The Ben Austin Legacy
Calm support for families in the hardest season of their lives.
"Most people count their years. Ben made his years count."
— Jace Austin
What we do
The Ben Austin Legacy gathers community support and channels it to the organisations walking beside Australian families grieving the death of a child.
Established in memory of Ben Austin, a 17-year-old remembered for his calm, his kindness, his fairness, and his unwavering commitment to the people and pursuits he loved.
We hold support steady
Grief doesn't follow a timeline. We fund structured programs that stay with families for as long as they need, not just in the first hard weeks.
We reach the whole family
Children, teenagers, parents and grandparents grieve differently. Our partners meet each of them where they are, so no one carries it alone.
Every dollar has a clear path
We seek nothing for ourselves. Supporters can trace their giving from their hands to a family's, because nothing sits with us.
Supported Organisations
Feel the Magic
Grief in young people doesn't stay quiet for long if it goes unsupported. Feel the Magic reaches kids and teenagers early, pairing them with trained mentors and a community of peers who understand without needing it explained. They arrive carrying something heavy and leave with language, tools, and friends who get it.
The Compassionate Friends Victoria
The death of a child can leave families feeling disconnected from everyone around them. The Compassionate Friends Victoria reconnects bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents through a lived experience community, providing a dedicated Grief Support Line, one-to-one peer support, support groups, community gatherings and remembrance events. Every conversation, every connection and every shared experience reminds families they are understood, they belong, and they never have to face grief alone.
The Ben Austin Legacy Gala
Join us and the community for an evening in celebration of Ben Austin, honouring his memory, his light, and his 18th Birthday.
