As Advance Care Planning Week (March 16–22) approaches, Australians are being urged to start important conversations about their future health care. The national campaign, themed “Your story, your choice,” highlights that every person has the right to have a say in their medical care, even if they become unable to speak for themselves.
Brisbane local Marie, 86, knows firsthand how valuable advance care planning can be. After witnessing the confusion and conflict that arose when her parents hadn’t shared their end-of-life wishes, she was determined to make things easier for her own family.
“My parents never talked about what they wanted at the end of their lives,” Marie said. “When decisions had to be made, my siblings and I disagreed. We all wanted to do the right thing, but we didn’t know what that was. It made a hard time even harder.”
Years later, Marie and her late husband Gavin decided to document their wishes and discuss them openly with their children. “We filled in the forms together and told the kids, ‘No debate, that’s the way it is.’ When Gavin passed away in 2020, everything was in place. I could just be with him. It was peaceful.”
Marie says planning ahead gave her family peace of mind and spared them unnecessary stress. “It takes the pressure off them. They don’t have to carry that responsibility or guess what you’d want,” she said. “It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give your family.”
She also believes advance care planning isn’t just for older people. “It’s never too early. Life can change in an instant.”
Dr Catherine Joyce, National Manager of Advance Care Planning Australia, says Marie’s story is a familiar one. “Every day, health professionals see families in crisis trying to make life-changing decisions without knowing what their loved one would have wanted,” Dr Joyce said. “Advance care planning removes that burden. It provides clarity, dignity and confidence at a time when people need it most.”
Dr Joyce explained that advance care planning is about more than medical treatment. “It’s about personal values and the kind of care someone wants as they approach the end of life. Your story and your wishes are unique, and advance care planning ensures they’re respected when you can’t speak for yourself.”
Advance Care Planning Week is an opportunity for Australians to start the conversation — with themselves, their families, and their doctors.
For more information, visit www.acpweek.org.au, call 1300 208 582, or email acpa@advancecareplanning.org.au.
