It's the duty of the deceased's executor to arrange the funeral. So if you wish to donate, discuss your decision with your next of kin and those close to you to make sure your decision is upheld. This lets authorised medical staff who have permission from the Australian government check your donation information anywhere in Australia, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Ĭonsent is always needed before donation can go ahead. If the person dies in a hospital, the staff can check that the person is a registered donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register. If you know the deceased had wished to donate their organs, it's important to move quickly because the process of donation needs to happen soon after death. Doctor's certificate vs death certificateĪ doctor's certificate of cause of death shouldn't be confused with an official death certificate, which is issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in your state. In some cases, a coroner may get involved to do a post mortem and determine the cause of death. If the death was unexpected, not certain, suspicious, or the person did not have a regular GP, you must call the police. Once the ambulance crew arrives, they will contact either the person's GP or the police. If the death is unexpected or you aren't sure if the person is dead, call 000 immediately, ask for an ambulance, and explain what's happened as best you can. If the death was unexpected, not certain, suspicious, or the person did not have a regular GP, you must call the police A funeral cannot be arranged until the doctor has created this certificate. If the deceased doesn't have a regular GP, call the police instead.Ī doctor is needed to examine the body and determine the cause of death, and to write a medical certificate. You can call the doctor's surgery to ask them to visit as soon as possible. If the person's death was expected, their doctor will probably have been in touch with you or other close friends or family to discuss what will happen next. If someone you know dies at home, it's important to try to stay calm and not jump to conclusions in the stress of the moment. However, smaller hospitals and most nursing homes are unlikely to have the facilities for body storage, so it's important to decide in advance so you can arrange to transfer the deceased as soon as possible. The deceased can be kept there until the body is transferred by a funeral director, if you choose to appoint one.

Most public and some private hospitals will have their own mortuary. When this happens, the staff will handle most of the formalities and advise any next of kin what steps they need to take. Many people die in a hospital or nursing home.

Remember to look after your own mental and physical health during what can be a stressful and upsetting process.

Depending on your circumstances, you might be eligible for financial support.

Identify any people or organisations you need to contact to inform them of the death.

Remember, you don't need to use a funeral director (unless you're in WA).

Check if they've made any directions for funeral arrangements, or start the process yourself.

Report the death to a GP or the police (if the person died in hospital or a nursing home, staff will handle most of the formalities).

Checklist for my death preparation