Tasmanians have had access to Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) for just on four years, but community and health provider knowledge can be incorrect. This session hopes to dispel any misinformation and myths around Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD). Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) does not mean that you will be excluded from other services, on the contrary, it can at times link you in with more services. You also do not have to take the medication, as this service is there to support you, where you are at.
The Dying to Know community information session is designed to provide clear, compassionate, and practical information about end-of-life care and planning. The event aims to help community members, carers, families, and health professionals better understand available end-of-life care options, including Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in Tasmania.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experienced healthcare professionals about making informed choices, navigating difficult conversations with loved ones, and accessing available support services. The session seeks to promote awareness, understanding, and confidence in planning for end-of-life care while ensuring people have access to reliable information and guidance.
This free community event supports informed decision-making and encourages open discussion about end-of-life choices, care preferences, and the resources available to individuals and families throughout their journey.
Morning tea will be provided.
Speaker Information:
Dr Keith McArthur
General Practitioner | Voluntary Assisted Dying Practitioner
Dr Keith McArthur has been serving the communities of North West Tasmania as a General Practitioner since 1987. Over nearly four decades, he has provided comprehensive medical care to generations of Tasmanians, initially practising in Wynyard before establishing his long-standing career in Burnie.
Throughout his career, Keith has worked extensively within residential aged care facilities, developing a deep understanding of the complex health, social, and emotional needs of older Australians. He has been closely involved in the care of patients living with chronic and progressive illnesses, supporting them and their families through every stage of their healthcare journey.
Keith has a particular interest in assisting patients to manage chronic disease, maintain quality of life, and make informed decisions about their future care. As patients approach the end of life, he is committed to ensuring they receive compassionate, person-centred care that respects their individual values, wishes, and dignity.
Passionate about helping Tasmanians live well throughout their lives, Keith is equally dedicated to supporting people as they near the end of life, ensuring they can die well, with comfort, dignity, and according to their preferences. His approach is grounded in respect, empathy, and a belief in the importance of patient autonomy and choice.
Since the commencement of Tasmania’s Voluntary Assisted Dying framework in 2022, Keith has been actively involved in Voluntary Assisted Dying, supporting eligible patients through the process with sensitivity, professionalism, and care. His extensive experience in general practice, aged care, chronic disease management, and end-of-life care provides a strong foundation for helping patients navigate complex healthcare decisions at some of the most significant moments of their lives.
Jacinta (Jac) Smith
Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Navigator, North West Coast
Jacinta (Jac) Smith is an experienced healthcare professional with more than 15 years of practice in Specialist Palliative Care across both Tasmania and Victoria. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centred care, supporting individuals and families through some of life’s most challenging circumstances.
Since 2022, Jac has worked within Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) as an Assisted Health Practitioner, helping patients navigate the VAD process with professionalism, empathy, and respect. Her extensive clinical experience, combined with her deep understanding of end-of-life care, enables her to provide informed guidance and support to patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
Jac is passionate about empowering Tasmanians to make informed choices about their care and ensuring their wishes are respected. She is committed to helping people live well, die well, and maintain dignity, autonomy, and choice throughout their end-of-life journey. Her approach is grounded in compassion, advocacy, and a strong belief in person-centred care that honours each individual’s values and preferences.
Hon Mike Gaffney (MLC)
Member of Legislative Council (Upper House) of the Parliament of Tasmania
The Hon Mike Gaffney (MLC) was elected to the Legislative Council (Upper House) of the Parliament of Tasmania in 2009, re-elected in 2015 and 2021 (unopposed). In 2020, Mike tabled and progressed the End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill and the new 2021 Act came into operation in October 2022. It is not often that Private Member Bills originate in the Upper House, especially one which had failed 3 times previously in the Tas House of Assembly. The Bill received unanimous support in the Upper House – a world first for the VAD/Euthanasia laws.
In 2021 Mike was awarded the Rodney Syme Medal by Dying with Dignity Victoria. The award is given in recognition of a distinguished effort by an individual/s in pursuit of the Dying with Dignity cause. At the 2022 World Federation of Right to Die Societies Conference held in Toronto, Canada, Mike was 1 of 10 people in the Australia / New Zealand region to receive international recognition for his work on Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation. Mike was also invited as a guest speaker, to the September 2024 conference in Dublin, Ireland, where he spoke positively and passionately about the Tasmanian Journey.
For more information on Voluntary Assisted Dying please access the Tasmanian Department of Health site here: Voluntary assisted dying | Tasmanian Department of Health
Voluntary Assisted Dying Relevant Facts click here: Voluntary Assisted Dying Relevant Facts