End of Life, Death Doulas and Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD)

The Last Hurrah Offers End-of-Life Care including death doula and end-of-life companioning, funeral planning and continuity of non-medical help and support for people living with a terminal illness, choosing Voluntary Assisted Dying or looking at home-death and deathcare.

The Last Hurrah offers a unique opportunity for terminally ill people to choose a model of continuous care around their last days. We offer the following services:


End-of-life planning and support for people wanting to complete Advance Care Plans, Medical Decision Maker documents, Enduring Power of Attorney orders, funeral planning, Living Wills, and so on

  • Seamless support for people choosing Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD), with non-medical support, pre-death planning, an on-standby team ready for the day and time VAD is enacted, immediate post-death support to family including transfers or at-home vigils, washing and dressing, cooling beds, and home funerals

  • 24/7 help and support for families choosing a home-based death and vigil, either on-site or via phone

  • Practical assistance for the dying person and their family during the active dying phase, including with home-duties, emotional support and more, if required.

  • Planning Living Funerals for those who want to attend their own Last Hurrah.

Death Doula and End of Life Companioning Package

We are seeing an increased need for dying people and their families to access practical and compassionate support around non-medical end of life care, particularly in relation to planning ahead for the ‘pointy end’ of things, when a person is actively dying and things are intense for all involved. To that end, we have created a package that offers practical help, planning and support in the days and weeks leading up to someone’s end of life time. We also specialise in assisting people who have chosen VAD, thoughout the entire process.

The package includes:

  • A planning meeting with funeral director and family advocate Kimba, to help assess your specific set of circumstances and create a plan of action for the days ahead.

  • Ten hours of doula support with a doula who fits your requirements, as and when you need it (overnight/after hours incurs an additional fee)

  • A funeral planning session when you feel ready to talk over your/your person’s wishes for deathcare and funeral wishes.

    COST: $1100


Death Doula and End of Life Companions

We work with a small group of incredible end-of-life doulas that offer unique, holistic and deeply supportive care to people facing a life-limiting diagnosis, and their families. The scope of support includes advance care planning, legacy creation and memoirs, emotional support and deep listening, facilitating family conversations, support in different care settings, home-death support and after deathcare. Some providers offer specialist services in other areas.

Death Doula Melbourne

Kimba Griffith

Our Co-founder Kimba offers continuity of care across the whole journey of journeying with terminal illness, funeral planning, deathcare, funeral arranging and funeral celebrancy. Her work is grounded in deep listening, legacy creation, mindfulness and deeply personal and safely held journeying for the dying person to come to a sense of resolution and closure.


death doula annie whitlocke

Annie Whitlocke

Annie offers a gentle, creative and calming approach to end of life care, and is a highly experienced, compassionate and proactive end of life companion. Annie can offer expert advice around Advanced Care Planning, death care options, sitting vigil, and proactive advocacy for the dying person and their family.


Maria Lazovic

Maria brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the work of end of life companioning. Her services include mediation and advocacy, emotional and spiritual support, vigils, respite for caregivers and animal assisted therapy with her doggo Sookie.


doula barb ferguson

Barb Ferguson

Barb is an experienced doula and has worked with both birthing women and the dying and their families. Her approach is one of a calm and grounding presence that offers families a strong container as they navigate difficult times. Her wise and practical manner allows people to really let go into the process, lessening fear and uncertainty. Barb is also a trainer and facilitator of courses for new doulas.