Churchgoer views on Voluntary Assisted Dying

With an ageing population, media stories on aged care and palliative care are becoming increasingly present in our news feeds, including the topic of Voluntary Assisted Dying.

For decades, we've been tracking the views of church attenders towards Voluntary Assisted Dying, via the National Church Life Survey (NCLS).

The NCLS results show that churchgoer views have been largely stable from 2001 through to 2021. One in three church attenders agree that people suffering from a terminal illness should be able to ask a doctor to end their life. Almost half of all church attenders disagree, while the remainder are neutral or unsure.

Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) means an eligible person can ask for medical help to end their life. 

Voluntary assisted dying is legal in all six Australian states as well as the ACT. The Northern Territory most recently passed its VAD legislation in August 2026. 

Over the past five waves of the National Church Life Survey, held every 5 years, results show that churchgoer views have been largely stable from 2001 through to 2021. One in three church attenders agree that people suffering from a terminal illness should be able to ask a doctor to end their life, and almost half of all church attenders disagree.

This year, the 2026 NCLS is being held. So in coming months we will be able to explore the most recent results on Australian churchgoer views on VAD.