Dying with Dignity NSW

25/04/2026

LET’S TALK ABOUT DEATH, BABY……The generosity of James Valentine and his family in publicly sharing the story of his illness and death using VAD creates an opportunity for us all to think about our end-of-life wishes and discuss them with our loved ones.

The more we talk about death and dying the easier it becomes - so why not start today?

If you want some encouragement you can take it from the man himself by listening to this podcast episode where James talks about death with Andrew Denton and clinical psychologist Dr Kerrie Noonan.

Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lets-talk-about-death-baby-with-andrew-denton-kerrie-noonan/id1531981819?i=1000702756649

For someone who revelled in celebrating humanity, one of James Valentine's final wishes was to make it publicly known his choice to access NSW's VAD laws.

23/04/2026

A sad farewell to James Valentine who entertained Sydney radio audiences for decades.

He chose to use voluntary assisted dying and ended his remarkable life on his own terms.

He will be greatly missed….

The presenter and professional saxophone player is being remembered for his ability to explore the humour and oddities of daily life on the airwaves.

14/04/2026

It is absurd that VAD cannot be discussed using telehealth due an overriding federal law designed to prevent su***de chat rooms on the internet. It makes things even harder for those in regional areas to access VAD. Victorian MP Emma Vulin has MND and is asking the federal Attorney General to fix this problem once and for all.

Can you send a quick message to the AG using this link - bit.ly/DGRowland

A Labor politician living with MND writes to the attorney-general, calling for laws banning doctors from discussing voluntary assisted dying during telehealth appointments to be revised.

04/04/2026

PLEASE SIGN & SHARE: Hem’s Law would allow a merciful end to the final cruel stages of dementia - a slow and tortured death by starvation and dehydration. No-one should have to endure that. Sign here -

Hem's Law: Mercy, When Death Has Begun

03/04/2026

So sad for such a young woman to be in need of VAD but we are very glad that she has this option.

Before ending her life through voluntary assisted dying, Annaliese Holland shares her final wishes and advice on living a full life.

31/03/2026

Proof that having VAD as an option at end-of-life brings great comfort for people facing death. Congratulations and thank you Go Gentle Australia for sharing the national impact of VAD.

Our vision is an Australia where we all have choice at the end of life. We empower people to choose the care that is right for them, including the option of voluntary assisted dying.

29/03/2026

Farewell to our wonderful advocate, Janet Cohen, who died peacefully on 16 March. Despite being approved to end her life in Switzerland several years ago, Janet wanted to die at her home on the NSW Mid North coast. Continued treatment for her lung cancer gave her several more good years during which she supported our campaign for VAD in so many ways. She shared her story in numerous media articles and interviews and flew to Sydney to speak with MPs and appear at the parliamentary inquiry during the highly stressful VAD debates in 2021. We are so grateful for her incredible support. She is gone but certainly not forgotten.

Share via: Facebook X (Twitter) Janet Cohen fought for the right for the terminally ill to die with dignity. Janet outside State Parliament with MP Alex Greenwich, who introduced the VAD Bill, and former Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams. Janet with partner Glenn Brewer looking at plans for the hist...

21/02/2026

With voluntary assisted dying (VAD), people can make plans and spend valuable time with loved ones, so they can say goodbye how and when they want to. We see more and more people like Nigel through our Witness Program, who with the support of family and friends, take control of more than just their death when they access VAD.

Living funerals are an emerging practice in Australia, allowing people to say goodbye to loved ones before they die.

07/02/2026

Listen to our President, Penny Hackett, speak about the upcoming two-year review of the NSW VAD legislation on Nightshift with Suzanne James. Podcast host Suzanne shines a light on the fragility of VAD in light of the Susan Carter bill on residential aged care facilities of 2025, and asks Penny what the future looks like for VAD, and how our Witness Program operates within the VAD process.

You can listen to the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDxDP0pAgoU

Your knowledge, opinions and experience are valuable to us, so if you'd like to have your say on VAD, please complete our survey. It takes less than 15 minutes, and will help guide our submission to the VAD Board for the review. https://bit.ly/VADSurveyFeb26

DWD NSW President Penny Hackett joins Nightshift to unpack what’s working, what’s at risk, and how supporters can shape the future of VAD in NSW.In this 21-m...

11/01/2026

FINALLY…..After almost 30 years it looks like Northern Territorians will once again have voluntary assisted dying laws. And the Federal Government no longer has the power to overturn them. This will be the righting of an historical wrong and will give residents of the NT access to the same compassionate end of life choice as other Australians.