Become a Camp Widow® volunteer speaker

All Camp Widow speakers are widowed themselves. We welcome applications from widowed people who can draw on their lived experience, knowledge, skills or professional expertise to provide meaningful support, practical insights and new perspectives for others navigating widowhood.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive program that reflects the many different experiences of widowhood, and welcome applications from people of all ages, backgrounds and identities.

We welcome presentations and workshops that reflect Camp Widow’s core values of hope, inclusion and compassion, and provide meaningful support to widowed people as they navigate life after the death of their partner.

We are particularly interested in sessions that offer new perspectives on grief and resilience, provide practical tools and strategies, and encourage learning, reflection and connection.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Managing strong emotions and navigating grief
• Financial challenges and planning
• Identity, purpose and rebuilding life after loss
• Integrating the past, present and future
• Practical coping strategies and building resilience
• Relationships and changing connections
• Physical health, nutrition and wellbeing
• Mental health, cognitive function and the impact of grief on memory and concentration
• Self-care, mindfulness and stress management
• Complementary and natural therapies to support wellbeing
• Sleep, fatigue and managing energy levels
• Building social connections and community
• Prolonged or complicated grief
• Parenting grieving children
• Creative and experiential approaches to processing grief

We also welcome fresh ideas and approaches that may not fall within these topics but would offer meaningful value to our community.

When reviewing proposals, we look for sessions that:

• Offer practical information, tools or strategies participants can apply in their everyday lives.
• Include opportunities for interaction, discussion, activities or demonstrations.
• Have clear objectives and meaningful takeaways for participants.
• Are relevant to the experiences, challenges and needs of widowed people.
• Are inclusive and respectful of the diverse experiences, relationships, backgrounds and circumstances of widowed people.
• Include a well-developed outline, with consideration given to any potential challenges or sensitivities.

When reviewing applications, we consider:

• Relevant knowledge, skills, qualifications or experience relating to the proposed topic, beyond personal experience of widowhood alone.
• The ability to translate knowledge and experience into practical tools, strategies and insights that participants can apply in their own lives.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, engage an audience and confidently facilitate group discussions or activities in a supportive environment.
• The ability to develop and deliver a well-structured, engaging session with clear objectives, relevant content and meaningful takeaways.
• Relevant speaking, presenting, teaching or group facilitation experience, including positive feedback from previous engagements where available.
• The ability to present on multiple topics or contribute to additional workshops, panel discussions or other elements of the program.

Speaker selection also considers the overall balance of topics, presentation styles and the needs of our community.

Previous speaking or workshop facilitation experience is valued, but formal speaking experience is not essential.

We recognise that relevant skills can also be developed through teaching, peer support, community work, professional experience and other opportunities to engage with groups.

We encourage applicants to demonstrate how their experience and abilities will help them deliver an engaging, well-structured session that offers meaningful value to participants.

To thank you for generously sharing your time and expertise, Camp Widow Australia 2027 speakers will receive:

• Complimentary registration, including access to all Camp Widow conference sessions, events and activities.
• Access to presentation equipment, including a projector, screen, clicker, lectern and microphone.
• A dedicated speaker profile and workshop details on our website.
• Promotion through First Light’s social media channels.
• Advertising space in the conference program.
• The opportunity to sell a book you have authored at the Camp shop.
• The opportunity to include promotional materials in participant conference bags.
• The opportunity to connect with and make a meaningful difference to a community of widowed people.
• The chance to share your knowledge, experience and insights in a supportive, peer-focused environment.

As a charitable organisation, First Light undertakes significant fundraising to ensure our programs and resources are available to widowed people either free of charge or at heavily subsidised rates.

To help make Camp Widow accessible to as many widowed people as possible, all speakers generously volunteer their time, and unfortunately, we are unable to offer speaker fees or honorariums.

Speakers are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, incidental expenses and any additional materials required for their presentation.

We provide access to a projector, screen, clicker, lectern and microphone.

Presenters are required to bring their own laptop and any adapters necessary to connect it to an HDMI cable.

Workshops are generally between 75 and 90 minutes, and we strongly encourage speakers to allow time for questions, discussion and interaction with participants.

We anticipate welcoming between 180 and 220 participants to Camp Widow Australia 2027. Individual workshops and presentations should be flexible enough to accommodate approximately 20 to 100 participants.

If your proposed session would benefit from a smaller group, please explain this in your application. Sessions requiring limited participant numbers will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

To apply, please complete our online speaker application form, providing details about yourself, your proposed presentation or workshop, and any relevant experience or expertise.

We encourage you to review the information on this page before submitting your application.

All applications will be carefully reviewed as we develop the Camp Widow Australia 2027 program.

We expect to notify successful applicants by email approximately three to four months before the event, although some may be contacted earlier.

Applicants who are not selected will be notified by email approximately two to three months before the event.

We appreciate your patience while we consider each application.

If your plans or availability change after submitting your application, please let us know as soon as possible.