Personalised
end-of-life
companionship\
& support
Based in Naarm, Melbourne.
Compassionate,
affirming,
& accessible end-of-life support.
Connect below.
It is a privilege to hold this space with you.
Imagine moving through death & dying with presence, dignity, & choice, supported with gentle guidance from a death doula at The Liminal Companion.
My name is Stacey, and I am the person behind
The Liminal Companion (TLC).
My work as a death doula is rooted in a deep respect for dignity, autonomy, and the inherent worth of every person. With a background in social work, this has shaped my values and practice to be trauma-informed. I approach end-of-life care with cultural humility, steadiness, and compassion.
I believe dying should not be treated as simply a medical event because it is a profoundly human experience. It is relational. It is layered. It deserves care that honours a person’s story, identity, beliefs, and choices.
As a companion at life’s threshold, I offer presence without agenda, support without assumption, and advocacy where needed. My role is not to lead, fix, or impose, but to walk alongside individuals and their communities through uncertainty, tenderness, grief, and meaning-making.
I am drawn to this work because I believe that how we approach death shapes how we live. When we create space for honest conversations about mortality, we deepen our capacity for connection, courage, and compassion.
My practice is informed by formal death doula training by Kacie Gikonyo at Death Doula School and grounded in social work ethics and trauma-informed care. I remain committed to ongoing learning, reflection, and professional supervision to ensure the care I offer is thoughtful, ethical, and responsive.
INTRODUCTION
The Liminal Companion (TLC) acknowledges the Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung, Taungurung, Dja Dja Wurrung, and Wathaurong peoples, both past and present, who are part of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the lands now known as Victoria. I acknowledge the resilience and strength inherent in their lasting connection to land, wind, waters and culture and the continuous fight for justice.
It is with immense gratitude for the opportunity to live, work, and connect on these sacred lands.
TLC invites everyone on Aboriginal land to recognise that sovereignty was never ceded, and these lands have been materially, ecologically, and socially transformed through the occupation of settler colonialism.
In so-called Australia, this land always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
We acknowledge that grief and death are deeply shaped by global systems of violence and oppression. From occupied lands to conflict zones, from displacement to systemic poverty, loss is often political.
We stand in solidarity with all oppressed peoples of the world; Free Palestine; Free Congo; Free Sudan; Free Haiti; Free Yemen.
This practice is grounded in anti-oppressive values and stands in solidarity with communities impacted by injustice worldwide.
The Liminal Companion understands that not everyone experiences safety or dignity within healthcare systems. We are committed to providing inclusive, affirming, and accessible end-of-life support for all and with particular focus on queer communities, disabled people, and those whose identities or bodies have been marginalised.
Care is always guided by autonomy, consent, and respect.
ABOUT
The Liminal Companion is a private death doula practice offering personalised end-of-life care grounded in social work ethics, trauma-informed practice, and cultural humility. The work prioritises dignity, autonomy, and self-determination, creating space for each person’s unique values, identities, and lived experiences. Care is relational, inclusive, and attentive to the ways social and systemic factors shape how people experience dying and grief.
Grief support
In our modern lives, we often turn away from conversations about loss, grief, and death until they become unavoidable, even though death is a universal human experience. The Liminal Companion seeks to change this.
Presence, education & purpose
Through education, compassionate support, and community offerings, TLC encourages a more conscious and grounded relationship with dying and grief. By tending to life’s final threshold with care and intention, we are reminded of what it means to live more fully.
Our Vision
Transformative Experience
We seek to re-imagine how we meet death and dying so that we can restore it as a natural, meaningful part of life. Rather than something to avoid or medicalise, death can be approached with courage, compassion, and deep human presence.
At The Liminal Companion, we believe that when death is held with intention and dignity, it becomes not only an ending, but a profound and transformative threshold.
Fostering Awareness
We create space for individuals, families, and communities to honour autonomy, engage in honest conversations about mortality, and recognise the sacredness of life’s final transition.
Through reflective dialogue, emotional presence, and gentle guidance, we support people to approach death consciously; with clarity, choice, and connection.
Support for Everyone
Everyone deserves compassionate support at the end of life. Our inclusive approach ensures that no one faces this experience alone, and that every person feels seen, respected, and valued.
Grounded in a background in social work, The Liminal Companion is informed by principles of human rights, dignity, cultural humility, trauma-aware practice, and relational care. This foundation shapes our commitment to autonomy, advocacy, and equitable access to end-of-life support, particularly for those who may feel marginalised or unheard within traditional systems.
We honour each person’s story, culture, beliefs, and relationships, recognising that death, like life, is deeply personal and profoundly social.
Rooted in culture and ritual, TLC is devoted to reconnecting individuals and communities to the natural cycles of life and death.
What is 'Liminality'?
Liminality or liminal spaces refers to the space in-between.
It is a threshold where something is ending and something else has not yet fully begun. It is a state of transition.
A crossing. A doorway.
From a death doula lens, this space is not something to rush or fix, but something to hold. My role is to accompany individuals and families within this threshold moment, offering presence, steadiness, advocacy, and care.
We gently tend to what arises; unfinished conversations, meaning-making, grief, reconciliation, ritual, and choice.
In death and dying, liminality is the space between living and what comes next. It is the emotional, relational, spiritual, and practical terrain that opens as life draws to a close, often tender, uncertain, sacred, or profound.
Liminal space invites us to slow down.
To witness.
To honour what has been.
And to support what is unfolding.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A death doula (also known as an end-of-life companion) provides non-medical, emotional, practical, and spiritual support to individuals and families navigating death and dying.
At The Liminal Companion, this means offering steady presence, facilitating meaningful conversations, supporting autonomy, and helping create a space where death can be approached with dignity and care.
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Palliative care teams provide medical treatment and symptom management. A death doula complements this care by focusing on emotional support, advocacy, reflection, legacy work, and relational presence.
We work alongside, not instead of, medical professionals.
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The Liminal Companion honours all belief systems, including religious, spiritual, secular, and questioning perspectives.
We do not impose any framework. Instead, we centre what feels meaningful and true for you.
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Support can begin at any stage:
At diagnosis of a life-limiting illness
During palliative care
When death feels near
Or even in advance planning conversations
It is never “too early” to begin talking about death.
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At The Liminal Companion, we provide compassionate, non-medical end-of-life support tailored to each individual and their community. Support may include:
End-of-Life Companionship
Gentle, steady presence for individuals navigating life-limiting illness or approaching death. This includes emotional support, reflective conversation, and creating space for meaning-making.Advance Care Planning Support
Facilitating conversations around values, wishes, and preferences for care. We support individuals to articulate and document what matters most to them.Advocacy & Systems Navigation
Support in communicating with healthcare teams and navigating complex systems, ensuring your voice and choices are respected.Legacy & Life Review Work
Guided reflection on life stories, memories, relationships, and meaning. This may include letter writing, storytelling, memory projects, or facilitated conversations with loved ones.Vigil Support
Compassionate presence in the final days or hours of life, offering calm grounding for both the individual and their family.Family & Community Support
Facilitating honest conversations, supporting relational repair where desired, and providing emotional support for loved ones before and after death.Anticipatory & Early Grief Support
Holding space for the grief that begins before death, as well as gentle follow-up support for those adjusting afterward. -
Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.
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What makes this practice distinct is the integration of:
A Social Work Lens
With a professional background in social work, this practice is informed by human rights, dignity, cultural humility, trauma-aware care, and ethical accountability. Death is not viewed in isolation, but within the broader systems that shape a person’s life, including family dynamics, culture, inequality, access to care, and lived experience.Advocacy & Systems Awareness
We recognise that healthcare systems can feel overwhelming or disempowering. Support includes advocacy and clear communication to ensure your voice, choices, and autonomy are respected.Relational & Emotionally Honest Care
There is space here for complexity; for fear, regret, anger, love, unfinished conversations, and meaning-making. Nothing is rushed or minimised. Emotional honesty is welcomed.Inclusive & Equity-Focused Practice
We are committed to inclusive support that honours diverse identities, cultural practices, family structures, and access needs. Care is not one-size-fits-all, it is relational and responsive.Mutual Aid & Community Care Values
Our pricing model includes sliding scale and trade options because we believe care should not be limited to those with financial privilege. End-of-life support is a human need, not a luxury.Ultimately, what makes The Liminal Companion different is the belief that death can be approached consciously, courageously, and with dignity and that presence itself is powerful.
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At The Liminal Companion, we offer flexible, person-centred options to ensure support is accessible while reflecting the skill, presence, and care involved.
Hourly Sessions
One-on-one support, consultations, or accompaniment are billed at $90 per hour.
Service fees include travel within 30km of Mount Waverley, VIC 3149.
Travel beyond this radius will incur an additional fee of $0.88 per kilometre.
If you are unsure whether your location falls within the included travel area, please feel welcome to ask.Package Rates
Packages are available for ongoing support, advance care planning, legacy work, or vigil presence. These bundles provide continuity of care and a simplified pricing structure.$800 full fee (10 preplanned sessions)
$600 reduced fee for concession card holders (10 preplanned sessions)
Sliding Scale / Negotiated Fee
A sliding scale is a negotiated or reduced session fee designed to reduce financial barriers to support. It allows access to services based on your individual circumstances, ensuring that cost does not prevent care.Factors considered when determining a sliding scale fee include:
The amount you are able to pay
Current availability and demand among others accessing sliding scale support
To apply for a sliding scale place, please complete the provided questions in this online form. You will receive a response within 4–5 business days.
Please note: Sliding scale places may have a waitlist. We prioritise reducing fees as soon as possible for those who need it most, therefore it may not always be an available option.
Mutual Aid / Trades
We also welcome exchanges of services or skills, reflecting our belief in mutual care and community support. Care is relational, and we value reciprocity where appropriate. Examples of trades we may welcome include:Prepared vegan meals
Massage or bodywork sessions
Professional services (e.g., graphic design, photography, web support, bookkeeping)
Gardening or home support
Creative offerings aligned with the values of this work
Pet care support, such as specified food, supplies, or contributions toward professional veterinary care
Trades are discussed collaboratively to ensure they feel fair, respectful, and sustainable for both parties. We approach mutual aid with clarity and consent, recognising that exchange can be a meaningful expression of community care.
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Support is tailored to each individual and begins with creating a care plan together. This plan is collaborative, flexible, and grounded in your values, wishes, cultural context, and evolving needs.
Support may include:
Holding space for honest conversations
Facilitating family dialogue
Supporting advance care planning
Legacy or life review work
Vigil support in the final days
Advocacy within healthcare systems
Emotional and grief support for loved ones, including anticipatory grief and gentle post-death support for loved ones.
Each person’s needs, culture, beliefs, and relationships shape the process. The care plan can be revisited and adapted over time, ensuring your autonomy and preferences remain central at every stage.
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End-of-life journeys can shift quickly and sometimes unexpectedly. We approach this reality with flexibility, calm responsiveness, and clear communication.
If circumstances change, whether medically, emotionally, or practically, we will revisit and adjust your care plan together. This may include increasing support, shifting the location of visits, moving to online or phone contact, or prioritising vigil presence where possible.
While availability cannot always be guaranteed at short notice, we do our best to respond promptly and accommodate urgent needs wherever we can.
Above all, you will not be expected to navigate sudden changes alone. Support remains grounded in steadiness, dignity, and adaptability.
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Payment details will be discussed during your initial consultation so that everything is clear and transparent from the beginning.
We currently accept:
Bank transfer (preferred method)
Cash (by prior arrangement)
Invoices can be issued for hourly sessions or packages, depending on your chosen support plan. Payment timing (e.g., per session or upfront for packages) will be agreed upon together.
If you are accessing a sliding scale, concession rate, or mutual aid/trade arrangement, these details will be clearly confirmed before support begins.
If you have any questions about payment or need to discuss alternative arrangements, please feel comfortable raising this. We aim to approach these conversations with openness and respect.
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Support is flexible and responsive to your circumstances. We can meet you in:
Your home
Hospital
Hospice
Residential aged care facility
Another agreed location that feels safe and appropriate
Online via video call (Zoom or MS Teams)
Phone support
Where possible, we prioritise meeting you in environments where you feel most comfortable and supported. For many people, this is their home as it is a familiar space that allows for privacy, meaningful conversation, and connection with loved ones.
If you are in hospital or residential care, we work respectfully alongside existing care teams. Our role is not medical, but relational by offering presence, advocacy, and emotional support within those settings.
Online and phone sessions are available for those who prefer remote support, are located outside the travel radius, or require flexibility due to health or accessibility needs.
Location and frequency of visits are discussed collaboratively as part of your care plan and can evolve as circumstances change.
Our intention is to meet you where you are both physically and emotionally.
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We are based in Mount Waverley, 3149 and include travel within 30km. Travel beyond this radius is available with an additional per-kilometre fee. Please contact us to discuss your location.
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1. Reach Out
Contact The Liminal Companion via our website contact form, email, or phone. You are welcome to reach out for yourself or on behalf of a loved one with their consent.2. Initial Conversation
We begin with a no-obligation consultation. This is a space to explore your needs, ask questions, and see whether this support feels right for you. We will discuss what matters most, any current care arrangements, and how you would like to be supported.
Our initial meeting is 20 minutes and can take place via phone call or video call (MS Teams or Zoom), depending on what feels most supportive and accessible for you. There is no pressure; simply a conversation to see if we are a good fit3. Personalised Support Plan
If you choose to proceed, we will co-create a support plan grounded in your values, autonomy, cultural context, and wishes. Support can be flexible and evolve as circumstances change.
Your care plan may include:Your priorities and what matters most to you
Cultural, spiritual, or community practices you wish to incorporate
Preferences around medical care, communication, and decision-making
The role of family, chosen family, or community in your support
Practical considerations (location of care, environment, rituals, legacy work)
Advocacy needs within healthcare or service systems
Emotional, relational, or grief support for loved ones
We also identify how and when support will occur; whether through regular visits, check-ins, on-call availability, or vigil presence.
Importantly, the care plan is a living document. As circumstances shift, health changes, or new needs arise, we revisit and adjust the plan together. Your autonomy remains central, and your choices are respected throughout the process.
4. Ongoing Presence
From there, our work unfolds at your pace; with steady, compassionate presence, advocacy where needed, and space for honest conversation.You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Sometimes the first step is simply saying, “I’m not sure where to begin.”
We will meet you there.
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You can reach The Liminal Companion in several ways:
Email: stacey@theliminalcompanion.com.au
Phone: 0432 166 768
Contact Form: Use the form on our website to send a message directly.We aim to respond as promptly as possible, usually within 24–48 hours.
Whether you’re reaching out for yourself or a loved one, for questions or to explore support, we welcome your inquiry and will meet you with care and respect.
Email me
We’re available:
Monday - Friday
10:00 am to 04:00 pm
These times are not fixed, but serve as a general guide to our preferred availability.
We understand that flexibility is important.
Please contact us if you require an appointment outside these hours, and we’d be happy to accommodate where possible.
Travel:
Service fees include travel within 30km of Mount Waverley, VIC 3149.
Travel beyond this radius will incur an additional fee of $0.88 per kilometre.
If you are unsure whether your location falls within the included travel area, please feel welcome to ask.
