08/05/2026
It’s time to name something that doesn’t get said often enough.
End of Life Doulas are not well understood in formal care settings. In many cases, we’re not understood at all.
And that gap is costing people a better death.
This isn’t a criticism of the doctors, nurses, aged care workers and palliative care teams who show up every day to do extraordinary work. It’s an honest account of what the system was never designed to provide.
Did you know that over half of End of Life Doulas receive referrals only in a person’s final days of life? By then, the relational, human support we’re trained to provide can barely get started.
Around 80% of Australians will die in a formal care setting. That means this gap affects most of us — and most of our families.
In this blog I explore why the confusion exists, what the research tells us, and what needs to change so that clinicians, aged care workers, palliative care teams and End of Life Doulas can work together to help Australians die better.
Have you experienced this gap yourself — as a family member, a carer, or someone working in the sector?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
https://yourpathguide.com.au/2026/05/05/the-gap-that-needs-closing/
End of Life Doulas are misunderstood in formal care settings. Explore why the gap exists and what needs to change in Australian palliative and aged care.
