I met my Teacher Tanya Murphy in 2016 in Tasmania. This was when I began learning Belief Work by Byron Katie and Joe Dispensa. Understanding this work became my biggest focus in life and I began my 5-year study of The Mind Body Connection.

In 2020 I left my island home of Tasmania to travel around Australia. Throughout this time I visited many Universities and conferences about Midwifery; and left each time more dedicated to pursuing my chosen path of in-person, traditional learning. I knew that sacred Womens Work did not solely belong in lecture rooms. And that my work needed to be learnt in person with teachers I deeply admired.

During this time I was completing my online birth mentorship with my second teacher and deeply immersing myself in Yoga and Meditation; living in a Harre Krishna community to pursue studies, sitting 10 day vipassana retreats and studying different health modalities online; particularly Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine. I was entirely devoted to understanding the Mind Body Connection.

I moved states to complete my third training; a 3 month in-person Apprenticeship with a very respected Chinese Medicine Doctor, Naomi Jansson, who specialises in Birth and Womens Health. I stood by her side in her clinics, retreats and home visits.

Throughout this time I was heavily connecting with the birth community across Australia; attending retreats, conferences and online containers. My year living on Gumbayyngyr Birthing Country deeply supported me on this path.

After completing my Apprenticeship I received the opportunity to be a part of Sunni Karlls first mentorship group; Sunni is the author of one of my favourite books, 'Sacred Birthing' and it was my dream to learn from her.

After this I was ready to study away from my birth country. The Mayan Midwives of The Midwife Project Guatemala were opening their program to foreigners and I journeyed to Central America to learn from them. Here I became a Student of their 'Education To Empowerment Program' and ended up living high in the mountains with their family.

Throughout my travels I continued to attend weekly online classes with my teacher Tanya Murphy. Constantly weaving the physical, emotional and spiritual.

I now reside back home on the unceded land of Lutruwita/Tasmania. The wisdom I have gained from many teachers and lands now walks with me here. It is my wish to give back to the land that raised me and continues to raise children, women and new mothers.

A 'Doula' is a trained non-medical support person for a birthing family. They offer holistic, practical support through some or all aspects of the birth spectrum; pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

The term 'birth-keeper' resonates with me due to the traditional ways in which I offer support. My work is female initiation work. It is a remembrance of women birthing since time immemorial, often with wise women by their side.

I stand beside you with my education, empowerment and love for your entire sacred window.

This work supports gentle journeys. It supports gentle birth spaces and it welcomes gentle landings for babies.

• Recognises birth as a key life experience ‘rite of passage’ the the birth giver will remember all their life.

• Assists the birth giver and their partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth and postpartum.

• Supports the birthing person/couple to access the information they need to make conscious choices.

• Holds the space for the labouring mother/person through the entire labour.

• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective view and spiritual connection.

• Facilitates communication between the labouring mother, partner, and the clinical care providers.

• Encourages the birth givers partner to participate at their comfort level.

  [Quoted from Celebration of Birth Doula Academy]

My education includes:

• 5 Year Study of The Work with Tanya Murphy, True To Heart

• Chinese Medicine In-Person Apprenticeship, Dr Naomi Jansson, 2022

• Guardians of The Nest Mentorship, Sunni Carl, 2022

• Holistic Death Care for Birth Workers, Amy Lou, 2022

• Sovereign Birth Mentorship, Amy Lou, 2023

• Belly Binding Workshop, Sarah Smits, 2023

• 2 day Birth Craft Workshop, Claire Eccelston, 2024

• Education To Empowerment Program, Guatemala, 2024

• The Initiation Of Birth Retreat, NSW, 2023

• Yin Sanctuary Training (Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine in Birth) Dr Naomi Jansson, 2022

• Ayurveda for Women Certificate, Bhakti Rose, 2024

• 7 day Magdalena Training, Winter Jade Icely, 2023

• Home Sweet Home Birth Course, Claire Eccleston, 2024

• 200hr Hatha Yoga Teacher Training, Krishna Village, 2021

• 50hr Pre-Natal Yoga Training, Katie Rose, 2022

• 50hr Yin Yoga Training, The Sol Collective, 2024

I am incredibly passionate about:

• People having access to true education in order to be empowered in their bodies, decisions and lives.

• Women returning to their bodies, in order to return to nature.

• Rites of passages being treated with the respect and reverence that they deserve.

• Birth being viewed as the opportunity for deep healing, connection and joy in which It is.

• The psycho-spiritual aspects of birth, death and transformation.

• Babies being received in the most gentle way because "peace on earth begins with birth" - Jeannine Parvati Baker

• Women reclaiming their innate wisdom, body intelligence and birthright to be make sovereign choices.

• The Mind Body connection and how our thoughts impact our emotional and physical experiences.

The Work is a process of identifying and then questioning the thoughts and beliefs that cause our suffering.

It is a powerful and transformational process which teaches us how to find freedom from our own cause of suffering; our minds; using a set list of questions and a turnaround to support this process.

The Work is not about a philosophy nor is it a religion. What sets it apart from these ancient modalities is the way it cuts through the stories of the mind and reveals the truth with such clarity and simplicity.

Through the process of The Work, the mind lets go of itself; revealing the untouchable peace, freedom and joy that we all seek and have access to.

In Australia today, 1 in 3 women experience birth trauma (Panda Org, 2024). Doulas have become increasingly popular and valuable because of our current, disconnected and unsupported birth culture.

Benefits of Doula Support (for birth):

• 51% reduction in Ceasarean rate

• 25% shorter length of labour

• 60% reduction in Epidural requests

• 40% reduction in Syntocinon use

• 35% reduction in analgesics

• 40% in forceps/vacuum deliveries

Long Term Benefits:

• Improved success with breastfeeding

• Increased time with baby and easier bonding

• Increased maternal satisfaction

• Reduced Post Natal Depletion/Depression
  
  [source: “how a doula can help you have a shorter, easier and healthier Birth.” Klaus, Kennel and Klaus (USA)]