Advance care planning training and resources

Important information

• Health Professional Guide to Advance Care Planning in WA (PDF 1.5MB) 
  A detailed guide outlining the role health professionals can play in supporting people through the advance care planning process.
• The Guardianship and Administration Act 1990 (external site)
  The Guardianship and Administration Act 1990 provides a legislative basis for people to plan for how personal, lifestyle and treatment decisions should be made on their behalf in the future if they are unable to make reasonable judgments about these matters for themselves. The Regulations (external site) were amended in July 2022 and include a revised Advance Health Directive form that:
  • includes the individual’s values and preferences, in addition to treatment decisions
  • combines tick box and free text questions
  • provides more guidance and examples
  • includes consent to medical research.
• Hierarchy of treatment decision-makers (PDF 1.6MB)
  When seeking a treatment decision for a person who lacks the capacity to make their own judgements, health professionals must follow a set order of decision-makers, as specified in Section 110ZJ and 110ZD of the Guardianship and Administration Act 1990 (the Act). This is summarised by the Hierarchy of treatment decision-makers.

Policies and frameworks

• WA Health’s strategy for advance care planning education and awareness raising: for health professionals and the community (PDF 613KB)
  The purpose of the Strategy is to outline WA Health’s approach to advance care planning awareness raising, training and education for health professionals and the community. The Strategy provides a holistic view of what is required in WA in regard to advance care planning education and awareness raising. Although the Strategy will primarily be used by WA Health to guide their activity over the next couple of years, it may also be a useful resource for other key advance care planning organisations and services to identify potential areas for action.
• WA Health End-of-Life and Palliative Care Education and Training Framework
  A reference tool to identify the knowledge and skills required by health professionals and staff who care for people with end-of-life and palliative care needs.
• Advance Care Planning Improvement (ACPI) Toolkit (external site) 
  Provides health and aged care services with resources to support organisational advance care planning uptake, performance monitoring, and quality improvement. The toolkit complies with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards and Aged Care Quality Standards.
• WA Health Aboriginal End-of-Life and Palliative Care Framework
  Guidance for providing services that respect the cultural values and beliefs of Aboriginal people.