Below you will find links to a variety of useful information websites, including government legislation and assistance, free legal aid services, grief support groups, various aligned organisations and charities etc, both nationally and within your State or Territory.
This page will be regularly updated to provide useful links to enhance your research and choices.
If you find any of the links are broken, or you would like to suggest additional information resources to be added, please contact us.
Links to external websites are provided for our visitor’s convenience. These links do not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation of any third party products or services offered by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability, completeness and correctness of information found at these websites.
Resources from the Office of Advance Care Planning have been updated. Click on the links below to see more:
- Advance care planning for health professionals
- Decision making hierarchy
- Statement of Choices information sheet
- Guide for health professionals using the Statement of Choices
- Tip sheets for completing Statement of Choices:
End of Life / Palliative Care Web Sites
- Department of Health – Palliative Care
- Department of Health – Guidelines for a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care
- Social Services – My Aged Care – Finding a Provider
- Aged Care Home Agreements
- Legal Information Services
- Managing Your Services
- Social Services – Translated information in other Languages
- National Relay Service – Assistance for people who are deaf, hearing or speech impaired to make a phone call
- Immigration & Border Protection – Interpreting Services
- Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Health Care – Charter of Rights
- Social Services – My Aged Care Line – 1800 200 422
- Social Services – Respite and Carelink Centre – 1800 052 222
Pre-Paid Funerals, Funeral Bonds & Funeral Insurance
Legislation in relation to Pre-Paid Funerals
Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia and Northern Territory have no specific Acts or Regulations regarding Pre-paid Funerals.
Preparing a Will
Powers of Attorney
https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/life-events-and-you/over-55s/wills-and-power-of-attorney#attorney
- http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au/E/enduring_power_of_guardianship.aspx
- Or http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au/E/enduring_power_of_attorney.aspx?uid=4607-1285-4846-1893
- Or http://www.publictrustee.wa.gov.au/E/enduring_power_of_attorney.aspx?uid=1849-7691-2398-2053
- Or http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au/A/advance_health_directives.aspx?uid=6428-3216-6581-9305
- Or http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au/C/community_guardianship.aspx?uid=4216-0258-9718-2366
- Or http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au/G/guardianship.aspx
- http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/guardianship/power-of-attorney
- Or http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/guardianship/adult-guardian
- Or http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/guardianship/power-of-attorney/enduring-power-of-attorney/making-an-enduring-power-of-attorney
- Or http://www.publicguardian.qld.gov.au/
- Or https://www.qld.gov.au/law/legal-mediation-and-justice-of-the-peace/power-of-attorney-and-making-decisions-for-others/power-of-attorney
- Or https://www.qld.gov.au/law/legal-mediation-and-justice-of-the-peace/power-of-attorney-and-making-decisions-for-others/making-decisions-for-others
Public Trustee Web Sites
http://www.tag.nsw.gov.au/ or Contacts: NSW Trustee & Guardian
Estate Planning
Offices of Fair Trading
Legal Aid Web Sites
Grief Counselling – Support Groups
McCulloch House, Monash Medical Centre
246 Clayton Road Clayton 3168
Tel (03) 9545 6377 or 1800 642 066
(This website has an extensive list of support groups)
www.grief.org.au or http://www.grief.org.au/resources/internet_links
Referral information on accredited loss and grief practitioners, seminars and support groups
Tel (03) 9351 0358
http://www.nalag.org.au or National Association for Loss and Grief
Bereaved Parent Support and Information Centre
Tel (03) 9888 4944 or 1800 641 091
267 Canterbury Road Canterbury 3126
www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au or http://www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au/find-support/related-organisations/tcf-interstate
Grief Support for those grieving over the death of their partner
Tel (03) 9384 1722
http://www.solace.org.au
Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support
Suite 208, 901 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill 3128
Tel (03) 9899 0218
http://www.sands.org.au/?gclid=CKPnvNCirMQCFY8kvQodkHAA6Q
Professional counselling and support for families following the sudden, unexpected death of any child 6 years and under due to any cause
1227 Malvern Rd Malvern 3144
Tel (03) 9822 9611or 1300 308 307 24 hour crisis line
http://www.sidsandkids.org
Seniors Organisations Web Sites
Aged Care Web Sites
- Aged Care Homes
- and Understanding Costs
- and Agedcare Health
- and Prepare Your Assessment
- New Legislation – Aged Care Reform: Agedcare Reforms
- Aged Care (Living Longer Living Better) Bill 2013 : http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2013B00043 and http://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/ageing-and-aged-care/aged-care-reform
- Agedcare Support Services
- Aged Care Act
- Australian Aged Care Quality Agency: http://www.aacqa.gov.au/ and http://agedcare.palliativecare.org.au/Portals/35/Guidelines/The%20Guidelines%202006.pdf
- Aged Care Pricing Commission (ACPC): Accommodation Deposit RAD Approvals/Refunds
- ASIC: https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/life-events-and-you/over-55s/your-home
- and https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/life-events-and-you/over-55s/aged-care
- NSW: The Aged Rights Services
- DPS Guide: https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/information/home-care
- End of Life Law in Australia (Advance Health Directives)
- ELDAC – End of Life Directions for Aged Care (Tool Kits)
- Nursing Home Abuse Guide
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Nursing Home Abuse Support
- Nursing Home Abuse Center
Other useful Commonwealth Health links
Specific Funeral Industry Legislation
Very few Australian States and Territories have enacted a single ‘Funerals Act’ covering all aspects of arranging and conducting a funeral (except Victoria). However, most jurisdictions have enacted legislation to do with pre-paid funerals and the treatment of funeral funds.
Burial & Cremations Act
Births, Deaths & Marriages Acts
- Useful Link: Department of the Attorney General Births, Deaths & Marriages
- The Act: Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration Act 1998
- Useful Link: Births, Deaths & Marriages South Australia
- The Act: Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996
- Useful Link: Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria
- The Act: Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration Act 1996
- Useful Link: Births, Deaths & Marriages Tasmania
- The Act: Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration Act 1999
- Useful Link: Births, Deaths & Marriages NSW
- The Act: Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration Act 1995
- Useful Link: Births, Deaths, Marriages & Divorces QLD
- The Act: Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration Act 2003
Coroners’ Acts
- Useful Link: Practical Issues for Relatives WA
- The Act: Coroners Act 1996
- Useful Links:
- The Act: Coroners Act 2003
- Useful Link: Practical Issues for Relatives VIC
- The Act: Coroners Act 2008
- Useful Link: A Guide for Families and Friends
- The Act: Burial & Cremation Act 2019
- Useful Link: http://www.coroners.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
- The Act: Coroners Act 2009
- Useful Link: Coroners Court
- The Act: Coroners Act 2003
- Useful Link: ACT Coroners Court
- The Act: Coroners Act 2008
Coroner’s Offices
Wills and Probate Acts
- Useful Link: http://www.publictrustee.wa.gov.au/w/what_is_probate.aspx
- The Act: Wills Act 1970 WA Statutes
- The Act: Family Provision Act 1972 WA Statutes
- The Act: Administration Act 1903 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/aa1903173/
- Useful Link: http://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch36s01.php
- The Act: The Wills Act 1936 http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/WILLS%20ACT%201936.aspx
- The Act: The Administration and Probate Act 1919 http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/ADMINISTRATION%20AND%20PROBATE%20ACT%201919.aspx
- Useful : Succession Laws
- The Act: The Wills Act 1997 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/wa199791/
- The Act: The Administration & Probate Act 1958 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/aapa1958259/
- Useful Link: http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/82103/Chapter_09.pdf
- Useful Link: Tasmanian Law Handbook – Making a Will
- The Act: The Administration & Probate Act 1935 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/tas/consol_act/aapa1935259/
- The Act: The Wills Act 2008 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/tas/consol_act/wa200891/
- The Act: The TESTATOR’s FAMILY MAINTENANCE ACT 1912 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/tas/consol_act/tfma1912297/
- The Act: The INTESTACY ACT 2010 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/tas/consol_act/ia2010128/
- Useful Link: NSW Supreme Court Filing Instructions
- Useful Link: http://www.foolkit.com.au/nsw/public/wills-and-probate
- The Act: Succession Act 2006 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/sa2006138/
- The Act: Probate and Administration Act 1898 http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
- Useful Link: QLD Law Society – Succession Law
- Useful Link: http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/courts/supreme-court/wills-and-estates-probate
- The Act: Succession Act 1981 https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/S/SuccessionA81.pdf
- Useful Link: nt.gov.au/law/bdm/make-a-will
- Useful Link: Being an Executor – Wills and Probate
- Useful Link: http://www.nt.gov.au/law/bdm/about-public-trustee
- Useful Link: http://www.publictrustee.act.gov.au/wills/
- Useful Link: OLDER PERSONS ACT LEGAL SERVICE (OPALS)
- Useful Link: http://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/services/probate_administration_and_foreign_grants
- The Act: Wills Act 1968 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/act/consol_act/wa196891/
- The Act: Family Provisions Act 1969 http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1969-15/default.asp
Disposal of a Body – Legal Procedures
None
Research into the Australian Funeral Industry
Australian Coffins & Caskets Legislation
The table below outlines the relevant State and Territory legislations and regulations for the use of coffins and caskets in Australia.
| State | Relevant Acts / Regulations | Links | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA | Cremations Act 1929 | http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/ca1929110/ | Not covered |
| WA Cremations Regulations 1954 | http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/cr1954219/ | Not covered | |
| QLD | Cremations Act 2003 | http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/ca2003128/ | Not covered |
| Regulations 2014 | QLD Cremations Regulations 2014 | Not covered | |
| TAS | Burial and Cremation (Handling of Human Remains) | http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/tas/consol_reg/bacr2015292/ | Part25 Coffin construction |
| Regulations 2015 | |||
| Burial & Cremation Act 2002 | Burial & Cremation Act | Not covered | |
| NSW | Public Health (Disposal of Bodies) Regulation 2002 | http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/repealed_reg/phobr2002371/ | Part 3 –Regulation 19 |
| Public Health (Disposal of Bodies) Amendment (Cremation) Regulation 2011 | http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_reg/pha1991phobar20112011568l4n2011785.pdf | Schedule1; Clause 2 | |
| Public Health Regulation 2012 | http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/dotd/Documents/disposal-of-bodies-ph-reg-2012.pdf | Part 8 –Regulation 63 | |
| VIC | Victorian Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulations 2015 | Cemeteries and Crematoria | Part 5 –Regulations 16 & 17 |
| SA | Burial & Cremation Act 2013 | http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/BURIAL%20AND%20CREMATION%20ACT%202013.aspx | Not covered |
| Burial & Cremation Regulations 2014 | http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/consol_reg/bacr2014292/s9.html | Part 2 – Regulations14, 20 & 21 | |
| NT | CEMETERIES ACT | Northern Territory Cemeteries Act – 1952 | Not covered |
| CEMETERIES REGULATIONS | Cemeteries Regulations 1967 | Regulation 21 | |
| ACT | Cemeteries and Crematoria (Code ofPractice) Approval 2007 | ACT Cemeteries Code of Practice | Sections 14 and 15. |
| CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIA REGULATION 2003 | ACT Cemeteries & Crematoria ACT | Part 2 – Regulation 7 |