Co-designing Digital Support Tools: An AI Grief Guide
Every minute, 266 babies are born and 108 people die. While births receive celebration, death and grief – experiences we all face – remain under-addressed. Many older Australians confront loss unprepared, often without adequate support from overwhelmed loved ones.
Support Gap: With nearly half of palliative and aged care workers reporting frequent exhaustion, there simply aren’t enough people available to help older Australians navigate grief.
Death-Avoidant Culture: While 87% of Australians recognise the importance of end-of-life planning, only 35% take action.
Technology Awareness: Many remain unaware of technological grief support tools and their benefits.
Age Stereotypes: The belief that older people don’t use technology is outdated. Post-pandemic, most older Australians engage comfortably with digital tools.
In response, we are developing Grief Guide: Your 3am Friend — an AI-powered digital app designed to offer compassionate, practical support during times of grief.
Grief Guide leverages AI technology to engage users in real-time, empathetic interactions. It complements existing services by providing scalable, always-available support tailored to individual needs.
Grief Guide offers a judgement-free space where users can process emotions and practise difficult conversations. It can assist with tasks such as funeral planning and legal matters, directing users to the right resources.
Grief Guide is designed to be accessible and supportive for users of all technical abilities.