Our Team

Candace Ohanessian

MSc, Cert IV, MICDA

Principal

Candace is an end-of-life doula, funeral celebrant, and registered funeral provider who believes that one of the most life-affirming things a person can do is prepare for one's death. She has worked for over 20 years with people in transition, from recovery from addiction and family turmoil, to end-of-life planning, end-of-life care and families in grief. She sees her role as helping individuals plan for and have their preferred death, and helping families embrace and support not only the dying person but each other to the greatest extent possible.

Candace is on the Board of Directors for Holistic End of Life & Deathcare Australia (HELD) and a member of the Australian Home Funeral Alliance (AHFA), Natural Death Advocacy Network (NDAN), Dying With Dignity Victoria (DWDV), Institute of Community Directors (MICDA) and Palliative Care Victoria (PCV). She holds a BA in Human Development and a Masters of Science in Transpersonal Psychology. In addition to doula training (Cert IV) with Preparing the Way and celebrancy training with Celebrants Training College, she has trained in addiction counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy.

Candace serves all of greater Melbourne.

Iain McKinnon

End-of-Life Coach

Iain is a qualified end-of-life coach, funeral arranger, celebrant, and palliative and aged care aromatherapist with post-graduate qualifications in coaching. His work as a registered nurse leading palliative and HIV/AIDS units has given him a unique and deep respect for the dying process. In his work he has supported hundreds of individuals who were dying and did his utmost to ensure their end-of-life journey unfolded, as much as was possible, in the way that mattered to them.

As an end-of-life coach, Iain encourages people to develop their own ability to embrace change and deal with adversity, to make their own choices and decisions whilst being supported, informed, listened to, and valued. As a funeral arranger and celebrant, Iain can not only support planning for end-of-life and after death, but also arrange the funeral/memorial and conduct the service. This ensures continuity of care and a consistent presence throughout the journey.

As an end-of-life aromatherapist, Iain crafts blends to support specific disease processes and symptoms, and also common side-effects of medications and treatments, both physical and psychological. These may be in the form of diffuser oils, massage oils, spritzers, bath oils or dream pillows.

Iain serves metropolitan Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and the Yarra Valley.

Chris Turner

End-of-Life Doula, Chaplain

Chris is an end-of-life companion and an independent spiritual care practitioner. He firmly believes that death is a core aspect of humanity and a part of our journey that can help us find our true selves. He approaches his work with professionalism, skill, and deep care, believing that everyone is walking their own journey to something greater and that everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, and loved.

Chris has a BA in environmental studies and economics and an MA in Sustainable Business and Communities. He is an ordained interspiritual minister who specialises in spiritual aged care, a certified independent practitioner (senior level) with Spiritual Care Australia and has doula training with Preparing the Way. For Chris, one of the best aspects of working in end-of-life support is the freedom it allows to bring the whole, authentic person into practice. Chris is a father of two young people, and working so closely to mortality informs his parenting. He volunteers for Dying with Dignity and VCC Emergencies Ministry. Chris regularly MCs professional development sessions for Spiritual Care Australia and facilitates a community of practice for SCA.

As an end-of-life companion, Chris is focused on providing information, resources, support and presence to help people to retain their choice, capacity, and control at any point in the journey.

Chris serves all of Melbourne, with a focus in the west.