Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to assist a funeral director to conduct funerals, including bearing coffins or caskets. It applies to funeral home assistant staff who carry out their work under supervision as part of a team and according to work health and safety, relevant legislation and workplace policies and procedures.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare to assist with a funeral. | 1.1 Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify work requirements. 1.2 Identify and obtain required resources and equipment and check for serviceability. 1.3 Consult with team members as required to establish sequence of tasks and team member responsibilities. 1.4 Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify coffin or casket bearing requirements. |
2. Provide assistance to funeral directors. | 2.1 Accompany coffin or casket to burial locations. 2.2 Assist with conduct of funeral processions as instructed by appropriate personnel. 2.3 Communicate with family members, mourners and colleagues to facilitate efficient conduct of funeral according to workplace policies and procedures. 2.4 Move coffins or casket according to predetermined methods and procedures. 2.5 Respond to instructions from appropriate personnel as required. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
identify and follow funeral service requirements and instructions promptly
bear coffins or caskets using safe manual handling techniques and to use lifting and lowering devices
communicate effectively with family members, mourners
Evidence of performance of assisting with the conduct of five or more funerals is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge of:
roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in conducting a funeral
considerations of work requirements for conducting funerals, including but not restricted to:
time of funeral
location of funeral:
monumental cemeteries
lawn cemeteries
mausoleum crypts
memorial gardens
cemeteries with historical or cultural significance
at sea
social, cultural and religious considerations:
the deceased person’s country of origin
funeral and mourning dress standards
funeral rites
full rites of services
cultural rituals to assist grieving
duration of mourning
wakes
religious denomination
spiritual symbolism
public profile of the deceased
burial procedures
time required between death and burial or cremation
taboos regarding death
text readings or scriptures
placing special personal effects with the deceased person
specific coffin or casket design
orientation of coffin
coffin or casket bearing
transport requirements
other client requirements
required staff
equipment and resources required for funerals:
selected text readings or scriptures
sound system
lighting and candles
flowers
photographs
lifting and lowering aids and devices
mats
protective restraints
church trucks
social, religious and cultural differences and traditions that impact on the conduct of funerals
professional funeral services industry parameters in dealing with the deceased and the bereaved
workplace policies and procedures regarding conduct of funerals, including burial procedures and operating requirements of relevant lifting devices and equipment.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a funeral home, cemetery or crematoria workplace:
using suitable equipment and resources, including:
coffins or caskets, lifting and lowering equipment
under industry conditions where there is:
integration of tasks with possible interruptions to work typical of the job role
speed and timing requirements that reflect commercial operating conditions
interaction with funeral director, team members and family members and mourners
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Sectors
Funeral Directing
Competency Field
Funeral Operations