First Light

First Light Widowed Association is a national charity that supports and advocates for widowed Australians, inspiring and empowering them to navigate their grief and rebuild healthy, successful and fulfilling lives after the death of a partner or spouse.

With more than 1 million widowed people in Australia (55,000 under the age of 55), we support widowed people to improve their mental, emotional and social wellbeing as they face the challenges and vulnerabilities of spousal grief.

Through our work, we have seen evidence that widowed people who feel supported and understood while grieving, are more likely to: resume work duties sooner; are better equipped to care for their immediate family members; and need less ongoing assistance from external resources.

We continue to achieve our mission through the following activities:
-Providing online and hard copy practical information and resources (including our newly widowed packs and online forum)
– Facilitating peer-based catch-ups, providing in-person connection in 23 locations around Australia
– Enabling links to a wide collaborative network of external support organisations
– Hosting an annual conference. Program includes motivational keynote speakers, presentations and interactive workshops, and community building activities to develop strategies for resilience and survival.

For more information about First Light, download our brochure.