Australian Home Funeral Alliance

29/07/2025

What is Shrouded Cremation?

The process of cremation where the body of the person who has died is not in a coffin, instead they are wrapped in a shroud. The body needs to be on a hard flat base (such as a carrier) to go into the cremator machine and for ease of movement and transport.

Learn more via our website - www.ahfa.org.au

23/07/2025

Here's a fantastic conversation from ABC with our very own Vice President Kerrie Lee of the Death Literacy Institute and long time friend of AHFA LiminalBeing ###

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/changing-oz-kerrie-and-danni-talking-about-death-and-grief-/105560508?fbclid=IwY2xjawLtstFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrxsli22JG8stJob_FSgQKcRhHvgTuFpIgg8sKcSnd1JGKBevBFxBUftTb-w_aem_muO7hjergz_xnRqIOK8NdA

A will is probably one of the main things you think about when you start planning for the final stages of life...but there is so much more to it than paperwork. How we talk about and deal with death and grief isn't something we always face and there are concerted efforts in Australia to change that....

23/07/2025

We recently shared a new member blog post on our website. Titled "The unexpected gift of grief", this a real reflection from Kellie Beatty on quiet privilege of being with some friends in the early days of grief.

Click through to read the Kellie's words, we are sure you will agree it would have been a true gift to have been part of at the time when her friends were grieving.

https://www.ahfa.org.au/post/theunexpectedgiftofgrief

19/07/2025

Bookings are now open for our next information session - Technology Supports for Community Care

This event will feature: Simon Lowe from The Ageing Revolution, Colin Pudsey from SilVR, Holly Smith from Public Health Palliative Care Unit and Catherine Ashton from Critical Info, as they talk through the different technology-based supports and emerging options for aged and end-of-life care in Australia.

Book now via https://shorturl.at/A03L1 for this online event to be hosted on 6-August.

Book Now to secure your spot.

17/07/2025

Dying to Know Day has been a national day of action, originally on August 8 extending throughout the month of August with hundreds of hosts around Australia holding gatherings aimed to normalise conversations about death, dying and grief, encouraging individuals to learn about, discuss, and plan for their own end-of-life, and to support others in doing the same. We welcome these meaningful conversations in any location or setting.

This year, the campaign aims to shine a light on the power of intergenerational conversations. Why? Because only *53% of Australians feel comfortable talking to a family member about their end-of-life. Spoiler alert: 100% of us will face the end one day. So, we’re creating welcoming spaces for all generations to come together, share their wishes, and have the meaningful conversations that matter most.

On our website, you will find a document you can use to record your wishes.
The downloadable form contains some simple steps you should take to record your wishes. Creating a document to inform your family, friends, executors and guardians of your detailed wishes, places them in the best possible position from which to make decisions on your behalf at the end of life and once your death occurs.
Copies of this document should be stored at home, with your executor, doctor and solicitor and if you have a chosen funeral director, they should have a copy as well. Your family should be told where to find them and a note placed on your fridge to alert anyone in an emergency of where to find your wishes document.

Head to our website to learn more https://www.ahfa.org.au/recording-your-wishes

14/07/2025

What do we do at AHFA?

We're gathering a community of providers from across Australia who are aligned with the mission of making home funerals accessible to all Australians to build relationships and a supportive community of practice.

This is just ONE aspect of our organisation - learn more via our website (ahfa.org.au)

11/07/2025

What is Contemporary or Current Funeral Industry?

This term refers to the standard funeral industry as it exists in contemporary society.

Learn more via our website, www.ahfa.org.au

10/07/2025

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

The attached graph is a significant sign that more and more people are seeking connection, knowledge, and courage to reimagine how we care for our dead.

Thank you for showing up. For listening. For sharing. Whether you’re here to learn, question or contribute, thank you for being part of this space.

Let’s keep building a community where respectful conversations can thrive — feel free to invite others who share our values and vision.

07/07/2025

Bookings are now open for our next information session - Technology Supports for Community Care

This event will feature: Simon Lowe from The Ageing Revolution, Colin Pudsey from SilVR, Holly Smith from Public Health Palliative Care Unit and Catherine Ashton from Critical Info, as they talk through the different technology-based supports and emerging options for aged and end-of-life care in Australia.

Book now via https://shorturl.at/A03L1 for this online event to be hosted on 6-August.

04/07/2025

The Australian Home Funeral Alliance host information sessions on various topics to help inform and educate anyone interested in planning or hosting a Home funeral.

Our most recent session covered the topic of Voluntary Assisted Dying - if this is something that interests you - head to our website to view the recording.

You will also find other recordings that are informative and educational.

Any information provided is general in nature and is not intended as advice or instructions.

Learn more via our website via the link in our bio.

02/07/2025

If you have not had the privilege of caring for someone who has died, then there are three important things to consider:

First - In most cases you can do this yourself, however, if you have not had experience in caring for a dead body before you may want to be supported by someone who is an experienced or professional practitioner. This could be a doula, funeral director, friend, community member/leader, nurse – anyone who knows how to assist and support you to safely handle and care for the dead body.

Second - a home funeral is dependent upon three things: the legislative requirements of the state or territory in which the person has died or will be disposed of, the safe handling of the body and its condition. Cooling a body does not stop the decomposition process and so some bodies will progress towards final disposition faster than others.

Third - the majority of what is explained here is in relation to expected death only. When a death is unexplained and unexpected, the result of a trauma, injury or cause unknown, then the Coroner will be in charge of the process, what happens to the body, what investigations are required and the final release. Not all bodies that are released from the coroner will be able to be taken home, such as in the case of severe and advanced decomposition.

Each state or territory in Australia has different requirements, you can choose your state via our website to gain specific information for where you live.

We are constantly reviewing and updating this information, and we provide this information as general knowledge. It is not intended as instruction or advice.

29/06/2025

Do you have your ticket for our next event - The Good, the VAD and the Ugly?

Facilitated by Annie Whitlocke, Tracey Rusden & Mary-Kate Pickett, our 3 experienced speakers, will talk about their own experiences!
Mary-Kate with her beloved husband, Tracey will share her experiences with people she has been with who have chosen VAD and Annie will share her experiences as a death doula, with people who chose VAD and for various reasons how it can go awry.

Through our combined stories we hope to highlight how things can be made smoother, what to avoid and how to engage and include our people. VAD is still a sensitive subject so opening up about it can only be of benefit we believe.

Register now for this event via https://shorturl.at/l2fWQ