Sanctuary NZ End of Life Doula

31/01/2026

So beautifully put Treza Swansong : End-of-Life Doula Services 💚. And thank you for shining a light on our mahi 1News🌿

An end-of-life doula is like a midwife at the other end of life, helping people and/or their families make the transition from life to death.

18/01/2026

End of Life Doulas can be part of the solution to this 'looming crisis' providing emotional, practical, spiritual, social, cultural, educational, vigil care.

We support continuity and accompany, advocate and educate the people we support through out their journey.
We complement the medical/ clinical team as much as possible to try and ensure the circle of care is providing as much wrap around as is needed for the person and their Whānau/community.

We also communicate with our people about their hopes for dying well and their after death wishes.

If Palliative care/ Hospice starts to engage more actively with Doulas to discuss our services, it may lessen the strain on the whole system. We are not the only solution but we can be a part of the solution.

For more information:
www. eldaa.org.nz. https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/19-01-2026/how-we-die-inside-new-zealands-looming-crisis-in-palliative-care

18/01/2026

End of Life Doulas can be part of the solution to this 'looming crisis' providing emotional, practical, spiritual, social, cultural, educational, vigil care.

We support continuity and accompany, advocate and educate the people we support through out their journey.
We complement the medical/ clinical team as much as possible to try and ensure the circle of care is providing as much wrap around as is needed for the person and their Whānau/community.

We also communicate with our people about their hopes for dying well and their after death wishes.

If Palliative care/ Hospice starts to engage more actively with Doulas to discuss our services, it may lessen the strain on the whole system. We are not the only solution but we can be a part of the solution.

For more information:
www. eldaa.org.nz or www.sanctuarynz.co.nz

As New Zealand’s population ages, the number of people dying each year will rise rapidly. With hospices already experiencing funding shortages, who will care for us at the end of our lives?

14/01/2026

Another great blog piece from Shannon at Your Path Guide Pty Ltd🙏🤍. Although Shannon is based in Australia, much of this rings true for NZ . It's great to read pieces that so clearly highlight the value of and need for Doula care and support in our societies 🌿.

Palliative Care Australia has warned that hospital bed block is rising because people lack enough support in the community. This article explores how End of Life Doulas work alongside clinical team…

09/01/2026

Thank you Sherie Sovereign Departures for sharing and articulating this so gently and authentically. Knowledge, support, choices, empowerment, comfort 🙏🌿

In my work as an end-of-life doula, I have witnessed Assisted Dying inside family homes.

I want to share about this because what I have seen has not been cold or clinical.

It was kind.
Gentle.
Deeply human.

Held in love, clarity, and connection.

Time was known.
A tender nest space was created.
Families supported their loved one, and each other, with courage and presence.

These were sacred, empowered journeys.

I also carry the memory of my own father, who did not have access to the End of Life Choice Act. I know he would support the work I now do: walking beside people who wish to exercise sovereignty, agency, and autonomy at the end of life.

Because there is still uncertainty and silence around Assisted Dying, I want to share a few important truths. Not to persuade, only to inform.

• You must initiate the conversation
• It is not available to everyone
• Consent is ongoing and must be clear on the day
• The process cannot be rushed
• Not all doctors are able to provide this care

The bottom line:
Assisted Dying is not fast, simple, or guaranteed.

Understanding doesn’t mean you have to choose it.

But having knowledge does mean you have choices.

To learn more about the process, eligibility, and how to apply, you can visit the official Te Whatu Ora / Health New Zealand information here:
https://info.health.nz/health-topics/conditions-treatments/end-of-life-care/assisted-dying

If you’d like someone to walk beside you or your family, my heart is open and I'm here to help 🤍

08/12/2025

"Care for dying - we knew, we forgot, we’re back-New Zealand’s palliative care system is finally showing signs of renewal, with hospice leaders pushing for lasting change"

Here’s hoping this momentum continues and that Palliative Care services increasingly partner with, and make referrals to patients who would benefit from End of Life Doula support!

I know and see daily that strengthening this continuum of care makes a genuine difference for whānau who need more time, support, and continuity alongside clinical teams.

'After a decade of palliative care neglect in which New Zealand slumped by world standards, there is new hope the terminally ill may soon be suffering less', writes Kevin Norquay in Wellington's daily, The Post.

20/11/2025

⭐ End-of-Life Doulas in Palliative Care ⭐

Across Aotearoa, Doulas are supporting individuals and whānau through some of the most challenging moments of serious illness, dying, and bereavement. As the demand on clinical services grows, we can offer compassionate, practical, and relational care that complements the expertise of palliative teams.

🌿 When would Doulas improve the journey for your patients?

* When patients and their whānau are struggling, not yet eligible for hospice care, or needing additional non-clinical support.
* When discharging patients with non-complex needs or limited family capacity.
* During last days of life, vigil periods, at the time of death, and afterwards, especially when no plans have been made.
* When a person wishes to die at home but their care circle are uncertain or not confident to manage that.
* When a person doesn’t have family support and needs help to navigate the journey.

🌿 What actions strengthen collaboration?

* Encourage patients to visit ELDAA, and make an informed choice about whether they want to engage a Doula. It costs nothing to make a phone call or have a first visit to determine whether a doula is the right fit. And where there is financial hardship, families and doulas can discuss how to tailor support to the person’s needs and budget.
* Appoint a hospice contact or “Doula Liaison” to help connect patients and families with local doulas and build relationships for ongoing collaboration.

EOLDs bring a growing and skilled workforce, training, and a commitment to compassionate care. What we need now is continued open conversation, recognition, and clearer integration pathways that acknowledge Doulas as part of the wider palliative care solution.

We encourage palliative and health care teams meet with the Doulas in your area, learn about the work we do, and explore how we can support your patients, your teams, and our communities.

🌿 Reach out:
sarah@sanctuarynz.co.nz
www.sanctuarynz.co.nz
www.eldaa.org.nz

Send a message to learn more

19/11/2025

Shannon from Your Path Guide Pty Ltd has started a beautiful series of videos on End of Life Doula care and support . Here is the first one ♥️

09/11/2025

A gem from the fantastic conversation between dear friend and incredible colleague Treza Swansong : End-of-Life Doula Services and Petra Sunday Sanctuary last week🌿💛🌟.

On why having tender conversations can be so vitally important:
"Giving people the chance to really explore what life is about, what they think happens when they die, what death looks like usually and exploring these existential and spiritual dimensions which become hugely important for people at end of life"

06/11/2025

Chair of ELDAA, Treza Gallogly, joined Petra Bagust on the most recent episode (Community and Death) of Sunday Sanctuary 💛.

It’s an inspiring, authentic and insightful discussion, touching upon life, death, hope, and many things in between. It also explains beautifully the role of an End of Life Doula for those who are curious about the different aspects of Doula support and services.

Listen to the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1fE28ogeiqibtYbGohSpcL

Thanks to Treza Swansong : End-of-Life Doula Services and Petra for the humanity and aroha you bring🌿

22/10/2025

🌿 Closing the care gap in end-of-life support in Aotearoa🌿

I’m really happy to share this recent ehospicearticle,
“ELDAA: New Zealand’s professional End of Life Doula body responds to care gap,” co-written by Treza SSwansong : End-of-Life Doula Servicesand myself on behalf of End of Life Doulas Aotearoa (ELDAA).

In it, we speak about the growing need for compassionate, person-centred end-of-life care in Aotearoa, and how doulas are helping to bridge the gaps within our overstretched palliative care systems.

It’s means a lot to me to be part of this growing movement, helping to build awareness, professional recognition, and community understanding of doula care in Aotearoa and most importantly to have the privilege of supporting the amazing individuals and whānau I get the honour of meeting.

Thank you to my beautiful rahiri who gave me her permission to use her experience and images to help others... we miss you and we honour your wisdom and grace always🌿

https://ehospice.com/asia-pacific-posts/eldaa-new-zealands-professional-end-of-life-doula-body-responds-to-care-gap/

As the country's global palliative care ranking plummets, a new professional movement has emerged to fill critical gaps in end of life support. Margaret'

30/09/2025

“After working this toolkit all my life, and staying on the road all these long years, and getting up after all the falls, and pushing through pain, and stress and suffering, and all the triumphs, and all the disasters, and all the joys, and all the sorrows, and raising a family, and all that brings with it, and finding love, and most of all having now lived through months and months of staring down the clucking face of death itself, I finally arrived at the last enduring truth,” Latta wrote.

“I learned what I always knew but never truly understood. There is only one metric that really matters when we measure ourselves against the way we’ve chosen to live our lives: In the end ... there is only love❤️

Honouring you today Nigel Latta. Moi mai Ra 🌿

The clinical psychologist was diagnosed with "incurable" gastric cancer diagnosis in 2024.