Everything You Wanted to Know But Didn’t Know How to Ask
Image via The Good Funeral Guide, UK
Cremation is becoming an increasingly common choice in Australia for a range of personal, cultural, and environmental reasons. Yet for many, the process still feels mysterious or even confronting.
Whether you're planning ahead or supporting a loved one through a loss, it’s completely normal to have questions.
Here, I answer some of the most frequently asked questions about cremation - with honesty, respect, and care.
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Cremation is one of the ways we care for a body after death. It involves placing the deceased person - inside a coffin or appropriate container - into a high-heat chamber, where the body is reduced to bone fragments over the course of about 1.5 to 2 hours. Those fragments are then processed into a fine, sand-like substance we call ashes or cremains.
It’s a method of final disposition that’s chosen for many reasons - practical, personal, spiritual - and for many people, it offers a sense of simplicity and return. The ashes are then returned to the family, to be kept, scattered, buried, or honoured in whatever way feels right.
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The cost of just the cremation without any additional death care, transfers, funeral service, viewing, or ceremony - usually falls between $550 and $1600+ depending on the crematorium and location.
This includes:
Use of the cremator and professional staff
Processing and packaging of ashes
Basic administration and compliance with legal requirements
Some crematoriums may also include a simple container or scattering tube for the ashes.
Importantly, every crematorium in Australia is legally required to publish their prices online, so you can compare and make an informed choice. This pricing transparency is part of national consumer protections.
Keep in mind: if you're arranging this through a funeral director, they may charge a service fee on top of the cremation cost. If you're organising it directly with the crematorium, the overall cost may be lower.
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Cremation is now the most common choice for Australians. Nationally, around 70% of people choose cremation, and in New South Wales, the number is slightly higher - closer to 75%. The choice is growing steadily due to affordability, flexibility, and shifting cultural and spiritual values.
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Before a cremation can go ahead in Australia, there are several legal documents that must be completed to ensure everything is done lawfully, respectfully, and in accordance with the family’s wishes. Once a cremation takes place, it’s irreversible - so the law includes certain safeguards to make sure no important details are missed.
Here’s an overview of the key paperwork involved:
Cremation Authorisation Form: This is the formal permission signed by the next of kin or legally authorised person, giving consent for the cremation to proceed.
Medical Certificate of Cause of Death: This is usually completed by the doctor who last attended the person and confirms the cause of death.
Cremation Permit (also called the A Form, Form 4 or Application for Cremation): This is issued by an independent medical referee (usually another doctor who reviews the paperwork). It confirms there are no concerns about the cause of death and that cremation is appropriate.
Statutory Declaration (in some cases): If there's any uncertainty about whether the person’s death may need to be investigated (for example, if it’s sudden, accidental, or unexplained), a statutory declaration may be required. This is a legal document made by the person authorising the cremation - often the next of kin - declaring that to the best of their knowledge, the death doesn’t need to be reported to the Coroner.
This step helps ensure that cremation doesn't proceed if there’s any legal or medical reason to examine the body further.
Depending on your state or territory, the exact forms and processes may vary slightly, but your funeral director will guide you through each step and ensure all legal requirements are met before proceeding.
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NSNA stands for No Service, No Attendance - also known as a Direct Cremation.
This is a simple, no-frills cremation that takes place without a formal funeral service, ceremony, or any attendees present. It’s the most basic and often cost-effective cremation option available.
With an NSNA cremation:
The person is collected, cremated, and their ashes are returned to the family.
There is no viewing, ritual, or event at the crematorium.
The family can hold a memorial or celebration of life at a later time, privately or in a way that suits them.
Direct cremation can be chosen for financial reasons, personal preference, or practical simplicity, especially when:
The person requested “no fuss” in their wishes
Family and friends live far away or plan to gather at another time
The family wants to organise a more personalised memorial after receiving the ashes
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Traditional cremation does produce carbon emissions due to the high heat required and the fuel used. However, some see it as less resource-intensive than burial, which may involve embalming chemicals, land use, and non-biodegradable materials.
More eco-conscious options - like natural burial, human composting or water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) - are becoming available in some areas. -
A body (in a coffin or shroud) is placed in a cremation chamber (also called a retort), where it is exposed to temperatures of around 760 - 1000°C. The process typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the person's size and the equipment used. The heat vaporizes soft tissue, and what remains are bone fragments and small amounts of metal.
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Not in the way people often imagine. While a cremator operates at extremely high temperatures (around 760 - 1000°C), the body isn’t directly exposed to open flames.
Instead, natural gas is used to heat the air within the cremation chamber. The intense heat - not direct fire - causes the body and coffin to undergo combustion. This process is carefully controlled and contained within a heat-resistant, brick-lined chamber.
Modern cremators are designed for dignity, precision, and safety - not spectacle.
Cremators are constructed from refractory bricks - a special heat-resistant material. They are most commonly powered by natural gas and operated by trained professionals following strict protocols. -
Yes. The entire coffin or casket is cremated along with the body. This is why coffins must be combustible and meet specific standards - often made from wood, particleboard, or cardboard. Metal handles and fixtures are removed when possible before cremation.
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In most cases, no. Funeral flowers are usually removed before cremation, especially if they contain wire, ribbon, or plastic. However, small biodegradable items (like a single flower or handwritten note) may be allowed - always check with your funeral director.
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Cremation insertion refers to the moment when the coffin or shrouded body is placed into the cremator. Some crematoriums allow family or close friends to witness this moment. People may choose to be present for spiritual, cultural, or emotional reasons - seeing the insertion can be an act of love, closure, or ritual. If this is important to you, it’s best to discuss with your funeral director ahead of time as not all crematoriums are set up to accommodate it.
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During cremation, metal implants (like titanium hips or dental fillings) don’t burn. After cooling, they’re separated from the bone fragments using magnets or manual tools. In Australia, these metals are usually recycled or disposed of respectfully. Screws or handles from the coffin may also be recovered in this way.
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Bones don't completely burn - they are calcified by the heat and left as brittle white fragments. After the cremation is complete and the remains have cooled, the fragments are placed in a processor (also called a cremulator) that grinds them into the fine, ash-like substance we commonly refer to as ashes.
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Cremains are primarily made up of pulverized bone, with a texture similar to coarse sand. They are not made of ash in the traditional sense (like from a fire) and usually range in colour from pale grey to off-white.
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Ashes are usually ready for collection within 2–7 days, depending on the crematorium’s schedule and paperwork processing. Your funeral director will let you know when and how they can be collected.
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Ashes are not toxic. They are sterile and safe to handle. People choose many different ways to honour and care for cremains, including:
Scattering in a meaningful location (check local regulations)
Keeping them in an urn at home
Burying them in a memorial garden or cemetery
Dividing them into smaller keepsake urns or jewellery
Incorporating them into art, trees, reefs, or even vinyl records
There’s no “right” way - only the way that feels right to you or your loved one.
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Unless you’ve chosen an urn, ashes are usually returned in a basic, sealed plastic container inside a rectangular cardboard or wooden box. Often the size of a small shoe box.
The colour of the box and shape can vary depending on the crematorium, but it’s often plain and respectful.
It normally has a sticker on one end confirming the name and dates of the deceased - and may also come with a cremation certificate confirming the person’s details.
If you’d prefer to receive the ashes in a special urn or vessel, speak with your funeral director ahead of time. -
Ashes typically weigh:
2 to 3 kilograms for an adult
Less for children or infants
The exact weight depends on the person’s body size and bone density.
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Crematoriums follow strict protocols to ensure every person’s identity is carefully maintained throughout the cremation process. From the moment your loved one is transferred into care, they are accompanied by official documentation and a unique identification tag - often a metal disc - that stays with them throughout. Only one person is cremated at a time, and the chamber is thoroughly cleared between services. After the cremation, the ashes are placed in a clearly labelled container along with the ID tag, ensuring the ashes returned to you are your loved one’s.
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In Australia, ashes are not considered human remains under law, which means they’re generally treated as personal property. That gives families quite a bit of flexibility in how they choose to honour them. However, there are still some important legal and ethical considerations to be aware of.
✅ What You Can Do With Ashes:
Keep them at home in an urn, box, or other vessel
Scatter them in public places (with appropriate permission - see below)
Bury them in your backyard or on private land (with the owner’s consent)
Divide them among family members
Place them in memorial jewellery or keepsake objects
Scatter at sea, in national parks, or in wilderness areas (with permission)
Take them overseas or fly with them domestically (with proper documentation)
⚠️ What You Need Permission For:
Scattering ashes on public land (parks, beaches, gardens):
Check with your local council or land authority - many allow it, but some require written permission or ask that it be done discreetly and respectfully.Scattering ashes in national parks or waterways:
You usually need approval from state park services (like NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service) or maritime authorities for sea scattering.Interring ashes in a cemetery:
You’ll need to purchase a memorial plot, niche, or approval for placement in a shared grave.
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Yes, but you may need to:
Carry them in a sealed, labelled container (often with a certified cremation certificate)
Check both Australian customs rules and those of the destination country
Declare them honestly when travelling
Some airlines also have specific policies - always call ahead.
