Australasian Cemeteries & Crematoria Association

Happy New Year - We hope you had a great Christmas break and we look forward to continuing to work with you all in 2025 to build an even stronger, more connected industry.

💬 Have Your Say on Funeral Services Training Help shape the future of funeral services training in Australia. SaCSA is seeking feedback on the SIF Funeral Services qualifications to ensure they remain fit for purpose. Your input is vital in recommending updates to superseded and deleted units of competency. 🕒 Survey closes: 11:59 pm, 27 November 2024 📋 Complete the survey here: https://bit.ly/4hRhHxK Your voice matters!

In the race to net zero by 2050 there’s one Australian industry at risk of falling behind – cemeteries and crematoria.   If we don’t take action, pollution from cremators is set to double by 2050 to nearly 12 million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Cremators in use across Europe are reducing operational emissions by up to 90%. Adelaide Cemeteries is the first and only cemetery in the Australasia region to successfully implement this European standards technology.   Evergreen Community Precinct at Enfield Memorial Park is home to three of these world-leading cremators.   We’re committed to collaborating with fellow cemetery and crematorium operators across the country and sharing our experience to support their transition to lower emissions.   I was pleased to raise the need for an industry-wide conversation to work towards realistic and achievable new standards with The Age Environment and Climate reporter Bianca Hall. You can read the article here: The Age: https://lnkd.in/gr8pbeGn The Sydney Morning Herald: https://lnkd.in/ghU-XYkg (Subscription may be required) Thank you also to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Melbourne radio’s Drive Show with Ali Moore for the opportunity to further discuss this important issue. Australasian Cemeteries & Crematoria Association, Ben Kelly

Excellent article in The Sydney Morning Herald by Bianca Hall and featuring the great work of Michael Robertson and Adelaide Cemeteries and of course excellent leadership by Australasian Cemeteries & Crematoria Association (ACCA) Like Adelaide Cemeteries and other key partners, Metropolitan Memorial Parks is committed to playing an active and proactive role in the implementation of better environmental practices in our industry. Across the globe, countries are adopting innovative technologies and policies to reduce emissions from cremation processes. For instance, advancements in filtration systems, energy-efficient cremators, and sustainable operational practices are becoming the norm in many regions. These changes not only minimise the environmental impact but also demonstrate a commitment to community health and well-being. By investing in modern cremation technology and adopting environmentally friendly practices, we can meet the evolving expectations of our clients while demonstrating our commitment to responsible stewardship of the planet. Collaboration is key to driving these changes. It is essential for industry stakeholders—including funeral directors, crematorium operators, regulatory bodies, and environmental organisations—to come together and advocate for improved standards. By sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices, we can create a framework that supports sustainable cremation practices in Australia. Michael Robertson Ben Kelly Dean Matthews Lauren Hardgrove Simon Officer Rob Smart Sharon Whitford (O’Connor) Bill Dunbar Andrew Wise Rob Stokes Alex O'Mara Melanie Hawyes Bianca Hall Ken Morrison Kathy Jones Arthur Diakos PSM Roberta Ryan Mark Bloom Alice Spizzo Anthony Lean

We are delighted to welcome Denise Ora from Metropolitan Memorial Parks (NSW) and Kristy Constantine from Bunbury Cemetery Board (WA) to the ACCA board! Both bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team and are excited to support our wider ACCA membership. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Joe Fortuna of Metropolitan Cemeteries Board for his dedication and valuable contributions over the past three years. Joe has stepped down at the end of his term, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

It was with great pride Adelaide Cemeteries warmly welcomed more than 150 industry colleagues to Enfield Memorial Park last night as we officially opened the 35th Australasian Cemeteries & Crematoria Association Annual Conference.   Cemetery and crematorium operators, funeral directors and valued industry suppliers from across the country and overseas have converged on Adelaide this week to learn, share and drive our sector forward by ‘shaping the future together’.   Guests spent yesterday afternoon touring our innovative and award-winning Evergreen Community Precinct at Enfield, including an opportunity to learn about our world-leading cremators that reduce operational emissions by up to 90%. Enfield Memorial Park is the only place in the Asia Pacific region where this European standard full-filtration system is currently in operation.   We also facilitated an emerging technologies tradeshow, headlined by a demonstration of Adelaide Cemeteries’ proprietary radio-controlled lawn trimmer technology – an innovative system designed exclusively to meet the tailored needs of lawn tablet cemeteries. A further highlight of the tradeshow was the demonstration of our autonomous lawnmowers, tractors and battery-equipped plant machinery.   It was fantastic to connect – and re-connect – with so many representatives from across our industry. I’ve been inspired by the insightful conversations and diverse perspectives already shared and look forward to what the next two days will bring.   Ben Kelly, Lauren Hardgrove, Dean Matthews, Joe Fortuna, Steve Nobbs, Robert Moore

Not long now until our 35th Annual Conference, we are excited to be seeing you all soon 😀

Today is R U OK? Day, a reminder that a simple conversation can make a world of difference. At Catholic Cemeteries + Crematoria, we believe in the power of connection and compassion. Take a moment today to check in with someone you care about—a friend, relative, or neighbour. That one conversation could change a life for the better. #RUOKDay2024 #griefcare #StartTheConversation

The program is now available for the ACCA Annual Conference in Adelaide, see http://bit.ly/4dMBIDi - there is till time to register until 20 September. We look forward to seeing you in Adelaide.