How do I find a doctor who provides VAD?

Australia · 29 August 2026 · 5 min read · Reviewed by Dr Kane Treble

The safest way to find a doctor who provides voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is to contact the official VAD care navigator or support service in your state or territory.

General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. It cannot give you a list of VAD doctors or confirm who can assess you. VAD practitioner rules and referral pathways differ by state and territory, so confirm current options with the official VAD care navigator service or authorised VAD service where you live.

The safest way to find a doctor who provides voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is to contact the official VAD care navigator or support service in your state or territory. These services can explain the local process and may help connect you with a practitioner who is willing and authorised to assess a request.

You can also ask your GP, specialist, palliative care team, hospital treating team or aged care service. But not every doctor provides VAD, and not every doctor is allowed to take on every VAD role.

Start with the care navigator service

Care navigator services are set up to help people find their way through the VAD system. They can usually help patients, families, carers, health workers and services.

Official or government-linked contacts include:

Victoria: Statewide Care Navigator Service, phone (03) 8559 5823, email [email protected]
NSW: NSW VAD Care Navigator Service, phone 1300 802 133, email [email protected]
Queensland: QVAD-Support, phone 1800 431 371, email [email protected]
WA: WA VAD Statewide Care Navigator Service, phone (08) 9431 2755, email [email protected]
South Australia: SA VAD Care Navigator Service, phone 0403 087 390, email [email protected]
Tasmania: VAD Navigation Service, phone 1800 568 956, email [email protected]
ACT: ACT VAD Care Navigator Service, phone 02 5124 1888, email [email protected]

Check the official webpage before relying on a phone number or email, because services and hours can change.

Ask your own doctors too

Your usual doctors may know who provides VAD locally. You can ask:

"Do you provide VAD or know who I should contact for assessment?"

"Can you give me the care navigator details?"

"Can you send my medical summary to a VAD practitioner if I decide to make a request?"

If your doctor does not provide VAD, they may still help with records, symptom care, referrals and palliative care.

Why there may not be a public list

VAD practitioners often are not listed publicly. This can be for privacy, safety and workforce reasons. Care navigators may know which practitioners are currently trained, available and willing to help.

Some practitioners can accept a first request but may need to complete training or authorisation before later steps. Some jurisdictions require specific years of practice, specialist involvement or authorisation by the health department. This is why a care navigator is often more useful than a general internet search.

If you live outside a city

Regional and rural access can be harder. Ask the care navigator about:

whether a local practitioner is available
whether travel support exists
which parts must happen in person
whether telehealth can be used for any part of the process
how federal carriage service restrictions affect phone, video, email or online communication
how to arrange an interpreter or communication support

Do not assume the whole VAD process can happen by telehealth. Some communication about VAD may need to happen in person or in a legally permitted way.

What if no doctor is available quickly?

VAD is not emergency care. If symptoms or distress are urgent, contact your treating team, palliative care service or emergency services as needed while the VAD pathway is being explored.

You can also ask the care navigator whether another region, hospital service or authorised practitioner may be available. In some places, making a new first request to a different doctor is possible if the first doctor refuses or cannot continue.

What about the Northern Territory?

The NT legislation portal recorded the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 2026 as passed on 27 August 2026. I could not verify an official commencement date or VAD care navigator service. Until official NT sources confirm the scheme is operating, there may be no lawful NT pathway for finding a VAD doctor.

When to get help now

If you need urgent symptom help, call your palliative care team, treating doctor, GP, nurse or after-hours service. Call 000 if there is a life-threatening emergency.

If you feel unsafe or at risk of self-harm, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 if danger is immediate.