Karen Nickelson joins First Light as a volunteer Program Advisor.

As both a qualified clinical practitioner and someone with lived experience of caregiving, palliative care, end-of-life, and widowed bereavement, Karen brings extraordinary compassion, empathy, and understanding to our community.

Karen holds a Master of Social Work/Master of Mental Health Practice, a Bachelor of Human Services with majors in Counselling and Child and Family Studies, and a Certificate IV in Telephone Counselling.

Karen’s connection to First Light is also deeply personal. Widowed in 2022, she found support through our community at one of our local catch ups, which encouraged her to take the brave step of attending Camp Widow just six weeks after the death of her husband of 28 years to Glioblastoma (two years after being diagnosed).

Through her private practice, Red Heart Counselling and Support, Karen provides a range of social work services, including counselling, case management, and advocacy. 

She is also a parent to three adult children and understands the many layers of family transition and loss.

Karen is a member of:

• Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
• Palliative Care Social Workers Association of Australia (PCSWA)

To learn more about Karen and her work, please visit her website.