the person considers to be intolerable, too.
2. The person must have decision-making capacity.
3. Be acting voluntarily and without coercion
4. Be at least 18 years of age
5. Fulfill residency requirements.
There are three key phases in the voluntary assisted dying process and each phase has a number of steps.
The request and assessment stage.
This is the stage a person takes to request access to voluntary assisted dying.
It includes what the person and their coordinating and consulting doctor must complete to decide if the person is eligible.
The administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance stage.
These are the steps a person takes to decide how the substance will be administered. The person's coordinating doctor will talk to them about the different options.
It also covers the prescription, supply and administration steps.
After the person dies.
These other steps that occur after the person's death including disposal of any unused remaining substance, death certification and death notification.
Voluntary assisted dying is not emergency health care.
People may take weeks or months to work their way through the process and make the final decision to administer the substance.
People can stop the process at any point, for any reason.
People who are assessed as eligible for voluntary assisted dying may never choose to use it.
For more information visit health.qld.gov.au/vad or contact QVAD support on 1800 431 371.