10962NAT - Certificate IV in Doula Support Services

The course provides vocational education and training in practical and theoretical skills relevant to the provision of Doula support services and the underpinning knowledge required to apply these skills in a variety of workplace situations, including hospitals, birthing centres, homebirths and in-home visits.
By the completion of this course, participants will have developed the skills and knowledge to offer non-medical, physical and emotional support, unbiased information without judgement along with a variety of local resources to prospective parents while trying to conceive, during pregnancy, in childbirth and in the post-natal period.
The course covers many aspects of conception, pregnancy, the many processes of birth, and the options offered to women both at home and in hospital.
Also covered are the mechanics of labour, the needs of mother and baby, possible fears and challenges for parents, homebirth, hospital policies and procedures, post-natal issues, breastfeeding and postnatal doula work. There is a focus on fathers and partners and inclusion of siblings and how to work best along-side other health professionals.
The strong focus on helping clients prepare for an empowering birth, understanding what empowers or disempowers a birthing woman and her partner, and how to help them to bond deeply with their newborn baby.
The doula is knowledgeable in comfort measures such as relaxation breathing, massage and positioning, managing labour sensations using water, hot packs, and aromas and is skilled in supporting the birthing woman and her partner to meet the challenges of labour and parenting.
Doulas specialise in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams and fetal heart rate monitoring. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions or give medical advice.
Graduates of this course can work across the landscape of the childbearing continuum as a Doula, Birth Support person, Birth Coach/Companion or a Post-natal Support Service Provider.