Why Dedicate House Matters
Australia's Population is Ageing Rapidly
- 16% of Australians were 65+ in 2021, projected to rise to 22% by 2056.
- Those aged 85+ will nearly triple — from 534,000 in 2021 to 1.28 million by 2041.
- Annual deaths are set to climb from 186,000 in 2024 to 222,000 by 2035.
Our Systems Are Already at Breaking Point
- Australians 65+ make up just 16% of the population but account for 43% of hospitalisations and 21% of ER visits.
- Hospital capacity is shrinking — only 2.46 public beds per 1,000 people in 2020–21, with record emergency wait times.
There Are Limited Options For Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD)
- At home — often leaving families traumatised and unsupported.
- In hospital — clinical, crowded, and many religious-based facilities don’t even support VAD.
- No dedicated hospice — Victoria has none designed for compassionate, judgment-free VAD care.
Dedicate House Aims to Change Our Current Reality
By establishing Australia’s first integrated VAD hospice, we will:
- Provide peaceful, purpose-built care beyond the hospital or home.
- Relieve families of the trauma and burden of unsupported care.
- Honour diversity with inclusive, culturally attuned support.
- Ease pressure on an already overstretched health system.
- Inspire a national shift in how we approach dying.
Because dignity, choice, and compassion must be at the heart of life’s final chapter.
