An Advance Care Directive enables an individual to outline preferences for future care, covering healthcare choices, end-of-life decisions, living arrangements, and other personal matters.

It allows the appointment of Substitute Decision-Makers to make informed decisions on behalf of someone unable to do so themselves.

For the past year, the Western Adelaide Councils of Charles Sturt, Port Adelaide Enfield, and West Torrens have provided resources at free workshops to help residents understand how to complete an Advance Care Directive. These sessions focus on raising awareness and providing information in a friendly setting, featuring interactive materials and knowledgeable facilitators to guide participants through the process.

In addition to general workshops, the project has actively collaborated with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities to enhance awareness and promote Advance Care Directive completion. Tailored workshops ensure information is delivered in a manner that meets specific group needs, with resources available in multiple languages. So far, the project has engaged with communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Vietnamese, Fiji-Indian, Polish, Greek, and Spanish groups. The project team would like to hear from members of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities as soon as possible if they would like to attend a workshop.

The team is immensely grateful to volunteers who have come on board to support their communities. The Advance Care Directive Volunteers have shared their expertise, guided participants through the Advance Care Directive process, and offered support during workshops, enriching the community with their knowledge and compassion.

Whilst funding is coming to an end, the team is looking for opportunities to collaborate between councils and create a sustainable future for the Western Advance Care Directive Project.

To enquire about the Western Adelaide initiative, contact hcortes@charlessturt.sa.gov.au.

For more information about Advance Care Directives or to access the form online, visit www.advancecaredirectives.sa.gov.au. Alternatively, you can obtain FREE Advance Care Directive kits from Service SA, Legal Services Commission of South Australia and selected local libraries. View a full list of locations on the SA Health website.

The Western Advance Care Directive Project is supported by Office for Ageing Well and Health Services Programs, SA Health.