Nominate and Vote for your Doula Representative of the Year
In honour and celebration of the incredible work Doulas do throughout all areas of their communities, and in anticipation of International Doula Week coming up in March – we are calling once more for nominations for ‘Doula Representative of the Year’ for 2019.
As last year’s award recipient, Bethany Meakin has been holding that space wonderfully throughout 2018, representing all Doulas doing this incredibly important work. She has given valuable insights and perspective around what the work means to her, and the potential the ‘Doula Representative of the Year’ position holds as she sees it. This has helped us shape this year’s nomination process.
This award is not a popularity contest. It is not about finding the ‘Best Doula’. We know that all Doulas are in their own ways providing invaluable support to all the women and families they are working with, alongside balancing their other work commitments, life priorities, and the needs of their own families... Rather it is about creating an opportunity to publicly recognise and acknowledge the mighty effort and commitment of all birth workers out there making a profound difference in people’s lives; and nominating someone to stand as a representative of the profession - to work towards continued clarity of the role and collaboration within the birth work community.
We invite you to consider the following as you put forward your nomination:
Why nominate and points for consideration: 'Being a doula takes great passion, commitment, the ability to be present, unwavering strength and compassion, and a whole lot of energy! Often, doulas work in isolation with lots of reward – but, very little recognition…’ ~ Shivam Rachana
An opportunity to honour and validate the work doulas do
An opportunity to provide positive feedback and confidence boost for individuals
Who do you think would represent the Australian Doula community well?
Who would support continued collaboration within the birth profession?
Who could help to elevate the profile of Doulas within the community?
NOMINATE / VOTE BEFORE 15TH MARCH
Opportunities for Doula Representative of the Year:
Representing Doulas within the birth work & birthing community
Promoting the work of Doulas in the general community
Speaker engagements
Media Spokesperson
Doula representative in other modality settings i.e. student midwifes, allied health professionals, etc.
Internationally represented
Role modelling and mentorship of the following years’ nominees/recipient
Mentorship & support from previous Doula of the Year & Doula Representative of the Year Committee
Nomination Process:
Anyone with insight into what a doula's work entails can nominate - colleague, client, midwife, etc.
Nomination to be accepted by the Doula nominated before submission to the ‘Doula Representative of the Year’ committee for review.
Decision making criteria: number of nominations; quality of nominations; consideration of the reasons offered for each nomination.
Award presented the week before the Doula Conference Retreat 2019 with complimentary Conference attendance in person.
Acceptance speech at the Doula Conference in person, via Zoom link or pre-recorded video.
Recorded interview with the Doula Representative of the Year 2019 recipient after presentation
