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Funeral Attendant

Funeral attendants assist with the handling of people who have died, the preparation for funerals, the transportation of the deceased, placement of coffins, assisting at the funeral ceremony and the maintenance of funeral premises.

The work of funeral attendants may be demanding and sometimes stressful.

They are often required to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, and are often required to be on call to meet their clients' needs.

In small companies, one person may perform a variety of tasks, which requires a broad range of skills and a flexible attitude.

TASKS

Funeral attendants may perform the following tasks:

collect the body from the hospital, morgue or place of death
assist with preparing the body and placing it in the coffin
escort mourners to funeral chapels
arrange burial equipment such as mats and lowering straps
distribute and collect attendance and tribute cards
drive passenger vehicles, mortuary vans and hearses
clean funeral homes, chapels and hearses
arrange floral tributes
assist as coffin or casket bearers

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

enjoy helping people
neat personal appearance
tactful and sympathetic
good communication skills
emotional maturity
able to cope with the physical demands of the job
good driving record
good organisational skills

Interest Area

SPECIALISATIONS

Embalmer - prepares and preserves deceased persons from the time of death until they can be buried or cremated. An embalmer is usually a qualified member of a funeral firm.

Funeral Director - coordinates and supervises funeral workers, including embalmers and drivers. They also provide assistance and support for the family through all aspects of the funeral procedure, including organising documentation, caskets and decorations, as well as facilitating the ceremony itself.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

You can work as a funeral attendant without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job.

You can also become a funeral attendant through a traineeship in Funeral Operations or Funeral Services.

Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10. You may need to have access to, or be working in, a funeral home in order to complete course requirements.

Additional Information

Once you are employed, you may be able to develop, and have recognised, additional skills under the Funeral Services Training Package that will expand your career opportunities within this industry.

Most employers require you to have a drivers licence.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities to enter this field are limited due to low turnover of staff. Funeral attendants usually only progress to a funeral director or manager position after working in the business for a long time. It may be possible to set up a new business however most firms in this industry are well established.