Planning A Funeral (presented by name of funeral home)

Planning A Funeral (presented by name of funeral home) (Insert company logo) www.afda.org.au

Purpose Of A Funeral • Reflection of a life lived • Honouring life • Sharing memories • Tailored to the individual • Celebrating life • A funeral is for the living

What Does A Funeral Director Do? • There are various roles within a funeral home, including Funeral Arranger; Conductor; Funeral Attendant; Funeral Director & Embalmer • A Funeral Director may perform the following tasks: • provide information & give advice on funeral arrangements • arrange for the removal of bodies from private homes, hospitals & sometimes from accident scenes • discuss style of funeral coffin/casket, cars, flowers & costs • preserve, prepare & keep bodies for viewing before burial/cremation • conduct the funeral • make arrangements for the burial/cremation ceremony • handle the required paperwork such as death certificates • organise all notices of the death & funeral arrangements in the media • make arrangements for interment/cremation, arrange the construction of a monument or the disposal of cremated remains • arrange floral tributes & distribute & collect attendance & tribute cards • assist with carrying & lowering coffins

Find A Funeral Director For more information or to find an Accredited Member of the AFDA visit www.afda.org.au or call 1300 888 188 or (03) 9859 9966

Funeral Arrangements – What Do I Do When Someone Dies? • Contact the person's doctor • In Australia the great majority of deaths occur in hospital or other care facilities, in which case those authorities take care of the medical formalities • In certain instances it may not be possible for the doctor to issue a Death Certificate & there is necessity for police & coronial involvement • Take your time

Death Registration • Required information: • Date of Birth • Place of Birth • Marriage Details • Children’s Details • Parent’s Details

Who Is Responsible For Arranging A Funeral? • In most instances, the Next of Kin is responsible for arranging the funeral of the deceased, for example: spouse, child, parent, legal partner or sibling • In the instance of dispute, where it is known a Will exists, the arbiter of arrangements is deemed to be the nominated Executor. The Executor may in his/her discretion appoint a person to make necessary arrangements with a Funeral Director. Such occasions however, are infrequent & most arrangements are made by the Next of Kin.

Funeral Arrangements - Choices • A Funeral Director can provide options to a family but ultimately it is the family’s right to choose whatever they wish, providing necessary legal requirements are met: • Burial/Cremation • Service • Celebrant/Minister • Private/Public • Coffin • Newspaper Notices • Flowers • Music • Clothing • Memorials • Documentation

Planning A Funeral • When faced with having to make funeral arrangements, most people have no prior experience in organising such an event, & little knowledge of what to do • Funeral Directors can alleviate this burden for you by providing a range of services, allowing you to choose an appropriate funeral that will be conducted professionally & with dignity • The role of the Funeral Director is to assist in every way possible to ensure the wishes of the family & the deceased are fulfilled

How Much Does A Funeral Cost? • The costs associated with a funeral vary due to the number of choices available, which allows a true reflection of personal, cultural & religious needs • There are certain necessary inclusions & certifications required, some of which have fixed costs, some of which are negotiable

How Much Does A Funeral Cost? • Generally there are five cost components of a funeral: • ‘Professional Service’ fees from the Funeral Director • ‘Coffin or Casket’ costs • ‘Cemetery and Crematoria’ charges • Options to ‘celebrate a life’ may include: visual presentations, service booklets, thank you cards & memorial books • Other third party disbursements payable

What Is Embalming? • The process of replacing bodily fluids with chemical fluids for the purposes of: • preservation of the body • infection control, & • enhancing the presentation of the deceased

Pre-Planning Your Funeral • Pre-planning can provide peace of mind & remove the need for a loved one to arrange a funeral • Pre-paying or pre-arranging a funeral can be completed through an appointment with a Funeral Director • For your own peace of mind, select a Funeral Director who is an Accredited Member of the Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA), which requires its Members to honour a strict Code of Ethics & Practice • The AFDA website www.afda.org.au has an online pre-planning information form, which can be printed & completed for your reference, or emailed to the Funeral Director of your choice

Advantages Of Pre-Planning • Anyone can take out a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan regardless of their age or state of health, & in doing so can enjoy the following benefits: • you can protect your family from the distress of making difficult decisions at an emotional time • your family will be relieved from any financial burden • it makes good financial sense - by making all of your choices now, you can fix the price of your funeral at today's costs (subject to any specific terms of the contact) • you can ensure that your exact wishes are made known & are carried out • you may be able to maximise your pension entitlement. Any money paid into the plan is not subject to the income or assets test or deemed earnings rule (according to current legislation).

What Is A Pre-Paid Funeral? • The family & Funeral Director establish the funeral services that they wish to contract & pay for now, for provision at a future date • When planning a funeral there are a number of decisions that need to be made. The Funeral Director will assist you with these & ensure that your wishes are fulfilled • The cost of a Pre-Paid Funeral is fixed, regardless of future price increases • Funeral firms must invest the funds in strict accordance with the Funerals Act (1996) & the funds cannot be accessed until the funeral is provided • The funds are invested independently of the Funeral Director

What Does A Pre-Paid Funeral Plan Include? • A Pre-Paid Funeral Plan is designed to reflect your wishes & therefore can include whatever you wish, however, some options to consider include: • the type & style of funeral service • preparation of the body & viewing arrangements • burial or cremation • the specific cemetery or crematorium • type of coffin or casket • Minister or Celebrant • memorial book & memorial cards • death notices, flowers, mourning vehicles etc, & • special features you would like to include such as a poem or piece of music

Pre-Paid Funerals • Payment of a Pre-Paid Funeral may be made in one lump sum or through a payment plan • When organising a Pre-Paid Funeral it is important that family is advised that arrangements for a funeral have been made in advance • Copies of the Pre-Paid Funeral contract should be provided to members of the family, or filed with the Will & other important documents

Funeral Bonds • A Funeral Bond is a specialised investment which enables an individual to accumulate funds to meet future funeral expenses • An investment in a Funeral Bond is similar to a life insurance policy, whereby the benefit becomes payable on death • The benefits must be used to meet an individual’s funeral expenses • A Funeral Bond is an investment towards the cost of a funeral & by itself does not guarantee against rising funeral prices

Insurance • Funeral insurance products are targeted across a broad age range from 17 years upwards • Funeral insurance products are designed to cover funeral costs • In comparison with broader life insurance policies, the absence of underwriting combined with relatively low average policy size means that the cost of cover is relatively high • It covers death from any cause after the first 12 months, it only covers death by accident before then

Insurance • Funeral insurance provides value for money for policy holders who pass away within a relatively short period of time after taking out the policy • Despite an initially low cost of entry, the longer you hold a funeral insurance policy, the more you will have paid to the peace of mind you are looking for – a 60 year old who lives to 90 will have paid over $85,000 in funeral insurance premiums • The longer you hold a funeral insurance policy, the higher your premiums will be • If you have trouble with payments or can’t keep up with rising premiums, the entire benefit of a funeral insurance policy is lost & all past premiums are forfeited • If you think you are going to live beyond a short period of time then a pre-paid funeral is a cheaper option

Cremation vs. Burial • People have a choice of either burial or cremation, ultimately, this decision is a matter of personal choice • The number of people in Australia choosing to be cremated is steadily increasing • Cremation funerals are much higher in city areas where crematory facilities are available • In certain cultures cremation is not favoured (or may be prohibited within the relevant faith belief). In other cultures the opposite may occur with cremation being the custom, for example, in the Hindu tradition • Future trends may see higher instances of cremation due to increasing limits on cemetery space within or convenient to population centres

(Enter Funeral Home Name) • In operation since (year) • Family owned, ?th generation • Mission • Values • Goals

Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) • Formed in 1935 • Only national funeral service association with Member firms in every State and Territory • AFDA Member firms are chosen by more than 60% of families to provide funeral arrangements for their loved ones • AFDA Members & the AFDA Trademark represents security, care & professional service

AFDA Members • AFDA Members are bound by a strict Code of Ethics & Practice designed to meet both community needs & expectation in all aspects of service delivery. The code is a reassurance to the community of sincere care & professional service • Prospective Full Member firms must comply with required standards for premises, equipment & vehicles (PEV) before AFDA membership is granted • Re-accreditation is required every 3 years

Continuing Professional Development • AFDA Full Member firms are required to undertake a minimum number of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours each year • CPD is a commitment each AFDA Member makes to improve & promote professional funeral standards

Contact (funeral home name) (Company details) Accredited Member of AFDA since (year) (Insert Company Logo) For More Information

Planning A Funeral (presented by name of funeral home)