8: Between a Rock and a Hard Place with Julie Clarke

In this conversation, Julie Clarke, a doula for over 35 years, shares her experiences in supporting new parents and families and her love for her work. Julie has created the Birth Doula Academy of Australia and offers childbirth and parenting education courses. She shared the challenges she faces, especially the financial aspect of being a doula, and stresses the importance of financial planning for a sustainable doula business. She also shared an inspiring birth story of providing a second opinion that led to a successful Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). Julie vividly paints her role in enabling successful births and maintaining parental connections even beyond the birth throughout the podcast. Julie (she/her) lives in Cronulla on Dharawal country and has been a birth and postpartum doula for over 35 years. Julie has created a doula training course, known as 'The Birth Doula Academy of Australia', which can be done both in person and online. She has also developed a childbirth and parenting education course for families to better prepare them for birth and beyond. Julie is an adoring mum to her two sons. You can connect with Julie and learn more about her offerings in the following ways: https://www.julieclarke.com.au/ https://www.birthdoulatrainingacademyaustralia.com.au/ IG: @julieclarkebirthdoulacoachaust and @doulaacademyaustralia Facebook: JulieClarkesydneyaustralia and doulaacademyofaustralia Find out how Mary can support you to turn your passion for birth into a profitable, sustainable business, without compromising on your values or becoming a statistic of burnout: ⁠https://www.marygiordano.com.au/for-doulas-landing⁠  Connect with Mary on Instagram ⁠@marygiordano.com.au⁠ Music credit: Slow Gusto by Good News Tunes A Subito Media production