What is the first thing I need to do when a death occurs?
Firstly, you require a legal pronouncement of death. If your loved one died in hospital, hospice, aged care or whilst receiving palliative care at home, the medical team will take care of this.
If the death occurred at home or unexpectedly elsewhere, call an ambulance, police or their doctor.
Please be mindful of the deceased wishes in their advance health directive if applicable.
Notify Close Friends and Family
Every family is different, and there is no right or wrong way to do things. For some families, sharing the news in person or over the phone is critical. We recommend you contact a friend or family member to inform them of the death, and then share the task of further text messages, emails or calls if required.
After taking the time you need, you can start to arrange the funeral.