Your Guide to an Advance Care Directive
SETTING UP LEGAL DIRECTIVES & INSTRUCTIONS
An Advance Care Directive is a paper that speaks for you when you can't. You use it to write down your wishes for your medical care for the future.
This is not about losing control. It is about staying in control. It makes your choices clear so your family, your Guardian, and your doctors know exactly what you want. It is an important legal paper that makes sure your wishes are at the heart of every choice made for you.
What it does:
This paper records what you want for your future medical care. It is your voice. It helps your family and doctors make choices for you if you can't. The paper gives them clear instructions that they must follow.
Key Points:
Your Choices on Treatment: You can write down what medical care you want. You can also write down what you do not want. This helps everyone make hard choices.
Big Health Decisions: You can be very clear about big treatments that keep you alive. For example, CPR (help to start your heart again if it stops).
Being Comfortable: You can say that you want your care to be about being comfortable and not in pain. This is called comfort care.
What is Important to You: You can write about what makes your life good. You can also write about your faith or beliefs.
Helps Your Family: This paper makes it easier for your family. They do not have to guess what you want. This takes away a heavy worry for them.
If you have strong feelings about your medical care, this paper is the best way to make sure your voice is heard.
Making it Official: Execution Requirements:
For your Advance Care Directive to be legally recognised in NSW, you must:
Make it Voluntarily: The document must be made of your own free will, without pressure from others.
Have Capacity: You must be able to understand the nature and consequences of the decisions you are making at the time you create it.
Sign and Date It: Your signature is required to make it valid.
Have it Witnessed: It must be witnessed by at least one adult. To give it the most legal weight, it is highly recommended that your doctor is a witness, as they can certify that you had capacity and understood the medical implications of your decisions.
Get the form: You can find the right forms on the NSW Health - Advance Care Planning website. Advance care plan directive (form only)
Putting Your Wishes into Words
How to Make Your Advance Care Directive
This paper should show what you want. Take your time to think about what is important to you.
DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE: PREPARING FOR ADVANCE CARE DIRECTIVE
What to Write Down in Your Plan
Be as clear as you can about what you want.
Your Choices on Medical Treatments
This is where you write down your legal wishes. Think about treatments like:
CPR (to restart your heart if it stops)
Breathing machine (life support)
Tube feeding (if you can't eat or drink)
Antibiotics (medicine for infections)
Your Wishes for Comfort
Palliative Care: You can say you want care that focuses on being comfortable.
Pain Relief: You can say that you want medicine to keep you free from pain.
Your Personal Beliefs
Write down what makes your life feel meaningful.
Write down any faith or spiritual wishes you have.
Where You Want to Be Cared For
You can say where you would like to be at the end of your life (like at home or in a hospice).
Your Action Plan: Get It Done
Get the Form: Advance care plan directive (form only)
Talk to Your Doctor: Talk about your health and what your choices mean.
Talk to Your Family: Tell your family and your Guardian what you have decided.
Fill It Out, Sign It, and Get it Witnessed.
Share Copies: Give a copy to your doctor, your Guardian, and your close family. Keep the original in a safe place.
Upload to My Heath Record: If you use myGov, you can upload your plan to your online account. This helps your carers see it when they need to. Please see Uploading Advance Care Directive to My Health Record.
Keep it Accessible:
Store your ACD in a place where you or someone else can easily find it if needed.
Carry a Reminder:
Consider keeping a card in your wallet that indicates you have an ACD and where it can be found.
Review and Update:
Change your ACD if your preferences or medical condition change, or if your appointed decision-maker changes. If you ever make a new plan, make sure you replace all the old copies with the new one
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice. The information is provided "as is," without any guarantee of its accuracy or completeness.
Any action you take based on the contents of this guide is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage resulting from its use. Please consult a qualified professional to address your individual circumstances.