Advance Care Directives Act 2013

The Advance Care Directives Act 2013 commenced on 1 July 2014.

The operation of the Advance Care Directives Act 2013 was reviewed by Professor Wendy Lacey in 2019 to ensure that the Act is working well for South Australians. Professor Lacey's independent Report on the Review of the Advance Care Directives Act 2013 (SA) (PDF 1MB) is available here.

The State Government's response (PDF 135KB) to the independent Report was tabled in Parliament on 23 July 2020.

Several consultations have occurred since this time and the results of these consultations can be found here:

Advance Care Directives (Review) Amendment Bill 2022

The Advance Care Directives (Review) Amendment Bill 2022, which passed Parliament on 30 November 2023, was introduced in response to Professor Lacey’s Review Report to enhance the operation of the Advance Care Directives Act 2013. These amendments included:

  • strengthening requirements for interpreters, for people making Advance Care Directives where English is not their first language;
  • clarifying the effect of an Advance Care Directive in suspected suicide or self-harm attempts;
  • recognising digital copies of Advance Care Directives as valid and legal copies; and
  • empowering Substitute Decision-Makers to make decisions together and/or separately and appointing them in an order of precedence.

What will change?

In 2024, a redesigned Advance Care Directives kit will be available. The redesigned Advance Care Directive Kit is clearer and includes helpful suggested statements and a step-by-step guide on how to complete an Advance Care Directive without the assistance of a professional, such as a lawyer.

Visit the Advance Care Directive website for more information.

For more information

Contact Health Services Programs: email Health.AdvanceCarePlanning@sa.gov.au or visit the Advance Care Directives website.