Question 1

What should I do when someone dies at home, in hospital or in aged care?

Accepted Answer

If a death at home is unexpected, or you're unsure whether the person has died, call 000. For an expected death, follow the care plan and contact the person's GP or palliative care team. In hospital or aged care, staff will guide you through the immediate steps.
You can call Funeral Commons at any time. We also support people living with a terminal diagnosis or receiving palliative care, and their families, before a death occurs.
Following an expected death, there is usually time to pause and be together while the necessary steps are arranged. We'll explain what needs attention and what can wait.
Further guidance on a death at home

Question 2

What areas does Funeral Commons service?

Accepted Answer

We support families across Greater Sydney, including the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, North Shore, Western Sydney and Southern Sydney, and along the NSW South Coast through to Bodalla. We coordinate care, transport and funeral arrangements across these areas.

Question 3

Can I speak with you before making any decisions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You're welcome to ask questions, discuss costs or explore options without committing to an arrangement. You don't need to know what you want before getting in touch.

Question 4

Does Funeral Commons arrange cremations as well as burials?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We arrange direct cremations, cremations with a service, cemetery burials and conservation burials. We'll explain the options and help you choose an approach that suits your wishes, circumstances and budget.

Question 5

Who will look after my person?

Accepted Answer

Your person will be cared for by experienced funeral professionals working with Funeral Commons. We coordinate transport, mortuary care and preparation, and explain where they will be and who is involved. You can also talk with us about spending time with them or participating in their care.

Question 6

How much does a funeral cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost depends on your choices, including burial or cremation, transport, coffin or shroud, venue and ceremony. We provide an itemised quote showing our fees, third-party costs and optional extras, so you can make informed decisions within your budget.

Question 7

Can I have a simple funeral or no service at all?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer direct burial and direct cremation without an attended ceremony. You can also have a small gathering, a service before burial or cremation, a graveside farewell, or a memorial afterwards. There is no requirement to hold a formal funeral service.

Question 8

Does a funeral have to be in a church or chapel?

Accepted Answer

No. A funeral or memorial can take place at home, in a community hall, garden or another suitable venue, subject to permission and practical requirements. It can be secular, spiritual, religious or a combination that reflects the person's life and beliefs.

Question 9

Can we have a home funeral, vigil or personal ritual?

Accepted Answer

Yes, where circumstances allow. This might mean gathering at home, spending time with your person, helping with washing or dressing, or creating a personal ritual.
We offer practical and emotional support informed by a death-doula approach, guiding you through care, cooling, paperwork and transport. The Australian Home Funeral Alliance also provides resources for families exploring home funerals.
Explore home funerals with the Australian Home Funeral Alliance

Question 10

Can you help with grief support before or after a death?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Through our collaboration with Llumus, we can connect people and families with psychotherapy support for grief and loss, including grief experienced while someone is dying and adjustment after their death. We'll explain the available options and any costs.

Question 11

What is conservation burial?

Accepted Answer

Conservation burial combines natural burial with care for the surrounding land. A person is buried in biodegradable materials, while the burial ground supports conservation and regeneration. At Walawaani Way, this connects a personal farewell with the restoration of native habitat.

Question 12

Where is Walawaani Way?

Accepted Answer

Walawaani Way is open and welcoming burials in Bodalla, on Yuin Country on the NSW South Coast. Funeral Commons supports families travelling from Greater Sydney for conservation burial there. We also arrange cemetery burials elsewhere, according to your wishes.
Explore Walawaani Way

Question 13

How does a conservation burial on the South Coast work if we live in Sydney?

Accepted Answer

We arrange your person's care and transport to Bodalla and coordinate the burial with Walawaani Way. You can hold a farewell in Sydney first or gather at the graveside. We'll help plan the timing and explain travel arrangements, so you know what to expect.

Question 14

Do family and friends have to travel to the burial?

Accepted Answer

No. You can say goodbye locally and have us coordinate the burial without family attendance. You might choose to hold a memorial closer to home or visit the burial place another time.

Question 15

Can we visit before choosing a burial place and return afterwards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Visits can be arranged before making a decision, and families can return after burial. We can help organise an introductory visit and discuss access or mobility needs so you know what the setting involves.

Question 16

How will we find the grave? Can there be a plaque?

Accepted Answer

Each burial location is mapped, and families receive a memorial certificate with GPS coordinates. Walawaani Way also lists wooden or stone memorial-marker options, subject to its site guidelines. We'll help you confirm the available choices, so remembrance can be personal while respecting the natural setting.
Walawaani Way's memorial and visiting information

Question 17

Can my ashes be scattered beneath a tree or become part of a living memorial?

Accepted Answer

There are several possibilities, depending on the location and permissions. We can discuss living-memorial options through Evergreen Memorials and help you explore a way to remember that reflects your connection with nature.
For scattering beneath a tree or in another special place, permission is needed from the landowner or relevant authority.
NSW guidance on scattering ashes

Question 18

How can I begin talking about funeral wishes with someone I love?

Accepted Answer

Start gently, at a time when there is room to talk. You might ask what matters to them, whether there is a place they feel connected to, or anything they would want included or avoided.
You don't need to plan everything in one conversation. Making wishes known can give those close to you clearer guidance and fewer decisions to make later. We can help you have these conversations at your own pace.

Question 19

Can I record my wishes without paying for a funeral?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Planning and paying are separate decisions. We can help you document your preferences without committing to a prepaid funeral. Share a copy with someone you trust and keep it somewhere accessible, so your wishes can be found when needed.

Question 20

Do you offer prepaid funerals and funeral bonds?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can help you explore both options. A prepaid funeral covers specified arrangements under a contract. A funeral bond sets money aside for funeral expenses and does not, by itself, fix the price or arrange the service.
We'll explain the provider, inclusions, exclusions and terms before you decide.
More about prepaid funerals and funeral bonds

Question 21

Do you offer payment plans?

Accepted Answer

Walawaani Way offers payment plans for burial plots, with terms confirmed directly with the burial ground. Funeral-service costs are separate.
If you wish to pay towards a future funeral, we can discuss a prepaid funeral or funeral bond, including instalment options where available. Advance funeral payments are handled through the appropriate regulated arrangement.

Question 22

What happens to my prepaid funeral if Funeral Commons is no longer operating in 20 years?

Accepted Answer

It's a fair question. In NSW, regulated prepaid funeral funds are held separately from the funeral director's business. Before you commit, we'll explain who holds your money and what your contract provides if Funeral Commons stops trading, including arrangements for another provider.
Your burial right at Walawaani Way is a separate agreement with the cemetery operator.
NSW information about prepaid funeral protections

Question 23

What is a social enterprise, and how is Funeral Commons different?

Accepted Answer

A social enterprise trades to achieve a social or environmental purpose. Funeral Commons is an independent funeral business and an Emerging Social Enterprise member of the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA).
We are committed to reinvesting the majority of profits into grief and mental health support, assistance for families experiencing financial hardship, and environmental regeneration. Our approach combines practical funeral arrangements with personal support and transparent pricing.

Question 24

What do you mean by sustainable death care and a circular funeral?

Accepted Answer

Sustainable death care means considering the materials, resources, transport and land involved in a farewell, and finding practical ways to reduce its environmental impact.
A circular approach looks at how materials can be reused or returned safely to nature. Examples include reclaimed timber coffins, coffins woven from invasive vines, natural-fibre shrouds and sustainable floristry practices. Every funeral has an impact; we'll help you make informed choices that suit your circumstances.

Question 25

Can I choose human composting in NSW?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. Human composting, also called natural organic reduction (NOR), transforms a body and organic materials into soil.
Alex Greenwich introduced a bill to enable it in NSW in June 2026. As at September 2026, that bill remains before Parliament. Teresa Russell, founder of Earthly Legacy, is among those working to bring this option to Australia.
Funeral Commons founder Olivia Andrews is a member of the national working group advocating for the legalisation of human composting in Australia. We intend to help families access this option when it is legally and practically available.
Follow the NSW bill's progress · Learn about Earthly Legacy

Frequently asked questions

Getting started

Ceremonies and care

Conservation burial and remembrance

Planning ahead and payment

Our approach and future choices