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“Advance care planning is a process of planning for future health care whereby the person’s values, beliefs and preferences are made known so they can guide decision making at a future time when that person cannot make or communicate his or her decisions” National framework for Advance Care Planning Documents 2021
An Advance Care Plan gives people the opportunity to think about, discuss and record their health care choices ahead of time. They can legally appoint a decision maker who would be confident to express these choices for them.
Documenting and sharing ACPs allows treating teams, family and friends to be aware of the individual’s choices and provide care in line with the person’s values and preferences.
The documents used in advance care planning in the ACT are
- EPOA
- Statement of Choices– competent person (revised 2022)
- Statement of choices – no legal capacity (under revision 2022)
- Health Direction
See also the helpful publication Advance Care Planning in the ACT including FAQ, tips to complete and the Statement of Choices form.
Useful links
- Be My Voice – The Be My Voice campaign encourages families and friends to initiate conversations with their loved ones about their values and wishes around future health care. All information provided is ACT-specific. CHN, in partnership with the Territory wide Advance Care Planning program located within Canberra Health Services, developed this communication campaign to increase community awareness and uptake of ACP within the ACT.
- Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) is explained in the Power to choose booklet found on The ACT Public Trustee and Guardian website.
- Advance Care Planning Program – is a free service located at the Canberra Health Services and available Territory wide. Trained facilitators can help discuss Advance Care Planning and prepare documents. Monday – Friday 8:30 – 4:30pm 5124 9274 acp@act.gov.au referral form can be emailed or faxed to 6174 5550
- My Health Record – How to upload your ACP document to your My Health Record
- Advance Care Planning Australia – A national program that provides information and resources to individuals, care workers and health care professionals.
- Start2Talk – Dementia Australia national initiative to help people and their families plan ahead for their future financial and health care decisions.
- RACGP Position Statement on Advance Care Planning ACT Capacity Toolkit