Over the past few months, Preparing the Way embarked on something new: a partnership with Carer Gateway that took us across Central West NSW, delivering two powerful rounds of workshops to carers in Dubbo, Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Orange and Bathurst.
This collaboration marks an exciting evolution in our work, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the vision, commitment and leadership of the team at Carer Gateway. Their dedication to carers across the region, and their willingness to imagine what was possible when doula education was brought into their work, shaped every aspect of this program. It was a true collaboration built on shared values and a genuine commitment to supporting those they serve.
While we’ve long been Australia and New Zealand’s leading provider of end of life doula training, this program demonstrated the profound value of bringing doula education to people who may never become professional doulas, but whose lives and caring work can be transformed by becoming doula-informed.
A personal connection
For our Founder and Lead Educator, Helen Callanan, this work runs deep.
‘I lived with my mum for seven years as she journeyed with dementia,’ Helen said. ‘I was my father’s full-time carer for the last two months of his life at home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He died in my arms.’
Helen’s experiences shaped Preparing the Way’s understanding of what carers truly need: not just information, but validation, connection, and permission to acknowledge the enormity of what they’re carrying. It’s why National Carers Week (12-18 October) and our program in Central West NSW hold such profound meaning.
This blog is dedicated to every carer whose strength, honesty and courage inspire us daily.
The journey: two rounds, two perspectives
Round 1: Supporting you, supporting others
The first series focused on the journey leading up to end of life, exploring territory that many carers navigate alone and unprepared.
Conversations that matter gave participants language and permission to ask the important questions, opening up reflection and making space for truth-telling between carers and those they care for.
Systems and planning demystified the practical tools that provide security and clarity: Advance Care Plans, Advance Care Directives, Enduring Guardianship, Power of Attorney, wills, and funeral plans. Many carers discovered they’d been operating without crucial safeguards.
The carer’s experience acknowledged what’s often invisible: the multiple realms of loss carers face, strategies for managing burnout, and concrete resources for support. Perhaps most importantly, it validated that struggling doesn’t mean failing.
Understanding the dying process normalised what happens at end of life, helping carers recognise symptoms and shift from trying to fix to simply being present, a profound permission many had never received.
Round 2: Beyond death and back into life
The second series ventured into territory rarely discussed: what happens after death. For many carers, the journey doesn’t end with a loved one’s last breath, yet they’re often left to navigate what comes next without guidance or support.
Holistic end of life and after-death care revealed family-led choices that participants didn’t know existed, such as vigils, natural body care, eco-friendly burial and cremation options. The phrase we heard repeatedly was ‘I didn’t know we could do that.’
Legal and practical realities clarified the laws that apply after death, when the coroner becomes involved, funeral director requirements, and who can legally arrange a funeral. This is essential knowledge that prevents confusion during an already difficult time.
Ceremony and meaning explored the difference between funerals, memorials and celebrations of life, empowering families to personalise these moments in ways that honour their person authentically.
Grief, transitions and renewal acknowledged grief as unpredictable and individual, whilst exploring how carers might rebuild their lives and identities after the caring role ends, a transition that can be as disorienting as it is necessary.
Community and self-care provided practical resources, peer connections, and our ‘24 ways to care for yourself’ framework. It is a reminder that self-care isn’t selfish; it’s survival.
What carers told us
The workshops created moments of deep connection that surprised even us. Carers from Round 1 spoke about the relief of ‘knowing you’re not alone’ and feeling empowered to plan and advocate for themselves and their loved ones.
Round 2 participants described sessions as ‘enlightening’ and ‘mind-blowing’ and not because the content was complex, but because it revealed choices they never knew existed. The simple knowledge that they could choose a shrouded cremation or natural burial opened possibilities for honouring their people in deeply personal ways.
Measuring what matters
Using the Death Literacy Index, we tracked clear increases across knowledge, confidence and connection. Carers reported feeling better prepared, less isolated, and more supported, which were precisely the outcomes that matter most in this work.
But numbers only tell part of the story. The real impact was shown in the way participants leaned forward in their seats, in the questions that kept coming after sessions officially ended, and in the connections formed between carers who’d felt alone in their experiences.
Building sustainability: training the trainers
A unique element of this program was the Train the Trainer initiative. Three Carer Gateway staff were trained in facilitation, enabling them to continue delivering these workshops to their communities long after our partnership concludes.
This ensures the ripple effect continues—knowledge spreading outward, empowering more carers, normalising conversations about end of life, and building death literacy across regional NSW.
Why this works matter
Caring can be lonely, exhausting and invisible. Carers often disappear into the role, becoming defined entirely by who they’re caring for rather than who they are.
These workshops gave carers permission to put themselves back into the picture, to recognise their worth, and to understand that both caring and grieving can be shared journeys. They don’t have to carry it all alone.
The legacy and what comes next
This program leaves behind more than empowered carers. It creates a sustainable model, stronger community networks, and growing openness around end of life in regions that have historically lacked these resources.
We’re exploring future possibilities: retreats that allow deeper work, online offerings for carers who can’t travel, and expansion into more locations across Australia and New Zealand.
A time to recognise carers
We’re proud to share these outcomes during National Carers Week, a time to recognise the incredible contribution of carers across Australia. In every town we visited, we heard challenging and often heartbreaking stories. The honesty and resilience we witnessed remind us why this work matters so profoundly.
What this means for Preparing the Way
This collaboration with Carer Gateway represents an important evolution in our mission. Whilst we’ll continue training individuals through our Foundation Workshop, Intensive Course, and accredited options we’re now actively seeking partnerships with organisations who recognise the value of doula education for their communities.
Not everyone who benefits from understanding end of life, death and grief needs to become a professional doula. But everyone whose life or work touches these experiences, whether as carers, healthcare workers, community support staff, or concerned family members, gains something invaluable from being doula-informed.
If your organisation works with people navigating end of life, caring responsibilities, grief or loss, get in touch. We’d love to explore how we might collaborate to bring this education to your community.
To every carer who joined us: a deep, heartfelt thank you. Your courage, honesty and care will continue to inspire others. You’ve got this, and we’ve got you.
And to the leaders and team at Carer Gateway, thank you for your vision, your commitment, and your generosity in bringing us into this work. Your dedication to those you serve is extraordinary, and this collaboration has been all the richer for the shared values and mutual respect we’ve built together. We’re honoured to be partners in this journey.