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Since 2019, 14,000 people have applied for VAD and there have been more than 7,000 deaths using a VAD substance in Australia.
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VAD activity increased by approximately 40% nationwide in 2024-25, with the largest growth in Tasmania, followed by Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
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VAD now accounts for up to 3% of all deaths nationally, including around 5% of cancer deaths and one in three motor neurone disease (MND) deaths.
Canberra – A new national report has found Australia’s voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws fulfil their promise to relieve suffering and provide terminally ill people with greater choice at the end of life.
The 2026 State of VAD report, compiled using publicly available data from each state’s VAD oversight body, shows a growing number of terminally ill people are choosing the compassionate, person-centred option.
“Voluntary assisted dying is a public policy success story,” said Go Gentle Australia CEO, Dr Linda Swan. “The evidence paints a reassuring picture where Australia’s laws work as intended, services deliver compassionate care, and dying people can choose the comfort they want at the end of life.”
Key findings
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14,000 people have applied for VAD in Australia since laws were introduced in Victoria in 2019. There have been more than 7,000 deaths using a VAD substance.
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A typical VAD applicant is in their 70s, has terminal cancer and is receiving palliative care. Slightly more men choose VAD than women.
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VAD activity increased by approximately 40% nationwide in 2024-25, with the largest growth in Tasmania, followed by Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
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VAD now accounts for around 2% of all deaths nationally, including around 5% of cancer deaths and one in three motor neurone disease (MND) deaths.
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More than 1,600 trained health professionals provide VAD services nationwide.
While it is overall a good news story, the increased public demand for VAD services raises concerns about workforce capacity and long-term sustainability.
“As more people ask for access to VAD we must ensure the system is properly resourced to support both patients and clinicians,” Dr Swan said. “Funding shortfalls and inadequate remuneration place strain on providers. Many VAD health professionals work after hours and on weekends and receive little or no financial compensation.”
Commonwealth policies now a major roadblock
Despite progress, several barriers continue to limit equitable access to VAD. These include complex processes, difficulty finding trained practitioners – particularly in regional areas – and obstruction by some individuals and institutions. The report identifies Commonwealth-imposed restrictions as among the most significant.
Go Gentle Australia founding director Andrew Denton said: “Outdated federal laws, including restrictions on the use of telehealth, hinder care and cause unnecessary distress.
“It is unreasonable and cruel to require dying people, especially those living in regional areas, to travel long distances for in-person appointments at every step of the process, particularly when safe and effective alternatives exist.
“It is a simple one-line fix to amend the Commonwealth Criminal Code to allow the use of electronic communications in VAD provision. It is an equity issue, but there appears to be resistance at very senior levels of the federal government, based on outdated views.”
Another major obstacle is obstruction. “A right to conscientiously object to being involved in VAD is a cornerstone of Australia’s VAD laws. But a right to object should never become a right to obstruct,” Mr Denton said.
“Evidence shows that obstruction can cause serious distress and harm to dying people and their families. It is also unethical and against professional codes of conduct and must be addressed.”
VAD supports end-of-life preferences
The report highlights the benefits that additional autonomy offers at the end of life. It shows that VAD helps more Australians die at home, aligning with common preferences. While only around 15% of Australians typically die at home, VAD applicants achieve this outcome at more than three times that rate.
More than 80% of applicants also receive palliative care. This demonstrates the two approaches can, and do, work together.
Need for greater awareness
One of the biggest challenges remains ongoing stigma and limited public awareness of VAD. Surveys show just one in three people are aware that VAD is now legal.
“People can only benefit from the VAD choice if they know it exists,” Dr Swan said. “Governments and health information providers must play a greater role to make sure people are aware of and informed about their end-of-life options.”
Call for continued reform
Mr Denton said progress on end-of-life choice had been significant since Go Gentle’s founding ten years ago, but more work was needed.
“The Northern Territory has yet to pass VAD legislation. Territorians deserve the same end-of-life choices as other Australians. Existing laws must also be protected and improved to ensure access for all eligible people.”
The full State of VAD report is available via the Go Gentle Australia website.
About us:
Go Gentle Australia was founded in 2016 by broadcaster Andrew Denton. It is a national charity that promotes and enables choice at the end of life, including the option of voluntary assisted dying.
Contact details:
Media enquiries: 0426 283 865 |[email protected]
Interviews available with:
Dr Linda Swan, CEO, Go Gentle Australia and
Andrew Denton, Founding Director, Go Gentle Australia
