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Advance Care Planning Australia

Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA) is a national program funded by the Australian Government and administered by Austin Health.

Advance care planning involves planning for your future health care. It enables you to make some decisions now about the health care you would or would not like to receive if you were to become seriously ill and unable to make or communicate treatment decisions. Advance care planning helps to ensure your loved ones and health providers know and respect your treatment preferences.

Advance Care Planning Australia encourages everyone to have a conversation with their loved ones and health care professionals about their preferences. You may also wish to document your preferences in an advance care directive.

Vision and mission

Advance care planning is a heartfelt conversation and a personal statement that goes beyond filling in a form. It’s a commitment to honour and respect an individual’s values, beliefs and choices.

Advance care planning discussions become a key part of routine health care conversations across Australia.

How Advance Care Planning Australia can help

Advance Care Planning Australia offers a variety of resources and services to individuals as well as health services and care providers.

For individuals and families:

  • Online resources to help individuals and families understand advance care planning, and how to start the conversation
  • Online resources and forms to help individuals and families create their plan
  • Free National Support Service phone line
  • Free online modules to improve knowledge around advance care planning

For health service and care providers:

  • Online resources tailored for different health and care-based professions
  • Training and education including online webinars and information sessions
  • Free advance care planning referral service for clients
  • Free e-newsletter to assist health professionals and care workers stay up-to-date with current advance care planning news and events

Information lines / help lines

  • Call the free National Support Service on 1300208582 Mon to Fri, 9am - 5pm AEST

Programs, apps and tools

Recommended links

Last reviewed: March 2022

Information from this partner

Found 17 results

Life-prolonging treatments - Advance Care Planning Australia

Information to help you decide what treatment is right for you.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

Ethics in advance care planning – Advance Care Planning Australia

Guidance on approaching ethical and moral issues connected to advance care planning.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

Being a substitute decision-maker - Advance Care Planning Australia

Information about being appointed to make decisions medical for someone else.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

Advance care planning and dementia - Advance Care Planning Australia

Information about how to introduce advance care planning to dementia treatment and support.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

Advance care planning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - Advance Care Planning Australia

Information about how to approach conversations about future health care preferences.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

Advance care planning and disability

Information about how advance care planning can support people with disability.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

Advance care planning and cancer - Advance Care Planning Australia

Information about how advance care planning can support people with cancer and their families.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

Advance care planning and COVID-19 - Advance Care Planning Australia

Information and conversation starters for advance care planning during COVID-19.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

Advance care planning in general practice

General practitioners play an integral role in promoting and facilitating advance care planning

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

Advance care planning in palliative care - Advance Care Planning Australia

Information about the role of advance care planning in quality palliative care.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website

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