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Understanding Your Australian Funeral Options

Losing a family member is never an easy time, but you can make it so much easier for those left behind by following our late Queen’s example. Make your own funeral choices now, and consider your payment options! Obviously there won’t be the same pomp and ceremony involved but the principles are the same. Mourners can focus on remembering you and celebrating your life without the added stresses of trying to organise your funeral, and find the money to pay for it.

In this post, we consider how much funerals cost (and where the money goes), and look at your available funeral options. We also discuss payment methods for funerals in a follow-up post so stay tuned for that one.

Funeral Costs And Planning: How Much Does A Funeral Cost In Australia?

According to the latest Australian Seniors Cost of Death report, a BASIC (metropolitan?) burial funeral can cost up to $18,652, and a basic cremation funeral up to $5,953. This information aligns with the government’s MoneySmart website, which indicates funeral costs typically range from $4,000 (basic cremation) to over $15,000 (traditional burial).

The report also highlights that the average burial cost nationwide, taking into account both urban and rural prices, is currently $11,039, and the average cremation cost $8,045. However, it is important to note that:

  1. a) These averages are based on data from both city and rural funeral service providers; and
  2. b) Country funerals are generally cheaper than city ones so their inclusion brings down the overall average.

Thus, they may not accurately reflect the true expenses associated with a city funeral.

In fact, the cost of a city funeral service is often significantly higher than the average depending on a range of factors.

The Factors That Affect Funeral Costs

Funeral costs vary greatly depending on:

  • The location – as noted, a country funeral costs less than a city one, sometimes considerably less.
  • The type of ceremony or service – cremations are cheaper than burials.
  • The chosen funeral home – each establishment has its own packages and pricing structures.
  • The number of processes and elements included – ‘optional extras’ and elaborate procedures can be expensive.

What Are The Cost Breakdowns Of A Funeral?

Your funeral costs cover many things but essentially, the more elaborate the service, the more processes are included, so the more it will cost.

Funeral Cost Breakdown:

The following funeral costs are as per Finder. They represent an average of costs from funeral service providers across Australia. Always get your own quotes, and compare them.

Funeral Director

 ·         Organisational services $3,000
It isn’t mandatory to use a funeral director in Australia. However, they do make the entire funeral process easier and more streamlined as they typically handle everything from the mandatory reporting requirements right through to the final burial or cremation arrangements. Understandably, this expertise comes at a cost, but many offer payment plans. However, do you really want your family paying off funeral debts for years?
 

Mortuary services

 ·         Transfer to funeral home

·         Storage at funeral home

·         Preparation

·         Embalming if required

 $300

$150

$200 – $600

$600 – $1,400

  
  Includes transport to the funeral home from the hospital, hospice etc; storage until your funeral; and preparation of your body for burial. In certain circumstances, your body will also need embalming.  
 

Coffin / Casket / Capsule / Urn

 

 ·         Coffin / Casket

·         Cremation capsule

·         Urn

 $800 – $8,000

$300

$100

  
  The more elaborate your coffin (traditional 6-sided tapered box with a wider section for the shoulders), casket (rectangular box), or capsule (container designed for cremation) is, the more expensive it is. Coffins, caskets, and capsules can be made from a range of materials – cardboard, timber, plastic, resin, metal – so choose an affordable option. If you are being cremated, the capsule (or coffin etc) must be combustible.  
 

Certificates

 ·         Death certificate

·         Cremation certificate

·         Cremation permit

 $66

$110

$110

  
  A death certificate is a legal requirement. Issued by Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in each state, it formalises your death ‘for the records’.

If you are being cremated, you’ll require a Cremation Permit (issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in some states, including WA, or by a medical practitioner who did NOT sign the death certificate in other states).

After cremation, your family will be issued with a Certificate of Cremation to verify it took place.

  
 

Permits

 ·         Burial at sea

·         Burial on private land

 $1675

Varies according to the local council

  
  Some types of burials – burial at sea or on private land – require a permit.  
 

Burial plot and associated services

 ·         Grave plot + interment, maintenance, monument, grave liner or vault if required by the cemetery, extra depth hole

·         Urn plot

 $9,000

 

 

 

$2,500

  
  The cost of your burial plot will vary depending on the cemetery and the location of the grave within the cemetery: plots in popular cemeteries can cost upwards of $50,000! In some states, permanent tenure is also not guaranteed unless you pay extra for it.

A plot for an urn usually costs far less than a traditional grave plot. However, it is not a legal requirement to bury ashes so if you do choose cremation you will have more affordable (free) options for your ashes.

  
 

Burial and cremation services

 ·         Burial services (graveside service)

·         Basic cremation (at crematorium)

·         Cremation with chapel service

 $2,000

$600

$1,200

  
  The type of burial or cremation service you choose also impacts your funeral costs. Burial (grave) services are more expensive than crematorium services.  
 

Venue hire

 ·         Catering

·         Venue hire

 $20 – $30 per head

$100 per hour

  
  This includes the chapel or crematorium hire for the service, funeral reception facility etc  
  Optional extras: ·         Celebrant

·         Family car

·         Flowers

·         Newspaper notice

·         Order of Service

·         Slideshow

·         Live streaming webcast

 $300

$400

$200

$200

$250

$200

$650

  
  Flowers at a funeral are always nice but they are an optional extra. If you want them, you may find it cheaper to arrange them privately. Obituary – again, an optional extra that will contribute to the overall cost.

 

Various other optional services

There are many other items you can add to your funeral – videoing for posterity; live web cast for friends and family who can’t make the ceremony; memorial service; wake … Whilst these are nice to consider, they do add to the overall cost of the funeral so should only be considered if finances permit.

  

What Are Your Funeral Options In Australia?

Which funeral options you or your family choose will ultimately come down to budget, religious faith, and personal desires.

Funeral types in Australia range from a no-nonsense budget-priced direct cremation or burial, to expensive traditional or religious ceremonies with all the bells and whistles. You can also opt for a green funeral, a DIY funeral, or customise a traditional funeral to help cut costs.

Common funeral choices are:

Funeral Option Description
Burial Only Service

(economical)

 Burial only without the additional components of a traditional funeral. Options include:

·         Direct (no service) burial, where the deceased is interred without a formal ceremony, or

·         Graveside service, a short ceremony held at the cemetery attended only by close family and friends.

These options are far more cost-effective than traditional funerals as there are fewer inclusions.
Celebration Of Life An informal and secular alternative (or addition) to a memorial or service, intended to focus on the person and celebrate their life and achievements.
Cremation

(very economical)

 Cheaper than burials and can be direct, or include a chapel service.

·          Direct (no service) cremation where the deceased is taken directly to the designated crematorium upon medical release. Ashes are returned to the family and a separate memorial service, Celebration of Life, or interment is often held.

·          With chapel service – includes a chapel or memorial service at the crematorium. Costs more due to funeral home services, transport, funeral director fees, celebrant, venue hire, etc.
Cultural/Religious Funeral

(expensive)

 Adheres to the cultural and religious customs of the deceased. Services may include specific rituals, prayers, and readings associated with the person’s faith or cultural background (e.g., Islamic, Muslim, Hindu funerals).
DIY Funeral

(can be very economical)

 Increasingly popular option where families may hire a funeral director to handle specific aspects such as dealing with the obligatory paperwork and arranging a direct cremation or burial, but organise the rest themselves.
Eco/Green Funeral Increasing in popularity. Prioritises eco-friendly options such as:

·         Biodegradable casket/urn;

·         Natural burial,

·         Energy-efficient, eco-friendly cremation method,

·         Energy-efficient funeral vehicles,

·         Carbon offsetting options like tree planting etc.
Home Funeral An option for families to be involved in caring for the deceased at home before the service. The level of involvement varies depending how comfortable they are with the process. It’s advisable to consult with a professional due to the sensitivity of handling a deceased person.
Memorial Service A service to remember and honour a person’s life after interment or cremation and often chosen in place of a formal ceremony. Combines elements of a funeral service with a more informal and secular focus.
Traditional Funeral

(can be very expensive)

 A full-service funeral that includes a wake/visitation, service, committal/burial or cremation, and funeral reception. While comprehensive, these funerals can be costly. Certain elements can be pared down or omitted altogether, reducing overall costs.

What Are Some Affordable Funeral Options?

A cost-effective or budget funeral doesn’t mean people will respect or miss you less! Indeed, an increasing number of us are opting for budget rather than fancy because, let’s face it, spending money on life, and living, is far better value!

Some suggestions for affordable funeral options include:

  • Choose an off-peak time – weekend funerals are often more expensive than weekday ones.
  • Have a cheaper casket or coffin, particularly if you opt for a direct cremation or burial,
  • Choose cremation rather than burial,
  • Opt for a direct (no-service) cremation or burial,
  • Choose free disposal options for your ashes – scattering, home memorial etc. There are currently no laws controlling what you do with your ashes other than abiding by the Clean Air Act if scattering them or the Sea Dumping Act if you scatter them at sea.
  • Consider a DIY funeral – use a funeral director only to arrange a direct cremation or burial plus lodgement of the documents, and you do the rest.
  • Tailor your plan – reduce the optional extras (use a private car instead of a hire car for the family, arrange your own flowers / videoing etc, keep newspaper notices to a minimum, don’t have a wake, hold a private memorial service and funeral reception.)

Why Understanding Your Funeral Options Is Important

Understanding your funeral options is the best way to ensure your final farewell aligns with your preferences, budget, and values. From the costs associated with burial and cremation to the diverse range of funeral types and services available, knowing what funeral choices you have will help you, and your family make the right decisions in a difficult time. Remember, thoughtful planning not only honours your wishes but also eases the burden on your loved ones during a period of grief.

Finally, stay tuned for our article on the various payment methods for funerals, either for yourself in planning your funeral, or for your family.

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Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

1.1 Count Limited and its related bodies corporate (collectively ‘Count’, ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’) respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your privacy. We understand the importance you attach to information that identifies you (your ‘personal information’) and we want to help you protect it.

1.2 We are bound by, and committed to supporting, applicable privacy legislation including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This Privacy Policy (‘Policy’) explains how we collect, hold, use, and disclose your personal information that we may obtain when you submit information to us in person, by mail or email, or by visiting our website.


2. How do we collect and hold personal information about you?

2.1 We collect personal information from you in a variety of methods. Examples of how we collect personal information include: 

  • Through communications between you and our representatives or your adviser or accountant;
  • Your use of our website;
  • Completing application forms in relation to products and services;
  • Other avenues, where required to meet regulatory requirements and comply with the law;
  • When you apply for employment with us;
  • Through marketing activities which request information from you, such as surveys.

2.2 Because our products and services are often offered by intermediaries such as financial planners, solicitors, or accountants, we may collect personal information about you from these third parties.

2.3 You can deal with us anonymously or by pseudonym unless it is impractical for us to deal with you where you have not identified yourself or have used a pseudonym. We require certain personal information to provide you with services and information. If you do not provide us with certain personal information, we may not be able to provide you with access to those services or respond to your request for information.

2.4 We will only collect personal information from you where it is reasonably necessary for us to provide our services to you or to perform our functions or activities.

2.5 We will only collect sensitive information from you with your consent, except in permitted general situations which include:

  • The collection of the information is required or authorised by or under an Australian law or a court/tribunal order;
  • The collection is necessary to address a threat to an individual’s life, health, or safety; and
  • Permitted health situations.

2.6 We may hold your information electronically or physically and have in place appropriate data and physical security measures and protocols to protect that information from loss or from disclosure not contemplated by this Policy.


3. What type of personal information do we collect?

3.1 The type of personal information we may collect from you includes (but is not limited to):

  • Names, address, email, phone numbers, and job titles;
  • Information in identification documents such as your passport or driver’s licence;
  • Tax file numbers (TFNs) and other identification numbers such as Medicare number;
  • Date of birth and gender;
  • Financial information;
  • Details of superannuation and insurance arrangements;
  • Sensitive information (with your consent), such as health information or membership details of professional or trade associations or political parties;
  • Bank account details, shareholdings, and details of investments;
  • Educational qualifications, employment history, and salary;
  • Visa or work permit status;
  • Personal information about your spouse and dependants.


4. How do we use your personal information?

4.1 We will use the information you supply for the purpose of providing you with the service(s) agreed under our engagement and related services, such as accounting or business advisory services, or to meet obligations we may have at law, including in relation to health and safety.

4.2 We may also use the information we collect for our internal business and management processes (for example, accounting or auditing purposes), monitoring and improving our website, keeping you informed about our services and company news, and for any other purposes that would be reasonably expected by you and to allow us to comply with our obligations under the law.

4.3 We may also use personal information we have collected from you for the purpose of marketing our services. If you do not want to receive marketing material from us, you can unsubscribe by contacting us as detailed below:

  • For electronic communications, you can click on the unsubscribe function in the communication;
  • For hard copy communications, you can email us using the details in the ‘How to contact us’ section of our website informing us that you wish to unsubscribe http://www.count.au/Contact-Us.


5. How do we disclose your personal information?

5.1 Your personal information will only be disclosed:

  • To our employees, contractors, consultants, dealers, agents, or advisors as required to provide our services to you or for related purposes;
  • To suppliers and service providers (for example, accounting or auditing service providers or our website hosting service providers) in connection with our provision of services to you;
  • Where you have consented to the disclosure;
  • Where required or authorised to do so under an Australian law, court or tribunal order, or other governmental or regulatory body or agency;
  • In permitted health situations;
  • If we believe that the use or disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary for enforcement-related activities conducted by, or on behalf of, an enforcement body; or
  • In connection with an actual or proposed sale, reorganisation, or transfer of all or part of our business, including as set out in clause 16.1.

5.2 We may use, store, process, or back-up your personal information on servers that are located overseas (including through third-party service providers). The privacy laws in other countries might not be the same as in Australia. However, where we provide your personal information to third parties overseas, we will take such steps as are reasonable to ensure that your information is handled and stored in accordance with Australian privacy laws and this Policy. Currently, we use outsourced service providers in the Philippines, India, and Serbia.


6. Access to your personal information

6.1 You can request us to provide you with access to personal information we hold about you by sending us an email: privacy@count.au (no spam please) or writing to us at Level 1, 45 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

6.2 We may allow an inspection of your personal information in person, or provide copies or a summary of relevant documents, depending on what is the most appropriate in the circumstances. Any charge we make for providing access will be reasonable and will not apply to lodging a request for access. Your request to access your personal information will be dealt with in a reasonable time.

6.3 Note that we need not provide access to personal information if a request is frivolous, or where to provide access would pose a threat to health or public safety, unreasonable interference with another person’s privacy, or be a breach of the law. If we refuse access, we will provide you with reasons for doing so.


7. Accuracy and correction

7.1 To enable us to keep our records properly, please notify us if you believe that any information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date and we will take reasonable steps, in the circumstances, to ensure that it is corrected. You can notify us by sending us an email: privacy@count.au (no spam please) or writing to us at Level 1, 45 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000.


8. Our security procedures

8.1 We take your privacy and the privacy of our associated entities and their clients very seriously. We will take reasonable steps in the circumstances to protect any personal information you provide to us from misuse, interference, or loss and unauthorised access, modification, and disclosure.

8.2 We will also deidentify and destroy the personal information we hold about you once our legal obligations cease. Our security procedures are reviewed from time to time and we update them when relevant.

8.3 Please be aware that the transmission of data over the internet is never guaranteed to be completely secure. It is possible that third parties not under our control may be able to access or intercept transmissions or private communications without our permission or knowledge. We take all reasonable steps, in the circumstances, to protect your personal information. However, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us. Such transmissions are done at your own risk.


9. Data breach notification

9.1 We are required to give notice to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and affected individuals of an “eligible data breach”. This means that if we hold personal information about you, and there is unauthorised access to or disclosure of your personal information, and if you, as the “affected individual” would be likely to suffer serious harm from this access or disclosure, we must notify both you and the OAIC.

9.2 “Serious harm” could include identity theft, threats to physical safety, economic and financial harm, harm to reputation, embarrassment, discrimination, or harassment. The test is whether a “reasonable person” would expect you to suffer serious harm.

9.3 If you are likely to suffer serious harm from a data breach, we will notify you of:

  • The nature of the eligible data breach (i.e., how the information was accessed or disclosed);
  • The type of information that was accessed or disclosed;
  • The steps that we have taken to control or reduce the harm, and those that we plan to take;
  • Any assistance we can offer you, such as arranging for credit monitoring;
  • Anything that we can suggest you can do to assist yourself or mitigate the harm;
  • Whether the breach has also been notified to the OAIC;
  • How you can contact us for information or to complain; and
  • How to make a complaint with the OAIC.

9.4 We will notify you using the same method that we usually use to communicate with you. If it is not practicable for us to notify you personally, we will publish the notification on our website.

9.5 There are some circumstances in which we do not have to notify you of a data breach. These include:

  • Where we have taken remedial action before any serious harm has been caused by the breach;
  • If you have been notified of the breach by another entity;
  • If notification would be inconsistent with Commonwealth secrecy laws; or
  • Where the OAIC declares that notification does not have to be given.

9.6 Depending on the nature of the breach and the harm, we may voluntarily inform other third parties such as the police or other regulators or professional bodies.


10. Identifiers

10.1 We will not adopt as our own any government identifiers you may provide to us such as TFNs and will not store these identifiers on any information.


11. Links to other sites

11.1 We may provide links to other sites for you to access. You should be aware that these other sites are not subject to this Policy or our privacy standards and procedures. You will need to contact them directly to ascertain their privacy standards.


12. Cookies

12.1 Our website may deposit “cookies” on a visitor’s computer. Cookies are pieces of information that a website transfers to an individual’s hard drive for record-keeping purposes. Cookies are only sent back to the website that deposited them when a visitor returns to that site.

12.2 Cookies make it easier for you by saving your preferences while you are at our site. We never save personal identifiable information in cookies. Most web browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. You can, however, reset your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent.


13. Changes to our Privacy Policy

13.1 From time to time, we may vary this Policy for any reason. We will publish any changes on this website.

13.2 By continuing to use our website and continuing to provide us with your information, you confirm your acceptance of these changes.


14. Complaints resolution

14.1 We are committed to providing a fair and responsible system for the handling of complaints from parties whose personal information we hold. If you have any concerns regarding the way we have handled your privacy, please send us an email at privacy@count.au or write to us at Level 1, 45 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000. We will address any concerns you have through our complaints handling process and we will inform you of the outcome of your complaint within a reasonable timeframe.

14.2 If after receiving our response, you still consider that your privacy complaint has not been resolved, you may refer your concerns to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au.