Hello, my name is Lisa – the founder of Parting with Dignity - thank you for your interest.

I am an Irish Australian, who is a dedicated End of Life Doula servicing the Hunter region. I am passionate about empowering others to make informed decisions about their end of life.  As an End-of-Life Doula it is my mission is to provide compassionate, non-medical support and guidance to individuals and families navigating the final stages of life.

As a trained end-of-life doula and registered nurse with 30 plus years’ experience, I have impeccable skills and knowledge to support those with complex chronic medical, neurological or cancer diagnoses.

I am committed to creating a personalised experience for each of my clients, working closely with you and your family to understand your unique needs and wishes, then, helping to safeguard those wishes.

My services will be tailored to meet the unique needs and preference of each client and their loved ones. Services offered will include:

• Advanced care planning for future healthcare decisions, including drafting Advanced Care Directive documentation in collaboration with your GP
• Medically literate and proficient at interpreting medical jargon
• Companionship in the home or at the bedside
• Life review and legacy work
• Voluntary Assisted Dying support
• Spiritual support for all religions and spiritual beliefs
• Respite for caregivers who need a break
• Holding vigil, before and after death
• Supporting family led after-death body care and shrouding

I can assist with end-of-life education, and no matter what age, can help prepare for death, to die with dignity and to die the way they want.

I will respectfully advocate for and support all individual end of life choices including dying at home and voluntary assisted dying.

As a society we have developed a fear of death and dying. We have pushed death mostly into hospitals, nursing homes and funeral homes. I believe we need to bring death back into our lives and community, to accept death as a normal part of life.

My Irish heritage and upbringing taught me to accept that death is part of life, that a death can be marked or celebrated with a wake and believe that a respectful sense of humour is an essential quality for an End-of-Life Doula.