Advance Care Planning

Three local Health Networks in the SEMPHN catchment offer Advance Care Planning services. There are several useful online tools as well.

What is Advance Care Planning?

Advance Care Planning is the process by which individuals discuss their wishes and preferences in regards to their healthcare with their family and health care providers.

Advance Care Directives are an individual’s record of these wishes and preferences and are legal documents. Experts in Advance Care Planning recommend that an individual has a Directive to ensure that their wishes and preferences are respected.

Benefits of Advance Care Planning:

A person continues to have a say in their medical care, even when they lose that physical or mental capacity
People are comforted knowing they are more likely to receive treatment they want, and not receive the treatment they would not want
Carers and family can make decisions knowing their loved ones choices
The conversation itself can strengthen relationships between family, carers and friends.

People often need help to develop an Advance Care Plan that will guide their medical treatment and care.

Health professionals should encourage people to upload their ACPs and Advance Directives to their My Health Record. Instructions are on the My Health Record website.

Advance Care Planning Australia provides online and face to face training for health professionals, including Practice Nurses and GPs.

The Department of Health and Human Services provides information and resources.

Where is there help for people with Advance Care Planning?

The local hospital networks provide Advance Care Planning (ACP) services, which help individuals to write their Advance Care Directive. Individuals can refer themselves, or be referred by a health service.

Peninsula Health ACP service

Alfred Health ACP Service

Monash Health ACP Service

Other help with Advance Care Planning:

Useful tools online include:

Advance Care Planning Australia
Advance Care Planning Australia is a national program funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, helping people make the best choices for their life and health care.

My Values website
The MyValues website is a set of specially constructed statements designed to help people identify, consider and communicate their wishes about the medical treatment they would want in the later stages of life.

Planning ahead – Start2Talk
Dementia Australia’s Planning ahead – Start2Talk website provides Advance Care Planning resources and help for people, or carers and health professionals caring for, with dementia.

Associated tags

Print

Font Size A+ A= A-

Funding Opportunities

Tenders, Quotes & Expression of Interest Portal

If you’re interested in applying for funding opportunities, register your interest on SEMPHN's eProcure page. Once you register, you’ll receive information as it’s released.

Contact Information

Need help?

For General Practice support, please call 1300 331 981 (option 2) or email providersupport@semphn.org.au

Looking for staff? A job?

Check-out our local primary health jobs page.

Find Information:

SEMPHN Values

SEMPHN

Level 2, 15 Corporate Drive
Heatherton VIC 3202

South Eastern Melbourne PHN acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land our catchment covers, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri people. We pay respect to them, their culture and their Elders past, present and future, and uphold their relationship to this land.

While the Australian Government Department of Health has contributed to the funding of this website, the information on this website does not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government and is not advice that is provided, or information that is endorsed, by the Australian Government. The Australian Government is not responsible in negligence or otherwise for any injury, loss or damage however arising from the use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.