Joe* is enjoying an active life after his recent retirement from teaching. He loves gardening, playing in a local jazz band and meeting with his friends for coffee once a week.
Joe is proactive about his health and during a routine bowel screening, some changes are identified. Joe undergoes a colonoscopy and after discussing the results with his GP, Joe is encouraged to consider advance care planning (ACP).
Joe contacts the Statewide Office of Advance Care Planning (OACP), a free service provided by Queensland Health. The OACP puts Joe in contact with an advance care planning facilitator in his region, who supports him as he completes an Enduring Power of Attorney document and provides an Advance Health Directive and Statement of Choices form for Joe to consider with his family.
While Joe and his family find it a little difficult to start the conversation about Joe’s wishes for his future health care, they recognise the importance of having conversations and documenting his preferences. It means that if needed, Joe’s own words would guide the people responsible for making decisions about his health care.
“Completing ACP documents means my family and health care professionals know exactly what I want if I am unable to communicate my wishes,” says Joe.
The ACP facilitator encourages Joe to not leave his completed ACP documents in a drawer somewhere, but to give copies to his family and to send a copy to the OACP. The OACP reviews documents, and if complete, uploads them to the person’s Queensland Health electronic medical record. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other authorised health professionals can then easily access ACP documents when needed.
“I recognise now that advance care planning is an important, routine part of my health care, just like a bowel screening. It was great to talk to the staff at the OACP and the ACP facilitator. They were able to answer my questions.
“In the beginning, I was a bit daunted by having these conversations with my family and filling in documents, but what’s more daunting is the thought of leaving them and doctors and nurses in the dark about my health care preferences.”
“Now that my wishes have been documented and uploaded to my Queensland Health electronic medical record, I feel confident that my care team can access my information quickly and provide the type of care that aligns with my wishes.”
“It’s one less thing for me and my family to worry about and I’m happy about that.”
Start planning for your future health care during National Advance Care Planning Week, 17-23 March, 2025.
Life’s better with a plan, and that includes a plan for your future health care.
Order a free ACP information pack and learn more at mycaremychoices.com.au.
What is advance care planning?
Advance care planning involves thinking about and making choices now, to guide your future health care. It is a process of discussing and documenting your views, wishes and preferences for care with your loved ones and health care providers.
In Queensland, you can do this by:
- choosing and appointing your Enduring Power of Attorney(s), and/or
- completing an Advance Health Directive, and/or
- writing down your views, wishes and preferences for care in a Statement of Choices.
Why should you plan ahead?
Planning ahead can help to ensure:
- the treatment and care you receive in the future aligns with your wishes.
- your loved ones won’t have to make difficult decisions on your behalf without knowing what you would have wanted.
- your words guide those making decisions about your health care when you can’t speak for yourself.
Even if you are fit and healthy, it is never too early to plan your future health care.
What does the Statewide Office of Advance Care Planning do?
The Statewide Office of Advance Care Planning is a statewide service, funded by Queensland Health, that helps to promote the important processes of advance care planning. This service:
- provides information and resources about advance care planning (ACP)
- receives and reviews copies of ACP documents from people across Queensland
- uploads ACP documents to a person’s Queensland Health electronic hospital record
- shares health care wishes with clinicians involved in a person’s care
- connects people to ACP services in their local area (where available).
Website: mycaremychoices.com.au
Phone: 1300 007 227 (Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm)
*Case study illustrating the value and benefits of ACP drawn from multiple individuals.
