A time will be given for the bereaved family to gather and say their final goodbyes.  After that, a medical certificate for the cause of death will be issued through the doctor in charge of the hospital/nursing home, and the requested funeral director will transport the deceased’s body to the funeral home then proceed with the prescribed funeral procedures.

After reporting the death through number 000, the police and ambulance will move to the NSW Coroners Court, where the death will be confirmed through an autopsy then the funeral will be carried out.

 There are differences in the process according to ethnicity, religion and each families situation.  Normally, Koreans Australian residing in Sydney follow this procedure:

1.     Request a funeral company to conduct the funeral

2.     Arrange or confirm a burial place

3.     Prepare and proceed with a ‘Binso’ ceremony before the funeral service day

4.     Prepare and proceed with the funeral ceremony – viewing, funeral service and committal service

5.     Visit the burial site after 3 days 

6.     Memorial service held after 49 days.

During the above sequence, many procedures, such as passing obituaries to relatives and acquaintances, selecting the ceremonial host and accompanist, purchasing/contacting the burial cemetery, preparing to welcome mourners, preparing photos and music, and preparing consolation services and any consultation meetings.  These are all carried out simultaneously within a day or two.  If you anticipate a significant event in your home in the not-too-distant future, it is a very wise decision to prepare what you can in advance.Funeral procedures are decided together with the bereaved family, funeral director, and any other third parties; then it will proceed according to the schedule.

o   Assault, accident, or unusual cause of death (if not natural)

o   Death during anesthesia (or death within 24 hours of treatment)

o   Sudden death   

o  Deaths within a facility, prison, or police custody, drug or alcohol rehabilitation center   

o  Cause of death unknown   

o  If the deceased has been diagnosed with dementia

A post mortem is a medical process that determines the cause of death and is verified by a medical professional. In this case, the funeral process must be carried out according to the instructions of the Coroner.    

Address & Contact:   

NSW Department of Forensic Medicine & Coroner’s Court   

1A Main Ave. Lidcombe NSW 2141   

Tel: (02) 9563 9000

 The funeral director will record the death and apply within 7 days of completing the funeral.  The NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages’ issued official death certificate will be sent to the family 2-3 weeks later by registered mail.

o   Executor appointed by the deceased/Centrelink/insurance company

o   Superannuation Company/lawyer/accountant/bank/financial institutions/former employer or company

o   Trade Union/Associationo   Tax Office/Medicare office/Electoral Office

o  Doctor/Dentist/Hospital/Pharmacist/Private Health Insurance Company/Car Registration

o   Affiliate groups/clubs/religious groups/home visit support groups

o   Local Government/telephone, electricity, gas, internet company/ school, etc.

Spouse, child, parent, brother, sister or executor.

The person who commissioned the funeral and signed the contract with the funeral director is legally responsible for the cost of the funeral.

Funeral costs vary greatly depending on the procedure of the funeral (burial or cremation)    and the type of coffin or casket to be used.

In the case of a burial, each cost is applied to the cemetery burial site purchase cost, burial cost (Open & Close Fee), and tombstone production cost.

In the case of a cremation, the cemetery site purchase fee, cremation fee, and ashes storage fee are applied.

In addition, in the case of burial / cremation funeral, there are funeral company service fees , coffin purchase, coffin wreath, body transport, embalming, function expenses, death certificate issuance, etc. .

Life/Funeral Insurance Enrollment: This is a form in which a fixed amount is paid after death.  You must continuously pay a certain amount for a long period of time, and disadvantages are expected in the case of mid-term termination.  Your payment may increase each year.

Funeral Bond accumulation: Similar to insurance, you receive the accumulated amount of funds after death, but it can only be used for funeral expenses and cannot be canceled in the middle.  You set the monthly payment amount and payment period, and it may not be included in the application of income and assets that affect the amount of the aged pension.

Pre-Paid Funeral Contract: Similar to Korea’s mutual aid system, but made through a contract with a funeral company for personal options (funeral format, coffin, etc.).  After the funeral, the fund is paid directly to the funeral company by a government-approved Funeral Bond management company.  It has the advantage of being able to receive services at no additional cost when a funeral occurs after a certain period of time has passed.

  Temporary embalming and dressing are generally applied to all funeral services, and special embalming is applied when the body is transported to another state or foreign country.

Viewing is your chance to say your last words to the deceased.  It is the opinion of experts that family members and acquaintances provide therapeutic help in overcoming grief.

   In case of death in another state or abroad in Australia, the procedure for transporting the body to Australia must follow the procedures set by the relevant government and a considerable cost will be applied.  You will need the support of the foreign embassy and the help of a funeral director there.  Check your travel insurance coverage.  Relatively simple procedures apply to overseas transportation of remains after cremation.

They are buried or cremated in a designated Sydney suburban memorial park or cemetery.  After cremation, there is the option of scattering the ashes in the sea, a river or a lake.  

Sometimes transfer of ashes to other states or overseas and repatriation for burial another option.

o Western Sydney :

Rookwood Cemetery, Lidcombe,                                

Pinegrove Memorial Park, Minchinbury,                                 

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Leppington

o Northwest Sydney:

Castlebrook Memorial Park, Rouse Hill

o Northern Sydney:

Macquarie Park Cemetery, North Ryde                                   

Northern Suburbs Memorial Garden, North Ryde                                  

French Forest Cemetery, Davidson

o Eastern Sydney:

Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Matraville

The arrangement of funeral expenses in advance through a contract is called a Pre-Paid Funeral Contract.  This can be done through a contract with a funeral company.

Purchasing a cemetery plot in advance is called a Pre-Need Purchase.

In some cases, payments are made in installments.  Preparing funeral expenses/cemetery plot in advance has the advantage of avoiding the bereaved family from being greatly embarrassed by funeral preparations and incurring large expenses due to price increases afterwards.

Depending on the type of government subsidy you normally receive, you may be able to get a Bereavement Payment (a payment paid after the death of a spouse or caregiver).  Application may differ depending on individual cases.  

Please contact:  Centerlink phone: 132 300 / Interpreter Service phone. 131 202 or https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/death-and-bereavement

A ‘Will’ is the only legal document that can carry out your will after death.

The general ‘Will’ contains details such as nomination of an executor, distribution of property and asset, selection of a funeral director, decisions on religious funeral procedures, options for burial or cremation, purchase of a cemetery plot, etc.  In order for a ‘Will’ to be legally binding, it must follow a certain format when drafted.  Therefore, it is recommended that you ask a lawyer’s office to fill it out.