Consultation Outcome

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.