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Advance Care Directives - Document Redesign Project

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Consultation has concluded. Below is the record of the engagement.

This Consultation is now closed and under review. Thank you


Have your say on the redesigned Advance Care Directives Form and Guide

What's being decided?

Advance Care Directives are essential for empowering South Australians to record their values and wishes and make clear legal arrangements for their future health care. The rules that govern Advance Care Directives are written in the Advance Care Directives Act 2013.

We have redesigned the Advance Care Directive form and DIY kit, and we want to hear what you think. The redesigned documents have been amended to make improvements as recommended by Professor Wendy Lacey, who undertook a review of the Advance Care Directives Act 2013 in 2019. The redesigned documents aim to make it easier for people to complete the Advance Care Directive form and are accompanied by an updated instructional guide to assist with the process.

The ‘What has changed’ fact sheet provides a summary of what the differences are between the current and new design.

You can have your say by leaving a comment via our guest book, completing the survey or by emailing us at Health.AdvanceCarePlanning@sa.gov.au

Background

We are committed to progressing regulatory reform that will better support all South Australians in planning ahead for their future healthcare.

Illness and injury can strike at any time, which may severely reduce or remove an individual’s ability to make their own decisions. An Advance Care Directive makes it easy for others to know what your health care wishes are when you are unable to make these decisions yourself.

The Act was reviewed in 2019, and a number of changes were recommended to improve Advance Care Directives. We are in the process of amending this legislation, and by making improvements to the Advance Care Directives documents, and we want to hear what you think.

Get involved

Find out more:

Have your say by:

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback to finalise the Advance Care Directive Form and Guide. The documents will then be relaunched for the South Australian community to use. Please note, once the new design is launched, the old form and DIY Kit will still be valid and are legal documents.

This Consultation is now closed and under review. Thank you


Have your say on the redesigned Advance Care Directives Form and Guide

What's being decided?

Advance Care Directives are essential for empowering South Australians to record their values and wishes and make clear legal arrangements for their future health care. The rules that govern Advance Care Directives are written in the Advance Care Directives Act 2013.

We have redesigned the Advance Care Directive form and DIY kit, and we want to hear what you think. The redesigned documents have been amended to make improvements as recommended by Professor Wendy Lacey, who undertook a review of the Advance Care Directives Act 2013 in 2019. The redesigned documents aim to make it easier for people to complete the Advance Care Directive form and are accompanied by an updated instructional guide to assist with the process.

The ‘What has changed’ fact sheet provides a summary of what the differences are between the current and new design.

You can have your say by leaving a comment via our guest book, completing the survey or by emailing us at Health.AdvanceCarePlanning@sa.gov.au

Background

We are committed to progressing regulatory reform that will better support all South Australians in planning ahead for their future healthcare.

Illness and injury can strike at any time, which may severely reduce or remove an individual’s ability to make their own decisions. An Advance Care Directive makes it easy for others to know what your health care wishes are when you are unable to make these decisions yourself.

The Act was reviewed in 2019, and a number of changes were recommended to improve Advance Care Directives. We are in the process of amending this legislation, and by making improvements to the Advance Care Directives documents, and we want to hear what you think.

Get involved

Find out more:

Have your say by:

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback to finalise the Advance Care Directive Form and Guide. The documents will then be relaunched for the South Australian community to use. Please note, once the new design is launched, the old form and DIY Kit will still be valid and are legal documents.

Consultation has concluded. Below is the record of the engagement.

  • Consultation Outcome

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    The Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW) conducted a six week consultation from 3 June 2022 to 15 July 2022, via YourSAy about the Advance Care Directives Documents Redesign Project.

    The Redesign Project was initiated in response to recommendation 2 of Professor Wendy Lacey’s Review of the Advance Care Directives Act 2013, undertaken in 2019:

    Recommendation2: Both the ACD Form and the DIY Kit need to be reviewed and the latter significantly updated. Each needs to be tailored for a layperson and contain sufficient information for a person to complete an ACD without the necessity to consult either a lawyer or a doctor. However, both documents should make it clear that speaking with both (or either) a lawyer and a doctor may result in the completion of an ACD which more closely reflects the wishes and preferences of the person.

    This consultation received 34 comments, 24 emailed submissions and 17 survey responses. In addition to YourSAy, DHW collaborated with The PlugIn- COTA SA and ThinkHuman to run workshops with community members, generating considerable interest and valuable feedback in the redesign project.

    From July 2022 to February 2024, the new ACD materials were developed in consideration of all the feedback received, under the oversight of the ACP Oversight Group. The redesigned documents were formally launched on 1 March 2024.

    Changes to the Advance Care Directive Form include:

    • a new section for noting current health conditions
    • the ability to appoint a ‘first preferred’ Substitute Decision-Maker
    • the option to appoint up to four Substitute Decision-Makers (old form allowed three), with a new ‘Appointing additional Substitute Decision-Maker’ form available if more than four are needed
    • a new section about organ donation preferences
    • a new section to add an expiry date for the Advance Care Directive; and
    • clearer instructions for authorised witnesses and making certified copies.

    Changes to the new Advance Care Directive Kit include:

    • a contemporary appearance and clarity
    • simplified and easier to understand content
    • more suggested statements under each section
    • an updated step-by-step ‘do-it-yourself’ guide
    • one Advance Care Directive Form (the old Kit had two).
    • The redesigned Advance Care Directive Kit is also now free (previously $5.00).

    DHW extends gratitude to everyone who contributed to shaping the new Advance Care Directives documents.

    For more information about Advance Care Directives, how to create one and where to obtain a free hardcopy Advance Care Directive Kit, please visit www.advancecaredirectives.sa.gov.au.