Doula Services
Our doula care involves attuned listening, practical, strategic support and guidance in what is a deeply personal process for all involved.
We will respond to your needs as well as navigate next steps with you and your people.
Most doulas currently work solo, but at Life Rites our doula team meets together regularly to support each other and grow the scope and quality of our services by combining our various unique areas of expertise.
Mortality Doulas help you to:
Process the shock of diagnosis or recurrence of illness, and the changing capabilities as the illness progresses.
Navigate the hospital, healthcare or aged-care system.
Carry some of the load of everyday tasks.
Attend medical appointments, take notes and be another listening ear in the room.
Facilitate open conversation around end of life, dying and death.
Do things your way.
Manage delicate family issues such as conflict or what to say to your children.
Be active and involved in the dying process, if this is your wish.
Have a gentle and authentic death at home, hospital or aged-care facility.
Integrate end-of-life and after-death care by having ‘next steps’ conversations.
Facilitate home care and/or bringing your loved one home to die.
We offer practical advice at all stages of your journey
Our Doula Team
-
Victoria Spence
Founder, Celebrant, Counsellor, Mortality Doula, Holistic Funeral Director and pioneer of Life Rites’ model of integrated end-of-life and after-death care.
-
Kim Somerville
End of Life Doula (Home Vigil Lead), Enrolled Nurse, Holistic Funeral Director
-
Sarah Barry
After Death Carer, Celebrant, Holistic Funeral Director, Mortality Doula
-
Sonja Godfrey-Chan
Celebrant, End of Life Doula, Holistic Funeral Director
-
Vicki Melson
After Death Carer, Funeral Assistant, Mortality Doula
“Victoria and the Life Rites team are truly exceptional(...) From meeting us in the hospital, supporting us through the last moments, to personalised funeral care and enabling us to create a unique memorial ceremony, there is no-one who could have done it better. Life Rites provides a wonderful and important service for the LGBTQI and wider community, with support and compassion every step of the way, and I am so grateful for their incredible work.”
Looking for another specific service?
-
Guidance and Counselling
Whether it’s your own death or someone you love, navigating unfamiliar territory can be challenging and unsettling. We offer a range of services that provide sensitive guidance at all stages of the process.
-
Home Vigil and Cool Plate
A Life Rites practitioner will talk you through the set up and use of the cooling beds and how best to support all involved during this time. We can deliver the bed to your home, walk through the preparation of your family member with you and be available to oversee the vigil as needed.
-
Funeral Services
We work with a wide-range of people and offer a wide-range of services to help you make the best and most appropriate choices for you and for all involved.