Become a Doula
The EOL Doula profession is steadily growing in New Zealand. People who are drawn to this work, lead by their heart, and their ears. Some have experience in medical or allied fields, some have lived experience with people who have died, some bring alternative modalities to their work.
We have reviewed many EOL Doula training programmes, who provide what we deem to be the core competencies, such as the role of a Doula, a person’s own relationship with death, fundamentals of the dying process, spiritual/pastoral care, ethics, grief and bereavement, advance care planning, vigil care, funeral and burial options, after death care, how to have the conversations, and where possible, practical experience.
If your background is nursing or other allied health professions, we encourage you to do some Doula training also. Traditional health professions do not always teach holistic and relational perspectives, and many from these fields do not know much about after death care and other aspects of end of life care support. The Doula approach is non-medical, and as such requires a different perspective.
We recommend EOL Doula training, from a reputable educational institution, such as one of our training partners, listed below. However we do advise that you do your own due diligence, and find a trainer who suits your style. Someone you resonate with, or feel inspired by.
ELDAA Training Partners
Centre for Conscious Living and Dying, USA
Online and in-person training.
Patron of ELDAA Aditi Sethi, Founder
The Peaceful Presence Project (Learning Cloud), USA/NZ.
Online training with Learning Cloud. Discount for members on other Peaceful Presence courses.
Home Hospice Association, Canada
Discount for ELDAA members on some programmes.
Natural Death Care Centre, Australia
In-person NZ training 2025, or online.
INELDA, International End of Life Doula Association, USA.
Discount on membership, then other trainings and events.
Living Well Dying Well, UK.
Online and face to face training for end of life companions and doulas.
Please contact us if you’d like to train with another provider, so that we can review and discuss with you - there are many other expert organisations overseas.
Join our bi-monthly online free Q&A sessions to meet others on this journey, and learn more about what being an EOL Doula entails.
3rd Monday every 2nd month, next one 20th January 2025 @ 7.30pm
Email melnotes@protonmail.com to register.
If you are training or not yet providing Doula services, you are welcome to join as an Associate Member of ELDAA.
If you have completed your Doula training, we invite you to apply for Professional Membership of ELDAA.
CONTINUE TO MORE RESOURCES BELOW...
Soul Midwives UK
Felicity Warner’s Soul Midwifery School.
10% Discount for ELDAA members.
Preparing the Way, Australia
No GST charged for NZ trainees.
Additional Training Resources
Your education doesn’t finish there. Here are some other recommendations:
Recommended training/research NZ:
Fundamentals of Palliative Care – Hospice NZ course.
Advance Care Planning training – Health Quality and Safety Commission with Te Whatu Ora.
Assisted Dying Service - Information and training for health professionals by Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ.
Hospice New Zealand - Training modules, knowledge hub, and many educational webinars.
International:
Look up other well known experts in this space: International End of Life Doula organisations, FB groups, e.g. Gabby the Hospice heart, and there are Webinars, Ted Talks and Podcasts from all aspects of this work.
Recommended Reading/Talks:
BOOKS:
Kathryn Mannnix: ‘With the End in Mind’
Kathryn Mannnix: ‘Listen’
Dr. Lucy Hone: ‘Resilient Grieving’
Deanna Cochrane: 'Accompanying the Dying'
Atul Guwande: 'Being Mortal'
The Invisible String, children’s book.
Phyllis Schacter: 'Choosing to Die', about VSED.
Katie Engelhart: 'The Inevitable – Despatches on the Right to Die'
Alua Arthur: 'Briefly, Perfectly Human'
TED TALKS:
Kathryn Mannnix: Ted Talk
Dr. Lucy Hone: Ted Talk
Alua Arthur: Ted Talk
BLOG POSTS:
A piece by Dina Stander, US Doula, which says it all about starting out as a Doula: Read Dina's writing
Facebook Pages:
If you're considering becoming a Doula, visit our End of Life Doulas of Aotearoa NZ 'Dying and Death Conversations' Public page
This is where we can encourage healthy positive death discussions with the public, to promote ourselves as Doulas, meet others interested in this space, start important conversations, and to share wisdom around end of life options. Many who are interested in training are also on this page. And we sometimes have Doula Q&A sessions which are posted here.
Once you have completed your training:
You are welcome to join ELDAA as a professional member, where you will have access to our private Facebook page - providing mentorship and support for those offering Doula services in Aotearoa.
Reach out to others in your localities and meet up with them to strengthen your own Doula community.
Join international organisations and learn from the many resources they provide.
In your community:
Death Cafes:
These are popping up around the country and are a great way to meet others interested in sharing experiences and stories around death. Informal get together. Chat over coffee and cake.
Hospice Volunteers:
This is a great way to meet and get to know your local community palliative care team.
Go with Grace Directory:
This resource on all things dying and death in NZ, has free and paid options for those wishing to be listed.
Dying Matters Week: August each year.
Team up with your local library and host an event, or set up a display. Lots of ways for Doulas to share knowledge and reach their communities.
Most importantly, every person you work with, will teach you something new.
