This help may be in ways that you are already familiar with, for example providing them with emotional support as they undergo medical treatment or going with them to attend appointments.

You may also be asked to play a formal role that carries responsibilities under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 (the Act). It is important that you understand what these roles are, whether you meet the eligibility requirements, and whether you are emotionally and physically able to support someone in their choice.

The information on this page can help you learn about supporting someone who is considering accessing voluntary assisted dying.

Key resources

Knowing your choices: Information for people considering voluntary assisted dying

The South Australian Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator Service (SAVAD-CNS) can provide you with support and general information about end of life care and voluntary assisted dying, as well as connect you with bereavement support resources and services.

Grief and bereavement support

SA Health has a range of online resources and services to support people experiencing grief and loss through the SA Health Bereavement Portal. This resource lists a selection of online bereavement resources, and links to face-to-face services available to all South Australians.

The following helplines and services provide personal crisis support 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

A person’s choice to access voluntary assisted dying

The Act requires a person requesting access to voluntary assisted dying does so freely and without coercion. Another person, for example a family member, friend or carer, can support someone throughout the process, however they cannot request access on that person’s behalf.

A family member, friend or carer cannot prevent a person from accessing voluntary assisted dying.

Roles you may be asked to participate in

You may be asked by a person accessing voluntary assisted dying to be a:

  • witness to a written declaration
  • Contact Person
  • witness to the administration of the voluntary assisted dying medication by a medical practitioner.

A witness to the written declaration

Two witnesses are required to be present to witness the signing of the written declaration with the Coordinating Medical Practitioner.

In signing the written declaration, the two witnesses are independently certifying that the below statements are true:

  • the person making the declaration appeared to freely and voluntarily sign the declaration or direct another person to sign it on their behalf
  • the person appeared to have decision-making capacity in relation to voluntary assisted dying
  • the person appeared to understand the nature and effect of making the declaration
  • to the best of their knowledge, they are not ineligible to be a witness.

Witnessing a written declaration does not require you to have prior knowledge of the person accessing voluntary assisted dying or specialist knowledge but is based on your observation of the person making the declaration at the time of signing.

You are not eligible to act as a witness to a written declaration if:

  • you are aged 17 years or younger
  • you know or reasonably believe you may be a beneficiary under the person’s will
  • you know or reasonably believe you may otherwise benefit from the death of the person
  • you own or are responsible for the day-to-day operation of a health facility where the person lives or is being treated
  • you are directly involved in providing health services or professional care to the person.

No more than one witness may be a family member of the person making the written declaration.

If a person making a declaration does not know someone eligible to be a witness, it may be appropriate for an administrative health service staff member or care navigator to be their witness, as long as they also meet the criteria.

If the person accessing voluntary assisted dying is unable to sign the written declaration, another person may sign the form on their behalf.

A person signing the written declaration on behalf of the person accessing voluntary assisted dying must:

  • be aged 18 years or older
  • not be a witness to the signing of the Contact Person Appointment Form
  • sign the declaration on the person’s behalf in that person’s presence.

Contact Person

If you intend to act as a Contact Person, you are responsible for:

As Contact Person you are required under the Act to:

  • be aged 18 years or older
  • accept the appointment as the Contact Person.

As Contact Person you may be:

  • the person’s carer, family member, friend
  • someone involved in providing care to the person.

If there is no other practical alternative, a care navigator can be the Contact Person.

The person requesting access to voluntary assisted dying and the Contact Person must complete and sign a Contact Person Appointment Form in the presence of another person aged 18 years or older. The Contact Person Appointment Form will be provided by the Coordinating Medical Practitioner.

If the person requesting access to voluntary assisted dying is unable to sign a Contact Person Appointment Form, another person may sign the form on their behalf. The person signing the declaration on someone’s behalf must:

  • be aged 18 years or older
  • not be a witness to the signing of the Contact Person Appointment Form
  • sign the declaration on the person’s behalf in that person’s presence.

If the person requesting voluntary assisted dying is supported by an interpreter, the interpreter must also certify on the Contact Person Appointment Form that they provided a true and correct translation of any material translated.

A person accessing voluntary assisted dying may change their Contact Person at any time, including at the request of the Contact Person.

If the Contact Person cannot continue with their role, a new Contact Person must be appointed as soon as possible.

A witness to administration of the medication by a medical practitioner

As witness you will need to be present when the Coordinating Medical Practitioner administers the voluntary assisted dying medication to a person who is the subject of a Practitioner Administration Permit.

The person who is the subject of the permit must make a personal administration request to their Coordinating Medical Practitioner in your presence. This request can be verbal, by gesture, or by other means of communication.

As witness you must be present for both the administration request and the administration of the medication by the Coordinating Medical Practitioner.

To be eligible to act as witness you will need to be:

  • aged 18 years or older
  • acting independently of the person’s Coordinating Medical Practitioner.

Acting independently of the Coordinating Medical Practitioner means that you must:

  • not be a family member of the practitioner
  • be employed or engaged under a contract for services by the Coordinating Medical Practitioner.

Before the Coordinating Medical Practitioner administers the medication, you must be satisfied of each of the following:

  • The person appeared to have decision-making capacity in relation to voluntary assisted dying at the time of making their administration request.
  • The person appeared to be acting voluntarily and without coercion.
  • The person’s request to access voluntary assisted dying appeared to be enduring.

You and the Coordinating Medical Practitioner must each complete and sign a Practitioner Administration Form, as required by the Act.