The Funeral Director
Funeral directors are one of the
primary caregivers to the bereaved. They have a central role to
play in assisting family members to create meaning in their loss
and rebuild a world that has been shattered by death.
It is important to discuss your arrangements with a funeral
director, because there are legal obligations in terms of
registration of the death and hygiene that you might not be aware
of. Your funeral director will be able to give you guidelines and,
if you wish, take care of any part of the arrangements.
The absence of legislation governing the provision of funeral
services in New Zealand means that anyone can set up as a funeral
director. There are people who do this without experience or
training, vehicles or premises or the skills to provide care,
support and the attention you and the deceased deserve.
Members of FDANZ must meet very high standards of
professionalism and adhere to the FDANZ Codes of Ethics and
Conduct.
What to expect from an FDANZ funeral director
Your FDANZ funeral director is there for you. You can meet in
your home or at the funeral director's office, when it suits you.
The funeral director will describe the various services so you can
choose your family's requirements. This can include arranging the
funeral service, all transfers of the deceased, advice on flowers
and donations, service sheets, writing and placing newspaper
notices, catering and so on.
Once you have decided on the type of funeral you would like for
your loved one, it is the funeral director's job to smooth the way.
Having discussed your requirements, your funeral director will then
make all the necessary arrangements for the funeral. This will
relieve you of the stress which is often associated with making
arrangements and decisions at a time when you are often not
emotionally equipped to do so. Your FDANZ funeral director will
ensure that your wishes are carried out. This leaves you free to
spend time with family and friends deal with your grief.
The Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand's Code of
Ethics requires your FDANZ funeral director to respect your right
of personal choice and decision making. Your funeral director is
dedicated to helping you cope with grief by working with you to
provide a funeral that has due regard for the ethnic and spiritual
beliefs of the deceased person and their family and provides for a
dignified, practical and tasteful celebration of your loved one's
life.
Qualifications in Funeral Service
Those on the FDANZ Register of Funeral Directors are required to
have a nationally recognised qualification in funeral directing,
and participate in mandatory ongoing training.
The funeral service qualifications are:
- Diploma in Funeral Directing
- Diploma in Embalming
These qualifications were developed for the industry by industry
personnel with a wealth of knowledge in funeral service.
The qualifications can be viewed on the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority website http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/index.html