Meet Claire
Hi, I’m Claire
I started Tender Journeys to continue working in areas I am deeply passionate about. I am a cancer survivor and an end-of-life doula, as well as a mum to four boys—one of whom lives with profound disability—and a proud Mimi to my two beautiful grandchildren, aged five and three.
In 2009, I lost my mum to cancer. She was an incredibly strong woman who had overcome so much adversity in her life. She approached her death with wisdom and courage, qualities that continue to inspire me. At the time, I had never heard the term doula, but looking back, I realize that both my mum and I were doing doula work—discussing her needs and wishes, planning for her death, and making the process as intentional as possible. Together, we engaged in Swedish Death Cleaning, ticked items off her bucket list, wrote letters to friends she would not see again, planned her funeral, held vigils, provided spiritual and emotional support, and even celebrated her life with a living wake a week before she died. Because of this planning, she had the death and funeral she wanted, and my siblings, her sisters, and I felt at peace knowing we had honoured her wishes.
Since then, I have experienced the loss of other family members, including my dad, uncles, aunts, and cousins, as well as close friends. I have also walked alongside friends as they navigated the diagnosis and death of their own loved ones. These experiences have reaffirmed my belief that death needs to shift back to being a social event rather than a medical one.
For most of human history, death occurred at home, with family and neighbours providing care. However, in the 20th century, rapid advancements in Western medicine changed this. By the 1900s, hospital deaths accounted for 10% of cases, increasing to 30% in the 1950s and 50% by the 1960s. This shift led to death becoming institutionalized, hidden from public life, and ultimately feared. As a society, we stopped talking about death, and in doing so, we lost an important connection to one of life's most profound experiences.
Fast forward to today, and our aging population is placing increasing demands on hospitals and medical resources. This model is not sustainable—and more importantly, many people no longer want to experience death this way. This is where my passion lies: guiding and supporting people in reclaiming control over their own end-of-life experience, doing things their way, and embracing the profound beauty of being present with someone they love as they transition.
In addition to end-of-life doula services, I also provide cancer doula support. In 2022, I was diagnosed with breast cancer while living alone in Melbourne, away from my family. After undergoing surgery, I returned to regional Victoria to continue treatment
with the support of my loved ones. I am incredibly fortunate to now have a clean bill of health, but the journey was life changing.
Cancer treatment is an overwhelming and often traumatic experience. From the moment of diagnosis, everything moves at lightning speed—surgery is scheduled, chemotherapy and radiation plans are put in place, and there is little time to process what is happening. The emotional and physical toll is immense, and relationships with partners and family can be deeply affected, sometimes irreparably. When treatment ends, many survivors, including myself, find themselves feeling lost. The medical system is focused on survival, but true healing—both physically and emotionally—only begins once the trauma of the experience is addressed.
As a cancer doula, my role is to provide non-medical support to individuals and their families, whether they are actively undergoing treatment or navigating life post-cancer. I help people process their experience, regain a sense of control, and begin the long journey of healing.
At Tender Journeys, my mission is to provide compassionate, personalized support for those facing end-of-life transitions or life-changing diagnoses. Death, dying, and illness are deeply personal experiences, and no two journeys are the same. My goal is to walk alongside my clients with empathy, understanding, and the belief that everyone deserves dignity, choice, and peace—no matter where they are in their journey.