LOCATION
Delivered online
via Zoom
DURATION
18 months part time, 15 hours per week
REQUIREMENTS
NEXT INTAKE
Coming in 2024
Enquire now
OVERVIEW
Many older people and those approaching the end of life wish to remain in their homes for as long as possible and be supported by the community. There are gaps in the availability and delivery of services, and there’s never been a greater need for planning and supporting the future workforce.
The 10966NAT Certificate IV in End of Life Doula Services is the world’s first and Australia’s only nationally accredited end of life doula training course.
Gain specialised skills
You’ll learn how to bridge the service gaps in conventional, non-medical care provision and provide holistic, non-medical, social, emotional, and practical wellbeing support around end of life. This includes planning and providing care using a palliative approach, engaging with health professionals, undertaking after-death care, funeral and bereavement support, and working safely, legally and ethically.
Your end of life doula services
Once you complete this course, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to provide holistic support for those planning, preparing for, or entering the end of their lives and those close to them.
You’ll also be skilled to practice as an End of Life Doula in more conventional clinical, medical, palliative, and aged care environments. If you currently work in the aged care, clinical, nursing or allied health space, this qualification will deepen your practice, enhance your skill set, and help you provide a more profound holistic service to people at end of life and those caring for them.
You will enrol with Essential Skills Training and Recruitment (RTO ID 92719) if accepted into this program. Preparing the Way delivers the first four units; Essential Skills Training and Recruitment (ESTR) delivers the remaining 11 units.
I am so pleased to be a part of the first cohort of doulas doing the Certificate IV. It is a game changer, a world first, and this qualification will open doors and raise the profile of doulas in Australia. I would love to see institutions and care providers adding Doula to their allied services. With the Cert IV, this is possible.
Course outcomes
Once you complete the 10966NAT Certificate IV in End of Life Doula Services, you will be qualified to work as an End of Life Doula and provide holistic, non-medical end of life care in various settings.
Work as an End of Life Doula to enhance holistic service provision in your current profession or establish your own business.
Work as an End of Life Doula in private practice and within more conventional clinical, hospital or aged care settings.
Bridge non-medical service gaps in current palliative and aged care models.
Work within a multi-disciplinary approach to end of life and wellbeing.
Support those living with life-limiting conditions, terminal illness, advanced ageing, or at the end of life, and those close to them.
Support and provide vigil and ceremony/ritual after an individual’s death.
Support and provide natural holistic after-death care at home or in a facility.
Understand the principles of spiritual or secular care for the individual and their carers or those close to them.
COURSE DETAILS
Delivery mode
The course is delivered online via Zoom with real time classes, forums and online practicums.
Online classes, tutorials and forums will use the Zoom platform during the course. You will also access learning resources and assessment tools in the student section of aXcelerate, a learning management system.
Course schedule
This course is 18 months part-time. It requires about 15 hours per week, and there is a 4-week break over Christmas and New Year’s. Each class is limited to 30 students.
The next intake commences in 2024. Applications are now open. Enquire now.
Course units
There are 15 course units.
Tuition fees
The 18-month, 1,095-hour course tuition is $12,195 (no GST applicable).
If you have completed Preparing the Way’s Intensive Course, we offer a $2,200 credit towards your tuition.
If you have completed End of Life Skill Set units, tuition is reduced accordingly. See End of Life Doula Skill Set tuition.
Payment plan options are available.
When we accept your application and you’ve paid a $1,500 deposit, you may arrange the remaining payments weekly, fortnightly, or monthly over 12 months through Xplor Debit Success.
All learning and assessment course materials are provided. Additional costs may be associated with resources, accommodation, and flights to attend the course commencement, training, and assessment days in the last week of the course.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may elect to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) if you have a combination of:
• prior study
• end of life doula volunteer or working experience
• completion Preparing the Way’s Foundation Workshop and Intensive Course
• personal end of life experiences
You must apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at the time of enrolment. If you are considering applying for RPL, please request an RPL Kit for the units applicable when making your initial course application.
Each application will be considered on its own merits.
Credit Transfer
Essential Skills Training and Recruitment (ESTR) will grant Credit Transfer to the equivalent current units of competency completed in your previous courses to those in the 10966NAT Certificate IV in End of Life Doula Services.
Applications for Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer are processed in accordance with ESTR’s policies and procedures.
REQUIREMENTS
Essential requirements
Applicants for the 10966NAT Certificate IV in End of Life Doula Services must:
- be 21 years of age or older
- provide a Police, Working with Children, and Working with
Vulnerable People check (checks relevant to your state/territory) - attend an interview to determine your suitability for the course
- have the emotional and professional maturity to deal with traumatic and complex situations
- abide by any government health mandates with regard to COVID-19 that may be in force at that time when attending onsite training, and agree to adhere to any measures deemed necessary by Preparing the Way or the venue to be essential for the health and safety of all participants and trainers learning and working in the environment (eg. wearing a face mask, RAT test, distancing etc.)
Recommended requirements
- Applicants should have high-level language, literacy, and numeracy skills sufficient to interpret complex documents, prepare written reports, and prepare budget spreadsheets.
- Applicants should be able to communicate effectively with medical, nursing and other related personnel.
- Applicants should have digital literacy skills to complete the online course content, such as: being able to participate in and interact with online video conferencing applications (i.e. Zoom), have basic computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Word, Gmail) and access to the technical requirements.
Limitations to entry
Preparing the Way will conduct an initial interview on application to the course. This interview assesses whether providing support services to those with life-limiting conditions is a good option, as this course may expose you to complex and challenging care situations.
If you’ve had a recent bereavement, for example, witnessing death or providing physical care to those reaching the end of their lives, this may be triggering for you and not supportive of your wellbeing.
When you have proceeded to and completed your enrolment application, Essential Skills Training and Recruitment will conduct a pre-training language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) review to determine the need for any individual support and level of literacy. This review is a regulatory requirement for all accredited training. It is a separate review of the initial course application interview with Preparing the Way.
NEXT STEPS
We’re really excited for you to join the Preparing the Way community, and we look forward to supporting you on your journey.
The first step is to submit an enquiry. One of our team members will follow up with you.
Get in touch
If you have questions, need assistance with your application and next steps, or would like to receive information by email, please use this form to contact us.