Funeral Planning Guide

• Direct cremation (no service) — the least expensive option
• Simple funeral with service — a short service, often at the crematorium chapel
• Traditional funeral with burial — usually the most expensive
• Natural/green burial — no embalming, a biodegradable coffin
• Home funeral (DIY) — mainly the cremation or burial fee

• Burial — traditional cemetery or natural/green burial ground
• Cremation — most common in Australia. Ashes can be scattered, kept, interred, or turned into jewellery/reef balls
• Aquamation (water cremation) — available in some states
• Natural burial — biodegradable shroud or coffin, native bush setting
• Sea burial — legal in Australia with a permit from the Environment Department
• Home funeral — legal in every state. See the Hands-On Guides section.

• Get an itemised quote in writing — it's your right
• Compare at least two providers
• Ask what's included in any "package" — unbundle what you don't need
• You can supply your own coffin, including a plain cardboard one
• Independent celebrants can be hired separately from the funeral director

Every Australian state has a destitute funeral / contract funeral scheme for people who genuinely cannot afford a funeral. Ask a hospital social worker, your GP, or call the National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007). Some super funds will release funds early for funeral costs. Banks can also release funds from the deceased's account directly to the funeral director.

• Natural burial grounds (no embalming, biodegradable coffin/shroud)
• Cardboard or wicker coffins
• Native tree planting instead of a headstone
• Aquamation (lower carbon footprint than cremation)
• Offset the carbon of cremation through a verified offset scheme