Voices From Voluntary Assisted Dying
Episodes
Episode 20 – Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith’s own reflections on VAD
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Roles are reversed this episode as Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith – who normally sits in the host’s chair – is interviewed by previous gues...
Episode 19 - Inside Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Reforms
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jane Morris, President of Dying with Dignity Victoria, traces her lifelong commitment to voluntary assisted dying, shaped by childhood experiences, nu...
Episode 18 - Kimberly
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kimberly shares the deeply personal experience of supporting two loved ones through motor neurone disease and voluntary assisted dying. Rowan who decl...
Episode 17 – How the NT led the world on assisted dying
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The world’s first voluntary assisted dying law to be enacted and used was passed in Australia’s Northern Territory – only to be over...
Episode 16 – Dr Arnold’s opposition to acceptance of VAD: a personal journey
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Lynn Arnold once stood firmly against voluntary assisted dying (VAD). Initially concerned about the potential for abuse, his perspective changed af...
Episode 15 – Supporting patient-centred decisions in palliative care
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Voluntary assisted dying isn’t just about law – it’s about people, compassion, and choice. Dr Peter Allcroft, one of South Australia...
Episode 14 – Dementia decisions and the legal limits of assisted dying
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Casey Haining is a Research Fellow and PhD candidate at the Australian Centre for Health Law Research at QUT and also holds a research position at the...
Episode 13 – A GP’s perspective on voluntary assisted dying
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With nearly 40 years’ experience as a general practitioner, Dr Nick Carr was one of the first GPs trained in VAD in Victoria. He reflects on the...
Episode 12 – Faith, Autonomy and the Right to Die
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rev Dr Anna Grant-Henderson, a Uniting Church minister, reflects on her journey toward supporting VAD, shaped by personal experiences, parish ministry...
Episode 11 – What most Australians still don’t know about voluntary assisted dying
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben White is Professor of End-of-Life Law and Regulation at QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Law Research. With over 200 publications and $45 ...
Episode 10 - The Buddhist Lens on Voluntary Assisted Dying
04 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Letting go – of control, fear, and clinging – is not a failure, but a path to peace, compassion, and deep spiritual clarity at the end of ...
Episode 9 - Dignity in Dying: Reflections From VAD Care Navigators
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tianna and Kate both work within South Australia’s Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) service. Tianna, a VAD liaison officer, and Kate, a VAD care n...
Episode 8 — Eve
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eve’s mother, Marion, accessed voluntary assisted dying in 2023 after living with multiple chronic health conditions. Eve reflects on her mother...
Episode 7 - Rowan: “Love lasts longer than life”
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rowan’s mum Felicia, was born in a refugee camp before immigrating to Australia as a young child. Despite lifelong visual impairment Felicia wen...
Episode 6 - VAD progress & the road ahead
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite much progress with voluntary assisted dying in Australia, challenges still exist, including the need for streamlined processes, expanded acces...
Episode 5 - Supporting families through the journey of VAD
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many families find it difficult to navigate the complexities of voluntary assisted dying (VAD). That’s according to Jane Nosworthy and Ker...
Episode 4 – Carolyn
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Carolyn, a long-time GP, shares her profound journey through medicine and palliative care, highlighting her dedication to voluntary assisted dying (VA...
Episode 3 - Alison
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alison's mother, Linda, was a long-term resident of South Australia, who decided to move to New South Wales in the final months of her life to be care...
Episode 2 - John
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Professor John Willoughby, a neurologist and advocate for voluntary assisted dying (VAD), reflects on his journey of supporting legislative change to ...
Episode 1 - Janelle
26 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janelle reflects on her mother’s decision to pursue Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) after a progressive illness. Comprehensive information on Volunta...