Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to prepare and conduct a funeral. It applies to funeral conductors and requires coordination and supervision of others and working with a high level of responsibility 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 conduct funerals. | 1.1 Liaise with family members to identify funeral service requirements. 1.2 Review funeral service requirements and documentation and liaise with appropriate personnel to confirm arrangements. 1.3 Identify and arrange availability of required resources and equipment. 1.4 Identify and arrange availability of required funeral and escort vehicles and check for serviceability, safety and presentation. 1.5 Identify and arrange coffin or casket bearers and drivers according to funeral service requirements. 1.6 Liaise with lead driver to confirm funeral procedures. 1.7 Identify contingency procedures and inform appropriate personnel. 1.8 Verify identity of deceased. |
2. Coordinate funerals. | 2.1 Communicate with family members, mourners and colleagues. 2.2 Monitor operation of equipment and take corrective action where required to minimise disruption to proceedings. 2.3 Oversee and coordinate movement of coffin or casket according to funeral service requirements. 2.4 Coordinate movement of family members and mourners according to funeral service requirements. |
3. Lead funeral processions on foot. | 3.1 Assemble funeral procession. 3.2 Commence procession according to predetermined signals from relevant personnel, traffic flow and safety considerations. 3.3 Maintain pace of funeral procession according to funeral procedures. 3.4 Enter funeral vehicle according to funeral procedures. |
4. Review conduct of funerals. | 4.1 Review and complete funeral documentation as required. 4.2 Reflect on the conduct of funeral and note areas for improvement. 4.3 Advise appropriate personnel of outcomes and make recommendations where required. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
interpret client needs, pre-determined funeral arrangements accurately and coordinate and schedule operational details that meet these requirements
liaise with funeral and external personnel to organise required aspects of funeral
deal with contingencies in conducting a safe and efficient funeral
communicate with the bereaved according to funeral services industry parameters and protocols.
Evidence of performance of conducting funerals of diverse client requests on five or more occasions is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge of:
features of funeral service requirements, including but not restricted to:
time
location:
monumental cemeteries
lawn cemeteries
mausoleum crypts
memorial gardens
cemeteries with historical or cultural significance
crematoria
at sea
state funeral
Services funeral
destitute funeral
committal instructions:
burial
entombment
cremation
timing of committal
presence of mourners
return of deceased’s personal effects, including jewellery or memorabilia
social, cultural and religious considerations:
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
transport requirements
roles and responsibilities of the range of funeral services personnel and external contractors and agencies involved in funeral arrangements
resources required for funeral arrangements
documentation required for funeral arrangements
strategies to address contingencies that may occur during funerals
strategies for evaluating funeral effectiveness and ways of improving performance
funeral services industry parameters in dealing with the deceased and the bereaved
workplace policies and procedures regarding the conduct of funerals and dealing with contingencies.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a funeral home, cemetery or crematoria workplace where funeral processions can be conducted and movement of coffins, caskets and mourners can be managed:
using suitable equipment and resources, including:
coffins or caskets, funeral vehicles and resource and equipment used in the conduct of funerals
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 services personnel and clients
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