Doula Services
Our Mortality 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 we are a doula team who support each other to grow the scope and quality of our services by combining our various unique areas of expertise.
Life Rites has organisational membership with the professional association for end-of-life practitioners: HELD
*Our doulas are known variously as Mortality Doulas, End-of-Life Doulas or Death Doulas, per practitioner choice.
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.
If you’re unsure where to start or what you or a loved one need it can be useful to start with one initial session with a doula of your choice.
Our Doula Team
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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.
Read about Victoria's work in our Life Rites Doula Series
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Kim Somerville
End of Life Doula (Home Vigil Lead), Enrolled Nurse, Holistic Funeral Director
Read about Kim's work in our Life Rites Doula Series
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Sarah Barry
After Death Carer, Celebrant, Holistic Funeral Director, Mortality Doula
Read about Sarah's work in our Life Rites Doula Series
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Sonja Godfrey-Chan
Celebrant, End of Life Doula, Holistic Funeral Director
Read about Sonja's work in our Life Rites Doula Series
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Ben Gibson
Celebrant, End-of-Life Doula, Holistic Funeral Director, Operations
Listen to some of Ben's work on his Mourning After podcast
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Vicki Melson
After Death Carer, Funeral Assistant, Mortality Doula
Read about Vicki's work in our Life Rites Doula Series
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Skye Robertson
Celebrant, End-of-Life Doula, Holistic Funeral Director, Operations
Read about the genesis of Skye's end-of-life work
“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?
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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.
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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.
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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.