1. Home
  2. About
  3. Our Organisation

Our Organisation

DYING WITH DIGNITY WA

INTRODUCTION

DWDWA is an incorporated not-for-profit association, founded in 1984 under the name Western Australian Voluntary Euthanasia Society. The name was changed later to Dying with Dignity WA, removing the connotations of ‘mercy killing’ in the word ‘euthanasia’.

The members of DWDWA believe that a person who is terminally ill and experiencing intolerable and irremediable pain or suffering should have the right to choose to die, painlessly and with dignity, and that a doctor who has the courage and compassion to help them must be protected by the law. It should be possible for the person’s choice to be expressed while mentally competent or by virtue of an advance health directive.

This belief is held by an overwhelming majority of Australians. Voluntary assisted dying legislation now exists in every jurisdiction in Australia, other than the Northern Territory. It is also enshrined in law in a growing number of countries all over the world.

DWDWA represents a wide range of people, who support its work through membership fees, donations and bequests. It is run almost entirely by volunteers. It is closely aligned with other Dying with Dignity organisations throughout Australia and is a member of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies.

OBJECTS

The objects of DWDWA as stated in its constitution are:

  • To help relieve the distress, helplessness and suffering experienced by Western Australians with untreatable, painful or terminal illnesses, and to support their families and carers;
  • To promote the best end of life care for our citizens, including high quality palliative care and voluntary assisted dying in appropriate circumstances;
  • To educate and inform the community about end of life choices;
  • To work for the successful passage through the WA Parliament of voluntary assisted dying legislation that is both safe and workable; and
  • To promote every person’s right to die a good death, according to their wishes and beliefs.

The fourth of these objects has been achieved, although the law as passed in December 2019 is not perfect and DWDWA will continue to work for its improvement,  All the other objects remain important for all West Australians, especially those who may be approaching the end of their lives.

WE BELIEVE

  • that death is part of life;
  • that freedom of choice at the end of life is a fundamental human right;
  • that voluntary assisted dying should be integrated into the existing end of life choices;
  • that a dying person’s wish to die at home should be facilitated where possible;; and
  • that any institution that opposes VAD for any reason including conscientious objection should be
    • obliged to publish its policies in relation to VAD on its website or other readily accessible public place;
    • that where the institution is effectively the residence of the person seeking to access VAD, such access should be provided or facilitated by the institution.

WHAT WE DO

  • Promote public conversations about end of life choices in order to change the existing atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and doubt surrounding this final rite of passage.
  • Provide information to DWDWA members and the community about voluntary assisted dying, and promote active discussion and sharing of information via social media – see our Facebook page.
  • Host and participate in public meetings, lectures and debates to raise awareness about dying with dignity.
  • Work with medical practitioners to encourage people to make wills and sign advance health directives and to discuss their health decisions and end of life choices with their doctors and families.
  • Liaise with national and international Voluntary Assisted Dying organisations and the media.
  • Attend local, national and overseas forums on issues related to voluntary assisted dying.
  • Provide information on governmental legislative requirements relating to dying with dignity. We undertake to deal with your personal questions in a confidential and sensitive way.
  • To achieve our objectives, we work and exchange information with:
    • other dying with dignity advocates such as Go Gentle Australia and the Dying with Dignity associations interstate and overseas;
    • medical practitioners, Palliative Care WA, Australian Nurses and Midwives Federation, the Police Union WA, disease organisations, aged care and disability sectors; the WA Care Navigator Service; and
    • other like-minded organisations such as Doctors for Assisted Dying Choice and Christians supporting Voluntary Euthanasia.

DYING WITH DIGNITY WA COMMITTEE

The Committee members of DWDWA as at 1 January 2025:

Stephen Walker - President              

Richard Lugg - Vice President

Julie Cinanni - Treasurer

Gail Wyatt - Secretary

Gaye Harvey – Membership Secretary

Mary Aerts - Minute Secretary

Margie Lundy

Murray Hindle - Committee Member

Alan Pugh - Committee Member

Peter Wilkins - Committee Member