Helpful guides
Practical, editorially reviewed guides on funeral costs, customs and planning, written to help families make informed decisions.
Essential reading
What should you do in the first 24 hours after someone dies?
A calm, step-by-step guide to the first 24 hours after a loved one passes away in Australia. Who to call, what to expect, and what is safe to do slowly.
How much does a funeral cost in Australia?
What each type of funeral costs in Australia, where your money goes on the invoice, which states are most expensive, and how to compare providers.
What is the difference between prepaid funerals, funeral bonds and funeral insurance?
Prepaid funeral plans, funeral bonds and funeral insurance sound similar but work very differently. How each one costs, protects and risks your money.
How do you plan a funeral in Australia?
A calm, step-by-step guide to planning a funeral in Australia: the order to do things in, what your funeral director handles, the key decisions, timings and costs.
How do you choose a funeral director in Australia?
How to choose a funeral director in Australia: the questions to ask, the green and red flags, how to compare quotes fairly, and what Funerals Australia membership means.
What can you do with ashes in Australia?
What to do with a loved one's ashes in Australia: your options for keeping, placing or scattering them, the rules on scattering ashes, and ideas for a lasting memorial.
How do you write a eulogy for a funeral?
How to write and deliver a eulogy: a simple structure to follow, what to include, writing tips, a short example, and advice for reading it on the day.
What should you wear to a funeral in Australia?
What to wear to a funeral in Australia: the dress code, colours to choose and avoid, options for men and women, cultural variations, and dressing for the weather.
What is proper funeral etiquette in Australia?
A plain guide to funeral etiquette in Australia: what to say to the family, whether to send flowers, arriving on time, phones, the wake, and how to behave respectfully.
How do you plan a celebration of life in Australia?
Celebration of life ideas for an Australian farewell: how it differs from a traditional funeral, where to hold one, personal touches and themes, and how to plan it.
What readings, poems and music work well at a funeral?
Ideas for funeral readings, poems and music in Australia: popular choices, religious and secular options, how to choose, where they fit in the service, and who reads them.
How do you register a death in Australia?
A clear guide to registering a death in Australia. State by state rules, who lodges, how long you have, what fees apply, and how to order certified copies.
How do you get a death certificate in Australia?
What a death certificate is, how to get one in Australia, how many copies you need, and what fees and timelines to expect in each state.
When does the coroner get involved after a death?
What happens when the coroner becomes involved, why funerals are delayed, who decides on a post-mortem, and how to object. What families can expect step by step.
How do you pay for a funeral from a frozen bank account?
Banks freeze an account once a death is notified. How Australian banks release funds for a funeral invoice, and how executors avoid personal exposure.
How do you bring someone home to Australia after a death overseas?
What to do when an Australian loved one passes away overseas. The embassy steps, repatriation costs, body versus ashes, travel insurance, and the timeline.
How do you transport a body interstate in Australia?
What happens when a loved one passes away in one Australian state but the funeral is in another. Embalming rules, road versus air transport, paperwork, and what it costs.
How does bereavement leave work in Australia?
What you can claim under Australian compassionate and bereavement leave. Who counts as family, what casuals get, and what evidence employers can ask for.
What is the difference between a death notice and an obituary?
The difference between a death notice, funeral notice and obituary. Where to publish in Australia, what each costs, and a wording template you can adapt.
Can you release super early to pay for a funeral?
How to apply to the ATO for early release of super to pay for a funeral. Eligibility, the 14-day timeline, the documents needed, and the reimbursement rule.
What Centrelink bereavement payments are available after a death?
Centrelink bereavement payments a surviving partner, carer or parent can claim. Eligibility, the 14-week rule, and how to apply through Services Australia.
How do you register a death in NSW?
Registering a death in New South Wales: who lodges, the 7-day window, what documents are needed, the certificate fee ($70 from 1 July 2026), and how to order a certified copy.
How do you register a death in Victoria?
Registering a death in Victoria: who lodges under the BDMR Act 1996, the 7-day window, what documents are needed, the certificate fee, and how to order online.
How do you register a death in Queensland?
Registering a death in Queensland: who lodges, the 14-day window, where to lodge in person or by post, certificate fees, and how to order a certified copy.
How do you register a death in Western Australia?
Registering a death in Western Australia: who lodges it, the timeframe, the metropolitan Perth permit rule, certificate fees, and how to order a certified copy.
How do you register a death in South Australia?
Registering a death in South Australia: who lodges, the 7-day window, what documents are needed, the certificate fee ($72 with cause of death), and how to order a certified copy.
How do you register a death in Tasmania?
Registering a death in Tasmania: who lodges it, the funeral director's written notice after disposal, the documents you need, and how to order a certified copy.
How do you register a death in the ACT?
Registering a death in the Australian Capital Territory: who lodges, the 7-day window, what documents you need, and how to order a certified death certificate.
How do you register a death in the Northern Territory?
Registering a death in the Northern Territory: who lodges, the 7 working day window, what documents you need, and how to order a certified death certificate.
How do you plan a low-cost funeral in Australia?
The real floor price for a funeral, the providers who offer it, what you can skip without losing dignity, and where to get help if money is tight.
What hidden funeral costs should families look for?
The unexpected charges and pricing traps that catch grieving Australian families, and how to spot each one on a quote before you sign anything.
What should be included in an itemised funeral quote?
A line-by-line breakdown of a funeral invoice, the charges providers bundle or rename, and how to read a quote so you can compare like for like.
How much does cremation cost in Australia?
Cremation costs in Australia range from $990 to over $8,000 depending on service type and provider. Direct cremation, cremation with service, and what you actually pay for.
How much does a burial cost in Australia?
A burial in Australia typically costs $8,000 to $24,000+ all-in, depending on cemetery choice. The third-party plot and interment fees that drive costs higher, explained.
Is cremation or burial the better choice?
A calm, plain-English comparison of cremation and burial in Australia: what each costs, what actually happens, faith considerations, and how to decide.
What is the difference between a coffin and a casket?
Coffins and caskets in Australia: the difference, the materials, what each type costs, eco-friendly options, and how to avoid paying too much.
Can you arrange a funeral yourself in Australia?
In NSW there is no legal requirement to use a funeral director. What families can legally do themselves, where an official step is still needed, and what it can save.
What is an eco-friendly funeral in Australia?
A guide to eco-friendly and green funerals in Australia: natural burial, biodegradable coffins, water cremation, what each costs, and how the options compare on impact.
How much does a headstone cost in Australia?
A guide to headstones and memorials in Australia: the types and materials, what a headstone costs, how long it takes, and the cemetery rules to know.
Who pays for a funeral if there is no money?
What happens in Australia when there is no money for a funeral: who is liable, the government and community help available, low-cost options, and the state schemes of last resort.
What is probate, and when do you need it in Australia?
A plain-English guide to probate in Australia: what it is, when it is needed, how to apply, what it costs, how long it takes, and the executor's role.
What should you write in a sympathy card?
What to write in a sympathy card, with short messages you can adapt, what to avoid, wording for different relationships, and how to sign off.
What funeral flowers should you send in Australia?
A guide to funeral flowers in Australia: the types, what to send and where, what the colours mean, what they cost, and what to write on the card.
How do you support someone who is grieving?
How to support someone who is grieving: what to say and what to avoid, the practical help that matters most, and how to keep showing up long after the funeral.
What happens to superannuation when someone dies?
How superannuation is paid out after death in Australia: who can receive it, how binding nominations work, how it is taxed, and how long it takes.
What happens at a private viewing before a funeral?
A gentle guide to viewing the body before a funeral in Australia: what a viewing is, whether to have one, what to expect, and how it works for children.
What happens at a cremation in Australia?
A plain, step-by-step guide to what happens at a cremation in Australia: the process, how long it takes, whether it is individual, the coffin, implants, and the ashes.
What is direct cremation in Australia?
What a direct cremation includes, what it costs across Australian providers, and how families hold a separate memorial on their own terms.
How do funeral prices compare by state in Australia?
State-by-state funeral cost comparison for Australia. Victoria and NSW are the most expensive; South Australia and Queensland are the cheapest. What drives the gap.
Should you choose a corporate or independent funeral director?
How corporate ownership shapes funeral pricing in Australia, why local-sounding brands can cost thousands more, and how to tell who you are dealing with.
How much does a funeral cost in NSW?
New South Wales has the widest funeral price spread of any state. What funerals cost in NSW, the cemetery fees behind it, and how to compare providers.
How much does a funeral cost in Victoria?
Victoria has both the lowest direct cremation floor and the highest average advertised funeral price in the country. What it costs and why.
How much does a funeral cost in Queensland?
Queensland sits mid-range nationally, helped by council cemeteries and a competitive independent market. What funerals cost across the state.
How much does a funeral cost in Western Australia?
WA ranks among the most expensive states, and its 25-year cemetery grants create a generational cost no other state shares. What to expect.
How much does a funeral cost in South Australia?
South Australia sits at the lower end of the national funeral pricing range. What funerals cost in SA and how to compare directors.
How much does a funeral cost in Tasmania?
Tasmania has one of the least transparent funeral markets in Australia. What the available data shows about funeral costs in the state.
How much does a funeral cost in the ACT?
The ACT has the highest reported average burial cost of any state or territory. What funerals cost in Canberra and how to compare directors.
How much does a funeral cost in the Northern Territory?
The Northern Territory has the least funeral pricing data of any state or territory. What the available estimates show about NT funeral costs.
What happens at a Catholic funeral in Australia?
The three stages of a Catholic funeral, what the Church permits around cremation and music, and how the rites are practised in Australian parishes today.
What happens at an Anglican, Uniting or Protestant funeral in Australia?
How Anglican, Uniting Church and Protestant funerals are structured in Australia, what each service involves, and where the traditions differ from each other.
What happens at a Greek Orthodox funeral in Australia?
How Greek Orthodox funerals work in Australia. The Trisagion, open casket liturgy, the role of icons and koliva, and the mnimosino memorial cycle explained.
What happens at a Jewish funeral in Australia?
How Jewish funerals work in Australia. Burial customs, the role of the Chevra Kadisha, and the full mourning structure of Shiva, Shloshim and Yahrzeit.
What happens at a Muslim funeral in Australia?
How Muslim funerals work in Australia. Ghusl, kafan, Salat al-Janazah, prompt burial and what guests should expect.
What happens at a Hindu funeral in Australia?
How Hindu funerals work in Australia. Cremation requirements, the role of the eldest son and pandit, ash immersion options, and the 13-day mourning period.
What happens at a secular funeral in Australia?
Celebrant-led, non-religious ceremonies are the fastest-growing funeral type in Australia. What the law requires, DIY funeral options, and how to plan one.
What happens at a Buddhist funeral in Australia?
How Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhist traditions handle funerals in Australia. Chanting, merit-making, the 49-day period and what guests should know.
What happens at a Chinese Australian funeral?
How Chinese Australian funerals work. Joss paper, spirit tablets, the 49-day mourning cycle, colour customs and what non-Chinese guests should know.
What happens at a Sikh funeral in Australia?
How Sikh funerals work in Australia. Antam Sanskar rites, cremation requirements, the gurdwara service, Kirtan Sohila, and what non-Sikh guests should know.
What happens at a Vietnamese Australian funeral?
How Vietnamese Australian funerals work. The Buddhist-Catholic blend, 49-day mourning, ancestor altars, vigils and what non-Vietnamese guests should know.
What happens at an Eastern Orthodox funeral in Australia?
How Russian, Serbian and Coptic Orthodox funerals work in Australia. Open casket customs, the Panikhida, Serbian Slava, memorial cycles and cremation rules.
Can you arrange a same-day funeral in Australia?
How families manage death certificates, permits and provider availability when faith calls for burial or cremation within a day of death.