About us

Helen Callanan

Founder, Co-owner, Managing Director, Lead Educator

Helen Callanan is the founder, co-owner, and lead educator of Preparing the Way, which has trained over 2,600 end of life doulas across Australia and New Zealand. With more than 35 years’ experience as a doula and over 40 years supporting people who are healing, living with a diagnosis, advancing in age, and grieving, Helen brings deep personal and professional insight to her work.

She provides training and consultation to government bodies, NGOs, universities, and healthcare organisations, and served as Chair of HELD, Australia’s peak body for holistic end of life care. Her passion is education that empowers choice, compassion, and transformation.

Kit Bewley

Trainer and Administration Support

Kit’s interest in death and dying began early in life, initiated by her lived experiences. Her passion for tending to the end of life space was deepened during her community development degree, and combined with Preparing the Way training, laid the foundations for her to formally begin End of Life Doulaing in 2017.

Since then, Kit has been dedicated to authentic and compassionate approaches to death, dying and grief. She looks to empower individuals, families, and communities to reclaim all stages of life in a manner that honestly reflects their values and circumstances.

Jo Fuller

Trainer Lead

Jo is an experienced and practicing End-of-Life Doula with a background in palliative and aged care nursing, pathology, medical research, and business management.

Jo has been working with Preparing the Way since April 2020 and is a senior educator leading the Foundation Course and Intensive Workshop. Jo is also a lead trainer of the Certificate IV in End-of-Life Doula Services.

Her qualifications include the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and Certificate IV in End-of-Life Doula Services. She has completed the Professional Management Program at the University of Adelaide.

Jacqui Williams

Trainer

Jacqui is a practising End of Life Doula, Funeral Celebrant, and community educator working with local, national and international communities since 2017.

Jacqui is passionate about helping individuals become more comfortable with the end of life through self-exploration, reflection, engagement, and deep conversations. She has over 40 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and a Certificate IV in Bereavement Support. Jacqui became a trainer for Preparing the Way in 2023.

Kathy Elder

Finance and Administration Support

Kathy has worked for over 20 years in the Finance sector, with roles in Banking and Vic Government Department of Justice. She is excited to help Preparing the Way support the training and development of doulas by providing administrative assistance to the team.

Kathy has experienced first-hand the benefits and knowledge that come from having a doula alongside her and her family as they lived the end of life journey of Kathy’s husband. He was diagnosed with a terminal illness in August 2021 and died in September 2023. Kathy is grateful that through her role at Preparing the Way, she can support the important work of end of life doulas.

Gab Stokes

Administration and Communications Assistant

Gab brings a broad scope of experience to her role at Preparing the Way, having worked across teaching, community support, and medical administration. Her career has always centred on care, communication, and connection – values that now underpin her work in the end-of-life space.

Gab’s personal experience of supporting her husband through end of life was the beginning of her deep commitment to helping others navigate dying and death with understanding and compassion. An end-of-life doula, she is completing her Certificate IV in End of Life Doula Services.