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Background

The culture, beliefs, traditions, and religious practices of deceased persons and their families are important considerations in granting an approval.

Cremation of a deceased person not in a coffin involves wrapping a deceased person in a shroud (for example, cotton or linen sheeting), and placing the deceased person on a flat ridged timber baseboard, or other appropriate material, and covering the deceased person with a second covering to ensure respectful and with dignified conveyance of the deceased person during the cremation process.

Rules for approval

The Regulation section 89 allows the Secretary to grant a general approval (that is, an ongoing approval), or an approval for a particular case (that is, an individual approval).

An application can be made to the local health district public health unit (PHU) for an approval.

Approval considerations

General approvals granted under the Regulation are issued for a defined period and must be reapproved before expiry. An individual approval is granted on a case-by-case basis and is valid for three months.

Where a deceased person is known or is reasonably believed to be infected with a prescribed infectious disease, the deceased person must be cremated in a body bag and in a coffin with a securely sealed lid. 

General approval conditions

Applicants must:

1. Apply on the application form.
2. State the relationship to the deceased or their position in the community and the reason for applying for an approval.
3. Provide the name and contact details of the Cremation Authority that has agreed to carry out the cremation, plus their standard operating procedures which describe the:
1. The method for conveying the body (for example, a flat ridged baseboard), and
2. The method for securing the body during the cremation process, and
3. The method for covering the body (a second covering), and
4. The location for the name plate.
4. Where approval is granted for a cremation not in a coffin, the body must be:

• Wrapped for cremation (for example, cotton or linen sheeting), and
• Prepared in a mortuary registered with the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Ministry of Health, or in a mortuary approved by another jurisdiction.

Related document

• Application for cremation of a body which is not placed in a coffin

Further advice

• Contact your local Public Health Unit by calling 1300 066 055.