Our Training
Overview
We believe we offer the best face-to-face training in Western Australia. Australian Doulas’ training courses have evolved over 12 years to specifically meet the needs of Western Australian women.
Birth Doula Course
Australian Doulas birth doula training includes such things as: debriefing your own birth; physiology of birth; the role of a birth doula; supporting women in labour; interventions; massage; optimal foetal positioning; introduction to HypnoBirthing®; working with survivors of sexual abuse; breastfeeding; VBAC; dads and doulas; and working as a doula.
The course runs over 6 days and costs $1200. (We also have an early bird rate). During the course, you will hear from other birth and health professionals as they come and share with you their knowledge and expertise. The course is designed to be interactive, with time for sharing and discussion. You will receive our ‘workbook’ full of relevant articles and insights to get you thinking as you begin your journey as a doula.
Once you have completed the training, you will be classified as a trainee birth doula until you have attended 3 births – at which time you become a certified birth doula. During training, you will meet 2 mentors who will be available to help you with any questions you have in your first year as a doula. You will be invited to become a member of Australian Doulas if you so wish. Membership of Australian Doulas gives you access to our wonderful Facebook group full of women walking the same journey as you, all with differing levels of experience. It is a fantastic place to ask questions, support each other and increase your knowledge.
Our birth doula training is held in Perth and Bunbury on a regular basis. We are happy to travel to other locations – please click on Rural Training (on the right) for more information.
To register for our upcoming doula training, please click on the “Upcoming Training” link to the right.
Postnatal Doula Course
Australian Doulas postnatal doula training includes such things as: debriefing your own postnatal experience; the role of a postnatal doula; postnatal depression and anxiety; listening and communication skills; parenting styles; common parental concerns; postnatal sexuality; infant feeding (breast and bottle); and working as a doula.
The course now runs over 3 days and costs $900 (additional costs in regional areas). During the course, you will explore how to support a woman and her family during that special postnatal period and hear from other health professionals as they share with you their knowledge and expertise. The course is designed to be interactive, with time for sharing and discussion.
Once you have completed the training, you will be classified as a trainee postnatal doula until you have supported 3 women – at which time you become a certified postnatal doula. During training, you will be introduced to a mentor who will be available to help you with any questions you have in your first year as a doula. You will be invited to become a member of Australian Doulas if you so wish. Membership of Australian Doulas gives you access to our wonderful Facebook group full of women walking the same journey as you, all with differing levels of experience. It is a fantastic place to ask questions, support each other and increase your knowledge.
Australian Doulas offers postnatal doula training regularly in Perth and periodically in Bunbury. We are happy to travel to other locations – please click on Rural Training (on the right) for more information.
To register for our upcoming doula training, please click on the “Upcoming Training” link to the right.
Birth Doula Course
Australian Doulas birth doula training includes such things as: debriefing your own birth; physiology of birth; the role of a birth doula; supporting women in labour; interventions; massage; optimal foetal positioning; introduction to Hypnobirthing®; working with survivors of sexual abuse; breastfeeding; VBAC; dads and doulas; and working as a doula.
The course runs over 6 days and costs $1200 (Perth pricing). During the course, you will hear from other birth and health professionals as they come and share with you their knowledge and expertise. The course is designed to be interactive, with time for sharing and discussion. You will receive our ‘workbook’ full of relevant articles and insights to get you thinking as you begin your journey as a doula.
Once you have completed the training, you will be classified as a trainee birth doula until you have attended 3 births – at which time you become a certified birth doula. During training, you will meet 2 mentors who will be available to help you with any questions you have in your first year as a doula. You will be invited to become a member of Australian Doulas if you so wish. Membership of Australian Doulas gives you access to our wonderful Facebook group full of women walking the same journey as you, all with differing levels of experience. It is a fantastic place to ask questions, support each other and increase your professional knowledge.
Our birth doula training is held in Perth and Bunbury on a regular basis. We are happy to travel to other locations – please click on Rural Training (on the right) for more information.
To register for our birth doula training please click on Upcoming Training (on the right).
Postnatal Doula Course
Australian Doulas postnatal doula training includes such things as: debriefing your own postnatal experience; the role of a postnatal doula; postnatal depression and anxiety; listening and communication skills; parenting styles; common parental concerns; postnatal sexuality; infant feeding (breast and bottle); and working as a doula.
The course runs over 3 days and costs $900 (additional costs in regional areas). During the course, you will explore how to support a woman and her family during that special postnatal period and hear from other health professionals as they share with you their knowledge and expertise. The course is designed to be interactive, with time for sharing and discussion.
Once you have completed the training, you will be classified as a trainee postnatal doula until you have supported 3 women – at which time you become a certified postnatal doula. During training, you will be introduced to a mentor who will be available to help you with any questions you have in your first year as a doula. You will be invited to become a member of Australian Doulas if you so wish. Membership of Australian Doulas gives you access to our wonderful Facebook group full of women walking the same journey as you, all with differing levels of experience. It is a fantastic place to ask questions, support each other and increase your knowledge.
Australian Doulas offers postnatal doula training regularly in Perth and periodically in Bunbury. We are happy to travel to other locations – please click on Rural Training (on the right) for more information.
To register for our postnatal doula training please click on Upcoming Training (on the right).
Rural Course
Australian Doulas runs birth doula training in Bunbury and Karratha on demand. We are open and keen to travel to other areas within Western Australia to provide doula training to women closer to their homes.
See Upcoming Training for details and to register.
Don’t live near Perth, Bunbury or Karratha? To register interest in a course being held at your location, please email our Course Administrator.
Upcoming Training
Postnatal Doula Course: TBA
Venue: TBA Dates: TBA Course Cost – $900 Register NowFAQs
Q: Will I be a qualified doula after training, or is there further study required?
A: Upon completion of your training, you will be classified as a trainee doula until you have attended 3 births. After you’ve attended 3 births you will become a certified doula.
There is no further study required to become a certified doula, however, Australian Doulas encourages all of its doulas to continue their professional development by reading and attending relevant courses, workshops and study days as the individual doula sees fit.
Q: Do you have payment plans?
A: Yes we do. Get in contact with our Course Administrator at [email protected] and she will set you up. If your payment plan will not be finalised within two weeks of the course start date, a 5% processing fee will be payable.
Q: Is the course deposit refundable?
A: No but you can transfer it to a future course if you are unable to attend. Because of bookings we need to make, and resources we purchase for each course, if you cancel within two weeks of a course, all payments will be transferred to a course to be used within 18 months.
Q: Are there any prerequisites for this training?
A: No. As a doula provides non-medical support, no previous training is necessary. What is required is empathy and a passion for supporting birthing women and their families.
Q: Do I have to sit an exam at the end of the training?
A: No. The nature of this course is not academic – naturally, you will learn a great deal but the focus is not on academics. The qualities of a good doula cannot be measured by sitting an exam.
Q: Can I pay for my training in instalments?
Absolutely! Australian Doulas requires a deposit to secure your course booking. After that, you are welcome to pay for the rest of the course in installments.
Q: Can I charge for my services?
A: Yes. In fact, Australian Doulas encourages you to charge for your services.
Q: Can I volunteer my services?
A: Yes, you may volunteer your services. There are existing programs whereby you can volunteer your services to disadvantaged women.
Q: Does Australian Doulas find work for its doulas?
A: No, Australian Doulas is not an agency. Australian Doulas provides support for its doulas to find their own clients through their website and through networking in our closed Facebook group.
Q: Do I need to pay a percentage of my income to Australian Doulas?
A: No, Australian Doulas is not an agency. Australian Doulas is a not-for-profit organisation that charges its members a small annual fee.
Q: If I attend Australian Doulas training do I need to become a member of Australian Doulas?
A: No, there is no requirement for you to become a member of Australian Doulas. Upon completion of your training, you will be offered a period of free membership which you are free to accept or decline.
Q: How do I find clients?
A: This is a really common question and one for which the answer can be different for everyone. For some, their first births come through an extended circle of friends. For others, their first births come through networking within the birth world (with other doulas, midwives, pregnancy resource centres, Birthrites, etc). For others, it’s through their profile on the website, through their own Facebook page or through being seen on birth forums. For others, volunteering their services through established programs bring their first births. There are so many ways that clients can come to you.
Q: I have young children and/or my partner works FIFO. How can I work as a doula?
A: Your support network is very important. For some doulas, support comes from their partner and their parents. For our doulas who don’t have a lot of family support close by or who have a partner who works away, they have found that support can come through friends (including other doulas), daycare and/or an au pair.
Q: What if I am unwell or there is an emergency and I am unable to attend a birth?
A: Australian Doulas always encourages you to have a backup doula available in these instances.
We know that starting out as a doula you may have many questions. You will have time during training to ask all of these questions and more. After completion of your training, if you choose to become a member of Australian Doulas, you will receive access to our closed Facebook group within which you can ask any questions that might arise for you and receive support and suggestions from our wide range of doulas.
Q: I have a question to ask about training, who can I ask?
A: Please contact our Course Administrator at [email protected].
Testimonials
‘Nothing has felt more right than sitting in a house, surrounded by women whom I had just met but who felt as passionately as I did about supporting women during this important time in their lives. I learnt so much and I know my journey has only just begun.’
– Cathy, Perth 2006Our Company
Australian Doulas was formed to deliver the best possible birth experience for you and your baby.
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Our Team
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