Doula Conference is a national conference event that takes place during International Doula Week, (22-28th March), for doulas and workers in birth. Doula Conference was founded by a committee of women who were passionate about birth and healthy families. They were united by their vision to support a sustainable community of practice for doulas and birth workers in Australia; linking ancient wisdom and tradition with evidence based practice in the modern birth environment. This conference is an event that aims to connect Australian doulas and birth workers; to share information and meet the real-life person who we have chatted with so many times in the online forums; and, importantly to recognise and reward our wide spread community for the unique work that we do. Connectedness and support are essential for the ongoing sustainability of the practice.
“Giving energy is at the heart of the work so it can be as demanding as it can be rewarding, in isolation." “Connecting doulas with other doulas is important for sharing experience, new and old ways of doing things, discussing innovation, and information about different hospitals and birth places that will ultimately benefit the birthing mothers and families. It is essential for raising the profile of a movement that has been proven to support better birth outcomes and healthier families.”
Doula Conference is working to raise public awareness and demystify the work of doulas in Australia; to diversify the conversation about birth and promote mutual understanding between doulas and the medical/allied health community. But, most importantly, Doula Conference exists to affect better birth outcomes and healthier families in Australia.
'Lake Ainsworth is a water hole sacred to women. It was once an Aboriginal women’s birthing place.'
The Heritage Of Lennox Head & Lake Ainsworth ~Courtesy of Helen Fry - The Lennox Wave February 26, 2015
Lennox Head is a true gem full of natural beauty and is an area that holds rich Aboriginal heritage value. A rich source of food was the key attraction for the 4-500 Bundjalung Aboriginals who called Lennox Head home prior to European settlement. According to Bundjalung Aboriginal tradition, three brothers first settled on Seven Mile Beach. One of the brothers, Yarbirri, thrust a spear into the sand, fresh water ran, and even today when the tide is low it is said that you can still see a rusty stain (Burnum, 1988). Lake Ainsworth is a perched lake (isolated lake above the groundwater table) consisting of aquifer fed waters trapped before a layer of impervious coffee rock. Historically Lake Ainsworth was an Aboriginal women’s water hole. It is a water hole sacred to women as it was once an Aboriginal women’s birthing place. To this day women from all over the world commonly feel something spiritual when they visit the Lake. Tannins from the Tea Trees give the Lake its brown tea-like colour which was said to provide wonderful antiseptic qualities. Women would wash in the tea tree infused water after giving birth. Traditionally the Lake was not frequented by men.
