The Seminar brings together professionals from across the funeral services and cemetery sectors to address the challenges we all face and the opportunities we share. It will support participants by encouraging a unified approach to good, better, best practice through collective learning, co-operation, and continuous improvement.

For CCANSW members, this follows our Blue Sky Cemetery & Crematorium concept introduced earlier this year.

The Thursday program is separated into 2 concurrent sessions for each Association. We then come together from lunchtime onwards for the rest of the program.

• Compassionate Fatigue Workshop – Vanessa DeSauty & Catherine Bedford, Mindskills 

Designed to address compassion fatigue and burnout within the sector, combining evidence-based psychoeducation with practical strategies, personal reflection and facilitated peer discussion. *Includes an optional pre-workshop burnout assessment

• Graveside Safety: A Co-ordinated Approach – Fiona Hurst (Footprint Training) & MMP

This session will explore the critical relationship between funeral directors and cemetery operators in ensuring safe, well managed graveside

services. It will highlight common risks, clarify shared responsibilities and outline practical steps for working together to maintain safety, dignity and smooth coordination during interments.

• Leading the Intersection, Not Managing the Friction -  Asha Dooley, Grace Funerals

The greatest challenges are often found not within organisation, but between them. This interactive workshop invites participants to explore how communication, trust, ownership and leadership influence the experience delivered to families when multiple parties are involved. Through discussion, practical activities and shared reflection, participants will discover new ways of understanding friction and creating stronger outcomes across organisational boundaries.

• Pest Management – Michael Smart, Land Services NSW Armidale branch

This session will address pest activity within cemeteries and practical management approaches to reduce damage and maintain safe, well-managed grounds.

• Member Showcase

Colleagues sharing initiatives, projects or innovations they're currently working on. It's an opportunity to hear real experiences, spark new ideas and sector learning by highlighting what worked, lessons learned from challenges and what others can take forward.

• Offsite visits to:

• Phoenix Foundry – see where and how bronze plaques are made in Uralla
• Piddingtons (est. 1899) – funeral home and crematorium plus pet crematorium
• UNE Armidale, Body Science unit