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Why use an AFDA member

Formed in 1935, Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) is the only national funeral service organisation with Member firms in every State and Territory. AFDA Member firms are chosen by the majority of families to provide funeral arrangements for their loved ones. AFDA is widely recognised as the authoritative voice on all funeral matters and its key objective is to optimise the funeral experience and ensure quality delivery of service to the wider community by enhancing and promoting professional funeral standards.

AFDA Members and the AFDA Trademark represent security, care and professional service. AFDA Members are bound by a strict Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct designed to meet both community needs and expectations in all aspects of service delivery. The Code is a reassurance to the community of sincere care and professional service, particularly at a time of uncertainty and distress for grieving families and relatives.

Our mission is to promote professional funeral standards throughout Australia.

Mission

Our mission is to promote professional funeral standards throughout Australia.

The Role of a Funeral Director

The role of a funeral director is to provide a very special service and ensure the wishes of the family and the deceased are filled. A funeral director advises on and arranges all the details that make up a funeral service. The responsibilities of a funeral director include:

    • Arrange all matters requested by the family taking into consideration the legal, social, cultural and religious considerations relating to the deceased and to the mourners.
    • Transportation of the deceased from the place of death to the mortuary.
    • Preparation of the deceased
    • Collation of certificates from hospital or doctor’s surgery
    • Completion of statutory requirements
    • Preparation and insertion of newspaper notices
    • Contact with clergy or funeral celebrant
    • Organise bookings at the venue, church, cemetery and/or crematorium
    • Officially register the death
    • Obtain copies of the death certificate
    • Organise all details of the funeral service, including the supply of vehicles and pall bearers
    • Advise on religious and ceremonial requirements in relation to the funeral service and to visitation and other customs prior to, during and after the funeral.

Many of these items will be included as part of the funeral director’s professional service fee.

People need time to mourn the loss of family and friends. A funeral service fills this need and provides people with an important place to share in their grief and help the living say goodbye. Grief is hard, sometimes unbearable, but certainly doesn’t go away if we try to deny it happens.

A funeral:

    • Offers finality and understanding that loved ones have died – the task of arranging the funeral, attending the viewing, planning the ceremony, giving a eulogy all help to counter reactions like the fog of numbness and disbelief.
    • Allows us to show our feelings in a safe place – they spell out messages that say grief is normal, you don’t have to be brave, there’s no shame in tears.
    • Provides an opportunity to acknowledge the life of a loved one and for family and friends to support each other in their grief.
Why Funerals Matter

People need time to mourn the loss of family and friends. A funeral service fills this need and provides people with an important place to share in their grief and help the living say goodbye. Grief is hard, sometimes unbearable, but certainly doesn’t go away if we try to deny it happens.

A funeral:

    • Offers finality and understanding that loved ones have died – the task of arranging the funeral, attending the viewing, planning the ceremony, giving a eulogy all help to counter reactions like the fog of numbness and disbelief.
    • Allows us to show our feelings in a safe place – they spell out messages that say grief is normal, you don’t have to be brave, there’s no shame in tears.
    • Provides an opportunity to acknowledge the life of a loved one and for family and friends to support each other in their grief.
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‘Your Goodbye’ is about your farewell to family and friends. It’s about the final pages of Your Story, but like any good book it takes input and help from others. Your Goodbye should be a collaboration between you and those you love most, so that when the ink dries on your last page; you can all close the book with a sense of ease, understanding, pride and unwavering love.

Do those that matter the most to you know about all the little things that make up your life? Do you know what matters the most to them? We all may know parts but not the whole.

Every story deserves to be told. It’s what makes us unique. Have the conversation now because it cannot be had once you’re gone.

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Media Contacts (Head Office)

Postal PO Box 291, Kew East VIC 3102
Phone 03 9859 9966
Fax 03 9819 7390
Email info@afda.org.au

Publications

The AFDA periodically releases a journal called ‘The Australian Funeral Director’ for its members. The journal is full of the information on the latest news and trends in the industry.

AFDA Journal E-Mag - June 2018