Please note: This session engages with themes of death, dying, and Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD). VAD legislation varies across Australian states and territories. The session is non-denominational, clinically grounded, and does not promote any particular religious, philosophical, or ideological position. It is designed to support practitioners working across varied worldviews and practice settings.
Voluntary Assisted Dying raises profound existential and spiritual questions for clients and families. This presentation offers counsellors a practical, evidence-based framework for responding with confidence and compassion. Drawing on current research and clinical experience, the session explores meaning-making, relational dialogue, and ethical presence — enhancing therapeutic depth, self-awareness, and professional competence in end-of-life care.
This session approaches spirituality in VAD contexts in a non-denominational, clinically grounded, and ethically attentive manner. It offers practitioners a flexible, evidence-informed framework for engaging with the existential, spiritual, and relational concerns that frequently arise for clients and families at the end of life. The session explicitly acknowledges the diversity of cultural, spiritual, and personal perspectives on death, dying, and VAD, and is designed to support counsellors working across varied worldviews and practice settings. The framework emphasises narrative listening, meaning-making, ethical presence, and cultural humility, enabling practitioners to remain respectful, non-directive, and attuned to each client's values and context. Where relevant, the session also recognises the importance of First Nations perspectives on life, death, and Country, and the necessity of culturally safe, reflective practice. Overall, the focus is on strengthening professional confidence, ethical sensitivity, and therapeutic presence in complex end-of-life work.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the relevance of spirituality in VAD contexts.
- Apply a holistic framework addressing internal and relational client concerns.
- Develop skills in narrative, existential questioning, and affirmation techniques.
- Enhance ethical and culturally sensitive practice in end-of-life counselling.
Who is this event for?
This session is applicable to all counsellors, psychotherapists, and mental health practitioners. It is ideal for professionals seeking to integrate spirituality, ethics, and meaning-making into their practice when supporting clients and families facing complex end-of-life decisions.
Event Details
Date: Friday 14 August 2026
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm (AEST)
Location: Online via Zoom
Please check your time zone to avoid disappointment
Recording provided to all registrants
Presenter: Chris Dudfield
Chris Dudfield is an experienced counselling professional and Manager of Spiritual Support Services at Canberra Health Services, specialising in end-of-life care and spirituality. With a Master in Pastoral Counselling (Clinical) and a Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies and Ethics, Chris integrates holistic approaches into counselling practice. His recent research and presentations, including Toward a Holistic Framework: Spiritual Care for Voluntary Assisted Dying, reflect his commitment to exploring spirituality's role in addressing complex client needs.
CPD
Attending this webinar counts as 2 hours of Category A CPD (Continuing Professional Development). Watching a recording of this webinar, which will be provided to registrants, can be used towards 2 hours of Category B CPD.
You must attend 75% of a webinar to receive a CPD certificate for Category A CPD.
Ticket Prices
PACFA Members: $35.00 + GST ($38.50)
Student Members: $25.00 + GST ($27.50)
Non-Members: $50.00 + GST ($55.00)
What to Expect After You Register
Once registered, your personal Zoom link will be dispatched directly to you via email from Zoom within 1 hour of registration and 1 hour prior to the event. Please keep an eye on your inbox for an email from Zoom ([email protected]). All future correspondence pertaining to this event, including event recordings, will be communicated through the PACFA email address ([email protected]). To ensure a seamless experience, we recommend adding both email addresses to your safe sender list to prevent missed communications.
Alternatively, you can find the Zoom link if you log into your account under the "My events" tab.
Event Cancellations
Customers seeking to cancel their registration more than 5 working days (for courses) and 48 hours (for webinars) prior to the event date may request a credit to be applied to their account. Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]. Cancellations made with less notice than this are non-refundable or exchangeable. Credits are valid for up to a year from the purchase date. This policy is at PACFA's discretion and may change.