Advice and Workshops

Individual Advice

We provide advice using medical practitioners and trained counsellors and this advice is free to members and in the first instance to members of the public.

Advice varies according to the situation - from advice regarding the law (Medical Treatment Act, medical enduring power of attorney and advance directives), to second opinion regarding palliative care and palliative medication, or advice regarding appropriate ways of communicating with treating doctors and with family.

Please note that this advice is always within the current law and DWDV cannot provide the names of doctors who might be prepared to give more specific advice or assistance.

Library

DWDV has an extensive library of both books and videos available for loan to members. These include bioethics, life stories, debates and 'how to' instructions. Loans are free to members, although a security deposit is required and you will need to pay for postage if you would like us to send titles to you.

Special Advance Directive Forms

While DWDV's General Advance Directive form is downloadable free of charge to the public, our special Advance Directive forms are available only to members. Join today!

Workshops

These are more detailed than the individual advice and take the form of small group interactive workshop of around two hours duration. They are held regularly, approximately every two months, both in the city and at country locations. They are open to the public, usually at the invitation of members but also through local advertising.

These workshops aim to educate the public about end of life issues in a practical sense, discussing the law, medical enduring powers of attorney, advance directives, refusing treatment, palliative care, patient advocacy, tube feeding, communication with family and the medical profession, and the use of medications at the end of life.

Workshop prices are:

Members: Pensioner $20, Non-pensioner $40
Non-members: Pensioner $40, Non-pensioner $80

If you are interested in attending one of these workshops or would like more information, contact us.

What participants have said:

"Great clarification of many issues - especially on communication and strength of being in control of your desires and decisions." §

"It is very uplifting to be able to feel that I am in control of my life and my demise. I see it as a positive thing and the whole workshop was in a positive spirit." §

"Excellent! A great help to plan ahead and save our children distress later and have some input in our terminal choices and care." §

"Extremely useful from all points of view especially in laying out the options available under the law, and in empasising the need to plan and communicate." §