[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [HEALTH]

3 clusters · 7 sources · 12 days · First seen · Last updated

Victoria voluntary assisted dying usage increase

Overview

The state of Victoria, Australia, has reported a significant rise in the use of its voluntary assisted dying (VAD) scheme. For the 2025–26 period, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board recorded 512 deaths, a 31.6% increase from the 389 deaths recorded in the previous year. This figure represents approximately 1.1% of all deaths in the state.

Applications for the scheme also saw a sharp increase, with 1,138 to 1,156 requests reported, marking a nearly 40% rise over the previous financial year. Data indicates that 372 deaths occurred via self-administration, while the remainder were administered by medical practitioners. Demographic trends show that most applicants are aged between 60 and 89, with men making up 54% of applicants. Additionally, residents in regional areas utilize the scheme at a higher rate than their proportion of the population.

Authorities expect continued growth in uptake following legislative changes that allow healthcare practitioners to proactively discuss the subject with patients and extend the medical prognosis requirement to 12 months.

In response to evolving care needs, the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) has called for federal reform to allow VAD discussions via telehealth. The ACN argues that current restrictions under the Criminal Code Act 1995 create barriers for regional and remote patients. ACN CEO Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz described the legal restriction as an “inadvertent drafting artefact,” noting that practitioners currently face potential criminal prosecution and significant fines for using carriage services to discuss VAD care.

Entities

Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board · Victoria · Anthony Albanese · Australian College of Nursing · Kathryn Zeitz

Timeline

  1. [HEALTH] 3 sources
    Australian College of Nursing seeks telehealth reform for VAD

    The Australian College of Nursing is urging federal law reform to allow clinicians to discuss voluntary assisted dying via telehealth, citing outdated 2005 anti-suicide legislation as a barrier.

  2. [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Victoria reports increase in voluntary assisted dying deaths

    Victoria, Australia, reports a 38% increase in voluntary assisted dying requests, with 512 deaths recorded in the year ending June 2026 as the state prepares for legislative expansions.

  3. [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Victoria assisted dying deaths and applications surge

    Voluntary assisted dying deaths in Victoria, Australia, rose to 512 in 2025–26, accounting for 1.1% of all deaths. Applications increased by nearly 40% following recent legislative changes.

Sources

agedcareinsite.com.au · anmj.org.au · cathnews.com · hellocare.com.au · infocatolica.com · lesalonbeige.fr · lifesite.net

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history