Approach

Heart

Our actions come from a place of love. We serve with kindness, compassion, humility and grace. Love is at the centre of everything we do.

People

We celebrate every person’s unique qualities and recognise, respect and embrace all differences as well as the wishes of our people, clients and families. We welcome diversity. Individually, we pride ourselves on being present, accepting and community minded. We actively engage in self-care, self-reflection and ongoing personal and professional development.

Respect

We bring honour and integrity to every situation, our actions are sincere and ethical, bound by trust, honesty and respect.

Place

We hold space for our people, our clients and their families.

We acknowledge the connection with all life, including those who have gone before us.

We honour death as one of life’s precious transitions.

Sustainability

We provide education and innovative solutions with respect for our organisation, our people, our planet and those we serve.

The role of a doula.

What we do

Non-judgemental support
Explore the emerging needs of the dying person, and how to best support what they want.
Family centricity
Support the family and loved ones as they form the unit of care.
A holistic approach
Look at what is required practically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and culturally.
Empowerment
Promote informed decision making, self-efficacy and self-advocacy.
Teamwork
Work alongside the health professionals and other providers to ensure continuity of care.
Confidentiality
A Doula requires personal information in order to perform the role, and this is kept under strict confidentiality.

What we don’t do

Diagnose or give medical or clinical advice
This is the job of a medical professional only.
Medical support
We do not advise on any clinical or medical tasks, but we support you to follow the instructions of your health professionals.
Give advice
Instead we provide options and solutions for you to consider, and empower you to make your own decisions.
Provide legal advice
Instead we will guide you to a professional to help you with all the ‘paperwork’ necessary.

The principles of dying well.

Know when death is coming, and to understand what can be expected.
Be able to manage what happens and be afforded dignity and privacy.
Manage pain and other symptoms.
Have choice and manage where death occurs (at home or elsewhere).
Have access to information and expertise of whatever kind is necessary, any spiritual or emotional support required, and hospice care in any location, not only in hospital.
Have control over who is present and who shares the end.
Be able to issue advance directives that ensure wishes are respected.
Have time to say goodbye, and be able to control other aspects of timing.
Be able to leave when it’s time to go, and not have life prolonged pointlessly.

“We cannot change the outcome,

but we can affect the journey.”

Ann Richardson.