Australasian Cemeteries & Crematoria Association

22/04/2026

Day 2 of the ACCA Mid-Year Seminar is underway! 🌟

Yesterday set the tone with some fantastic conversations and insights - from our engaging panel on connecting with communities around cemeteries, to a powerful session on building strong team culture and why it truly matters. 💬

We also had the privilege of visiting the historic Maryborough Cemetery, where we gained valuable insights into the region’s rich history and heritage.🪦

A huge thank you to Rob Moore and the Fraser Coast Regional Council team for their incredible support and hospitality in hosting us, we truly appreciate it.
Looking forward to another great day of learning and collaboration!

22/04/2026

What an incredible start to the ACCA Mid-Year Seminar opening with the trade show here in Hervey Bay 🚀
We were thrilled to see such a strong turnout! The enthusiasm, and engagement are what make these events as successful as they are.

A huge thank you to our valued sponsors. Your support plays a vital role in making events like this possible. Without your contribution, bringing together opportunities for connection, learning, and celebration at this scale simply wouldn’t happen. 🤝
We’re also grateful to everyone involved behind the scenes and within our association who helped bring this event to life. It’s a collective effort, and it shows.
Here’s to a fantastic seminar and the continued growth of our industry.
Stay tuned for further updates over the next few days!!

20/04/2026

We’re pleased to welcome AFRM Claims Advocacy as ACCA’s newest Bronze Sponsor.🤝

AFRM brings specialist expertise in claims advocacy, supporting organisations through complex insurance processes and helping achieve fair outcomes when it matters most.

We look forward to working together and thank AFRM for their support of our association and community.

Learn more about their services here:

AFRM Claims Advocacy acts on behalf of claimants, to help them balance the financial & health outcomes of their personal insurance claim.

01/04/2026

Registrations Closing Wednesday 8th April 🕔

Don’t miss your chance to join us in Hervey Bay for the ACCA Mid-Year Seminar (22–23 April 2026).

The seminar brings together professionals from across the sector for a program focused on education, networking and industry collaboration. Topics include workplace culture, pre-paid funds management, community engagement, palliative care, and emerging practices such as shrouded cremations.

Email the ACCA team - admin@accaweb.com.au to find out more.

01/04/2026

What happens after ashes are returned to families is an area receiving growing attention, and raising important questions for our sector!

Join us next week for an engaging webinar with Dr Hannah Gould, exploring how ashes are being cared for, stored, shared and memorialised in modern society. This session will unpack emerging trends and the broader social and cultural implications for our communities.

Register here:
https://plotbox.com/on-demand-webinars/plotbox-apac-webinars

This webinar is delivered in collaboration with PlotBoxLife and the NZ Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective

We help a range of teams, from cemetery and crematory managers, to funeral home directors, groundstaff, board members, sales and marketing, and operations.

27/03/2026

Christina Furtado (OACFP), recipient of the Phoenix Foundry Bereavement Profession Excellence Award, presented at the CCAV Conference on her trip of a lifetime experience in Australia, and shared valuable insights into burial practices in Canada - particularly the unique challenges and considerations during the winter snow season.

Her journey, and this award highlights the powerful role cemeteries play in storytelling, remembrance, and connection.

11/03/2026

Registrations Are Now Open – 22 - 23 April 2026 🔓

Join us in Hervey Bay for the ACCA Mid-Year Seminar, a two-day event focused on Education, Networking and Industry collaboration.

The program will explore a range of important topics including building strong workplace culture, managing pre-paid cemetery funds, and strengthening relationships with local councils and communities. Delegates will also hear from Palliative Care Queensland on supporting families through end-of-life care, along with practical insights into shrouded cremations and emerging operational practices.

We will also take part in a guided visit to the historic Maryborough Cemetery, by The Fraser Coast Regional Council where delegates will explore its heritage, operations and community engagement initiatives.

For more information on our program and to register please visit https://accaweb.com.au/about/events/ or email the ACCA team - admin@accaweb.com.au

06/03/2026

Its been a great few weeks for ACCA Education with the launch of our Roadshow Training Series, bringing valuable learning opportunities to professionals across the sector.

The series kicked off with our Monument Safety & Inspection Course at Mt Gravatt Cemetery, which was a fantastic success with strong engagement and hands-on participation from attendees across the industry.

In conjunction with Relationships Australia Victoria (RAVs) we also recently held a meaningful training day on Psychological wellbeing in the workplace and Supporting grieving clients at the Geelong Memorial Park and Crematorium This session created an important space for industry professionals to explore how we can better support families during some of life’s most difficult moments, while also prioritising our own wellbeing in the work we do.

A big thank you to the Metropolitan Memorial Parks and Geelong Cemeteries Trust for their support, as well as everyone who attended and contributed to making these sessions such valuable and collaborative training experiences.

The ACCA Education Roadshow Training Series is all about strengthening knowledge, supporting best practice, and connecting professionals across the sector - and we’re just getting started.

Please contact us via emailing admin@accaweb.com.au to discuss how we can bring this training series to a location near you!

26/02/2026

Cemeteries and memorial parks play an important role in our communities - as places of remembrance, reflection, cultural heritage and future planning.

The draft Perpetual Care Framework has been released for consultation, inviting feedback on proposed approaches to the future management, sustainability and ongoing care of cemetery and memorial park sites.

ACCA encourages members to review the draft document and consider providing input as part of the consultation process.

Consultation closes 27 March 2026.

Further information and details on how to contribute can be found here: https://ow.ly/fgTC50YbZOb

Cemeteries are part of all our lives, whether we’re visiting, remembering, or planning ahead. That’s why it’s important for you to have your say on the future of cemeteries and memorial parks.

The draft Perpetual Care Framework is open for public consultation, seeking to keep cemeteries vibrant and accessible (even when at capacity), and giving families confidence that loved ones’ resting places will be maintained with dignity and respect.

Have your say and help shape the future of these important places before 27 March 2026 by visiting https://ow.ly/fgTC50YbZOb

24/02/2026

Our Monument Safety & Inspection Course at Mt Gravatt Cemetery was a fantastic success, with strong engagement and hands-on participation from attendees across the sector.

Delivered by Sach Killam, Specialist Heritage Stonemason & Monument Supervisor at Metropolitan Memorial Parks, the course provided a practical deep dive into real-world monument safety. Participants took part in in-field visual and physical inspections, explored common monument defects and stability testing methods, and worked through documentation supporting the MMP Monument Safety Framework.

The day also covered Australian Standards, monument permitting and construction management, ensuring attendees left with practical skills they can confidently apply within their own organisations.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a valuable and collaborative training experience.

03/02/2026

ACCA welcomes our newest Silver Sponsor – Key Business Advisors 🔑📊

We’re excited to welcome Key Business Advisors as ACCA’s newest Silver Sponsor. With extensive experience supporting organisations through strategic advice, financial insight, and business planning, their expertise is a valuable addition to our network.

We thank Key Business Advisors for their support of ACCA and our members, and we look forward to working together.

👉 Learn more about their services at www.keyba.com.au

27/01/2026