Deborah Nolan: Co-Founder
Deb began her journey into the Doula world of support in 2018, starting with the Australian Doula College. As a mother of two young children at the time, a 3-year-old and a 7 month old, Deb recognised the crucial need for postpartum care and support that every mother and baby deserves. Her own experience as a new mother highlighted the vulnerability many families face during this period, sparking her passion for providing specialized doula services and advocacy.
After over four years working as a contractor, Deb transitioned into a management role of the Groundwork Program, where her firsthand experience as a mother became an invaluable asset. Her ability to connect with families and understand their unique needs paved the way for her current position as the driving force behind operations in the Doula Support Solutions Program.
With a strong commitment to operational excellence, Deb thrives in team management, rostering, and recruitment, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of all projects within the program. She also plays a key role in building and maintaining strong partnerships with external Child Protection agencies, which helps strengthen collaborations, expand the program’s reach, and ensure a lasting, positive impact on vulnerable families.
Outside of work, Deb resides on the beautiful South Coast of Wollongong, where she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, their three children, two dogs, a three cats.
A lover of plants, Deb can often be found nurturing her garden during her downtime, finding peace and joy in nature.
Renee Adair: Co-Founder
With a background in natural therapies, Renee first began working with women and babies in 1998 and after the home births of her two biological children, began studying and working as a Doula and Childbirth and Early Parenting Educator.
Renee then transferred her skills to an Australian Red Cross young women’s health program/refuge in Sydney’s East, setting up both the outreach and childbirth and early parenting education programs for that child protection service.
In 2007 Renee founded the Australian Doula College, Doula Heart Network, the College’s charity arm and then later formalised and founded the Groundwork program.
Working In collaboration, in 2013 Renee helped produce the first research on Doulas in Australia which was published in the Journal of Perinatal Education. She is a regular contributor to radio programmes, conferences and seminars and a range of publications, websites, and podcasts.
Renee has worked to change the way we think about Doula support by launching an End-of-Life Doula Training in 2021 with a view for the wider community to see Doula support through a broader lens, supporting all major life transitions, not just in the birthing space.
In 2019, Renee proudly partnered with CDU’s Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights to co-facilitate Accredited Doula training for Indigenous women in the remote First Nations community of Galiwin’ku.
Renee now sits on the official Galiwin’ku steering committee to restore Birthing on Country and oversees the project’s operations on the ground in Galiwin'ku.
Renee has sat on the Consumer Advisory Board of the Australian College of Midwives, trained thousands of Doulas and supported hundreds of women, their partners and families through pregnancy, birth, early parenting and end of life, over the course of her career.
A fierce advocate for human rights, Renee is the proud mother of three adult children and five grandkids. She blends her life’s work with downtime in her garden or on the beach and time hanging out with family, friends, and her fur babies.
Our team is made up of a group of dynamic, diverse, positive and passionate women. We love what we do and it's our joy to work together to enhance your experience with Doula Support Solutions and as a doula in whatever space you work in.
Now that I’m in a new slower phase at in my life, I am working to support our clients and students. I have the pleasure of working alongside incredible and compassionate women and leaders. It brings me immense joy and hope for the future to be part of a team that is dedicated to helping all doulas realise their dreams and to work with the families we serve.
During my free time, I enjoy going to the beach to unwind and walk my dog, discovering new restaurants, planning vacations for my bucket list, spending time with friends, and baking with my children.
JESSICA HAWKINS
Compliance/Assessor Coordinator and Student Support
Hi, I am Jess, and I look after all thing’s compliance!
I started my career in health and nursing working in the medical field before finding my true passion in palliative and end of life care.
I have been lucky enough to be given some incredible opportunities in the Northern Territory which found me working in the training sector. I have since worked alongside the foundation assisting Renee with course accreditation and overseeing all things compliance within the accredited training qualifications. I am passionate about advocacy and empowerment across all life stages and events. I am available for any course related enquiries.
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work within such a fierce group of women, who are conquering the world one doula at a time.
DEE CARVILL
Educator/Mentor
Hi, I'm Dee, an Irish-born doula who has called Sydney home for the past 20 years, where I live with my husband, our two teenage girls, and our fur baby. I love to travel, explore, and keep trying new things!
I'm excited to be part of the Doula Support Solutions community, having recently joined as an Educator.
For many years, I've worked in the corporate world, advocating for women in leadership and helping people navigate change. My background includes leadership, learning and development, facilitation, mentoring and coaching.
I became a doula over 10 years ago, but life and my corporate career took me in a different direction for a while. More recently, I completed a postgrad in Creativity and Innovation at UTS, which reignited my passion for finding more creative, impactful ways to support women, and ultimately brought me back to what I love most: supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
I love helping people see things differently and discover what's possible, whether I'm facilitating a workshop, mentoring a student, or supporting a woman through pregnancy and birth. I enjoy challenging perspectives and creating spaces where people feel comfortable being curious, reflecting, and learning from one another.
I'm really looking forward to getting to know you all, supporting you on your doula journey, and being part of this wonderful community.
Stevie Norris
Doula Services & Student Support
My name is Stevie, and I was born and raised in the Illawarra. I currently reside in the lovely Northern Suburbs of Wollongong with my two children & cocker spaniel Sunny. As a certified ADC doula and qualified placenta encapsulator, I am deeply passionate about supporting women and their families throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
With a rich background in hospitality management, I have had the privilege of travelling across Australia for various challenging and rewarding roles, including memorable stints in Uluru and Manly Beach. Throughout my 15-year career in the hospitality industry, I have had the pleasure of organising and managing high-energy nightclub events, collaborating with renowned chefs, and connecting with people over drinks in country pubs. This experience helps me in my doula and ground work program work as I'm able to think on my feet, are attentive to details and read people & rooms.
ALYSSA BOOTH
Educator/Mentor
Alyssa lives and works in Wollongong, Dharawal Country,with her husband, 3 kids and their bernedoodle. Alyssa has a passion for seeing the current culture of birth changed, for families to own their birth and for the rates of birth trauma to be reduced. She is passionate about seeing people loved, and cherished and having a sense of belonging.
Alyssa has been supporting families through pregnancy, birth and postpartum for over a decade having studied with Renee more than 8 years ago and has been working as a qualified doula ever since. In the last few years she has been mentoring Doulas as they build their businesses and expand their knowledge, so they can have a fulfilling and sustainable career.
RENEE REKES
Educator/Mentor
After completing her bachelor of Visual arts, Renee began facilitating therapeutic art groups for a community-based mental health support service.
Through this experience, she decided to pursue a career in Mental health where she worked her way up to managing a small team and played an integral role in helping to establish various mental health programs in her region. However, after the birth of her children, Renee decided to bring her focus to supporting mothers, as she could identify the lack of support available in the community.
Once a Certified ADC Doula, Renee joined the Groundwork program where she supported mothers from all walks of life.
Alongside her Doula work, Renee also facilitates therapeutic art groups for mums in their perinatal period who are experiencing mental illness.
Renee now resides on the sunny Gold Coast with her husband, three beautiful children and two fur babies. Since making the move up from Sydney and having escaped the rat race, Renee now enjoys the slower-paced life, living mindfully and with intention.