Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW (CCNSW) is a NSW Government agency that regulates and supports the interment industry and provides the public with information on burial and cremation options.
Definitions
| Interment | The process of placing a loved one’s remains in their final resting place. |
|---|---|
| Interment site | The final resting place, or burial site. |
| Interment right | A contract granting the right to use a burial site. This contract must meet the minimum standards set out in the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 which protects consumers. |
| Cemetery or crematorium operator | The company, council or community organisation which manages a cemetery or crematorium and whose work includes:
|
| Funeral director | A company which provides services to bereaved families and whose work includes:
|
Benefits to Aboriginal communities
CCNSW ensures cemeteries are respectfully managed, and licenses cemetery operators through the Interment Industry Scheme. This benefits Aboriginal communities by:
- requiring cemetery operators to take reasonable steps to comply with Aboriginal cultural and spiritual principles by:
- informing themselves of the common requirements of any local Aboriginal communities, and
- meeting the individual cultural or spiritual requirements of Aboriginal customers wherever possible and at a transparent cost.
- clearly and transparently explaining the costs of burial, ash interment and cremation, including all fees and charges
- emphasising the importance of proper and culturally safe customer service and treating people with respect.
CCNSW provides targeted information for mob, including:
- the types of burials available, including options without conventional coffins or caskets
- knowing what to do if you are unhappy with the cemetery or crematorium operator
- understanding how to set up an Aboriginal cemetery.
CCNSW provides information for cemetery operators, such as guidelines for cemeteries and crematoria on Aboriginal cultural and spiritual requirements.
Registered Aboriginal Cemeteries in NSW
| Facility name | Operator name | Cemetery address |
|---|---|---|
| Balranald Aboriginal Cemetery | Balranald Local Aboriginal Land Council | Island Road, Balranald |
| Burra Bee Dee | Coonabarabran Local Aboriginal Land Council | Oxley Highway, Coonabarabran |
| Collarenebri Aboriginal Cemetery | Collarenebri Local Aboriginal Land Council | Gundabloui Road, Collarenebri |
| Cummeragunja Cemetery | Cummeragunja Local Aboriginal Land Council | George St, Moama |
| Fingal Cemetery | Tweed Shire Council | Letitia Road, Fingal Head |
| Lot 84 Cemetery aka Sandhill Cemetery | Goodooga Local Aboriginal Land Council | Goodooga Road, Goodooga |
| Lot 85 Cemetery | Goodooga Local Aboriginal Land Council | Goodooga Road, Goodooga |
| Lot 86 Cemetery | Goodooga Local Aboriginal Land Council | Bangate Road, Goodooga |
| Murrin Bridge Cemetery | Murrin Bridge Local Aboriginal Land Council | 1499 Lachlan Valley Way, Murrin Bridge |
| Mutawintji Thunka | Mutawintji Board of Management | Mutawintji National Park, Mutawintji Access Rd, Mutawintji |
| Tubba-Gah Aboriginal Burial Ground | Dubbo City Council | Burraway Road, Dubbo |
| Walhallow Cemetery also known as Caroona Cemetery | Walhallow Local Aboriginal Lands Council | 69 Walhallow Road, Caroona |
| Wallaga Lake Aboriginal Cemetery | Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council | Cemetery Point Road, Akolele |
| Wanaaring Aboriginal Burial Ground | Bourke Shire Council | Bourke-Milparinka Road, Wanaaring |
| Warangesda Aboriginal Mission Gravesite | Muttumbidgee Council | Sturt Highway, Darlington Point |
An Aboriginal cemetery is identified as a facility managed by a Local Aboriginal Land Council or a site identified as a burial ground for Aboriginal people.
To find other cemeteries, visit the cemetery register.
Information for mob
- Aboriginal cultural and spiritual principles (PDF, 117 KB)
- Burial without conventional coffin (PDF, 78 KB)
- Guidelines on how to establish a cemetery (PDF, 101 KB)
- Making a complaint or enquiry to Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW (CCNSW) (PDF, 80 KB)
- National Guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to Identify and Protect Unmarked Grave and Cemeteries (PDF, 6.4 MB)
- Pricing and what to expect (PDF, 97.2 KB)
- Way to go (PDF, 1.9 MB)
Resources for operators who serve Aboriginal peoples
Funeral directors and funeral insurance
CCNSW does not regulate funeral directors or funeral insurance. If funeral directors are selling cemetery products (burials or ash interments) or cremations, they must comply with some of the cemetery licence conditions such as using a consumer contract and transparently explaining prices.
Funeral directors are regulated by NSW Fair Trading and NSW Health.
Funeral insurance funds are regulated by Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).