When a loved one loses their life, people find themselves to overridden with emotion that they need peace and time to mourn as a way of expressing their loss. At such a time, handling too many logistics in the arrangement of a funeral can prove impossible leading various mishaps during the service. This, therefore, calls for the services of a funeral director who takes charge of the deceased body from the moment it departs the hospital, to the time it is buried or cremated depending on traditions or the deceased wishes. The funeral director is therefore responsible for planning the entire funeral according to the budget of the family. This includes selecting the best location for wakes, arranging services as well as the burial of the deceased. He also arranges the transportation of the body as well as the mourners. The funeral director is also responsible for preparing all the obituaries and required paperwork to the government officials. To dispense their duties adequately, a funeral director requires a working license fully catered for by the local authorities and accreditation by the Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA).
- Funeral Director's License – Considering that this profession still falls under the service industry and is intended to make a profit. A funeral director requires a valid license according to the state of operation. This gives them a chance to operate in the industry legally. The license covers the entire business as well rights to conduct funerals in cemeteries. This permit is offered by the board which holds responsibility for the management of the cemetery. To attain this license, a certified funeral director has to arrange all permits, authorities as well as applications. They should also ensure that all matters concerning the funeral are well sorted before the funeral license is offered. To be legible for this permit, a funeral director has to have all the qualifications and experience needed. They also should possess a good reputation as well as the required materials to handle the storing and burying of bodies. Lastly, the funeral director should be fit to conduct a funeral and hold the license.
- Accreditation by the Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) – It is also important to ensure that the funeral director offering services is a member of the AFDA. This is a body which ensures that all funeral directors in the country follow stringent codes of ethics which govern the services offered by the funeral directors. The body also ensures that the funeral directors fully follow the rules and legislation required by the country. This also includes having a standardised cost which applies to all funeral directors nationally.
