Australasian Cemeteries & Crematoria Association

29/07/2026

Looking to expand your professional development?

Prior to the 2026 ACCA National Conference, we're offering two optional full-day pre-conference workshops on Tuesday 1 September:

🟢 Asset Management for Cemeteries & Their Facilities
🟢 Psychological Wellbeing in the Workplace & Supporting Grieving Clients

These workshops can be booked as standalone training or added to your full conference registration, giving you even more opportunities to learn from industry experts.

Places are limited, so register early to secure your spot!

🎟Visit https://nectarcc.eventsair.com/acca-37th-annual-conference-2026/delegate-rego/Site/Register to register for a Workshop.
🎟Visit https://nectarcc-acca-37th-annual-conference-2026.eventsairsite.com/registration to register for the Full Conference Program.
🌐Visit our website to find out more on the 37th Annual Conference & Trade Exhibition: https://nectarcc-acca-37th-annual-conference-2026.eventsairsite.com/program

24/07/2026

ACCA CEO Ben Kelly is presenting at the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Conference in Melbourne today, sharing an update on ACCA's recent initiatives, advocacy efforts, education and training programs, and the importance of continued collaboration between our associations to strengthen and support the death care sector.

Thank you to the NFDA for hosting another outstanding conference and for the opportunity to showcase the work ACCA is doing to support our industry.

01/07/2026

Meet Our Presenters🎤

The countdown is on for the 2026 ACCA Annual Conference, and we're excited to begin introducing our outstanding line-up of presenters and sharing program highlights over the coming weeks.

This year's conference features an engaging program covering leadership, workplace culture, customer experience, innovation, legal developments, and the future of the cemeteries and crematoria sector.

Looking to maximise your professional development? Join us on Tuesday 1st September for one of our optional pre-conference workshops before the official conference program begins:

🔹 Asset Management for Cemeteries and its Facilities – Learn industry best practice for managing cemetery infrastructure and assets using recognised IPWEA guidelines and the International Infrastructure Management Manual (IIMM).

🔹 Psychological Wellbeing & Supporting Grieving Clients – Strengthen your understanding of psychological wellbeing, build resilient workplaces, and develop practical skills to confidently support grieving families with compassion and professionalism.
*Additional costs apply.

Stay tuned as we introduce our presenters and share more exciting conference updates!

Registrations are now open - https://nectarcc-acca-37th-annual-conference-2026.eventsairsite.com/registration

25/06/2026

We are excited to welcome an incredible line-up of keynote speakers to the 2026 ACCA Annual Conference!🗣️🎤

Hear from Winitha Bonney OAM on leadership, change and closing the gap between strategy and results, Natalie Waters on leadership performance and team development, and Distinguished Professor Ben White on end-of-life law, policy and practice.

Join us at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast as we celebrate 40 years of ACCA and explore the conversations shaping the future of our sector.

Further updates on speakers to come shortly!
Registrations are now open;
https://nectarcc-acca-37th-annual-conference-2026.eventsair.site/registration

08/06/2026

Great to see the amazing work of Dr Maiken Ueland and her team being highlighted..

Solving death to serve the living

28/05/2026

This week, ACCA CEO Ben Kelly attended the Dearly Departed Conversations: What is your Digital Afterlife? as part of the ongoing Dearly Departed exhibition at the Queensland State Library.

Facilitated by ABC reporter and host Tegan Taylor, the fascinating panel discussion brought together leading voices including Dr Leah Henrickson, Dr Sarah Winch, and Brett Leavy to explore the cultural, ethical and social implications of our digital remains.

The conversation covered a wide range of thought-provoking topics, including:
🔹 The use of AI to preserve and share the voices and stories of Indigenous ancestors
🔹 The emergence of AI grief bots and their role in helping families navigate grief and remembrance
🔹 What happens to our social media accounts, digital assets and personal data after death
🔹 Practical steps individuals can take now to ensure their digital legacy is managed in line with their wishes

The event opened with an audience survey exploring attitudes toward digital data and what people would like to happen to it after they die - highlighting just how relevant and important these conversations are becoming in our increasingly digital world.
A powerful and insightful discussion that challenged the audience to think differently about legacy, memory, technology and the future of remembrance.

Dearly Departed is a free exhibition running at the Queensland State Library, South Bank, until 23 August 2026.

20/05/2026

ACCA is excited to welcome Paramount Bronze as our newest General Sponsor!🌟

Paramount Bronze is a proudly Australian-owned company specialising in high-quality bronze plaques, memorial products, and signage solutions, supporting cemeteries, memorial parks, and communities across the country. 🕊️

We are excited to have Paramount Bronze supporting ACCA and look forward to working together to support and strengthen our industry.

Be sure to check out their page and learn more about their products and services via their website below:

🌐

For generations, Paramount Bronze has created personalised bronze memorials that honour life, preserve memories, and provide lasting tributes for families across Australia.

15/05/2026

A great article on the fantastic work Denise Ora and her team at Metropolitan Memorial Parks are doing. We are proud to have her as the ACCA Vice President.

Denise Ora runs eight memorial parks for the NSW government, which desperately wants a ninth, and she’s out to show that such places can be good neighbours.

15/05/2026

Today, ACCA CEO Ben Kelly participated in the State Library of Queensland’s Death Cafe as part of the Dearly Departed exhibition. 🕯️

This complimentary exhibition delves into Queensland’s public and private experiences of death and dying, fostering a space for crucial conversations surrounding a topic frequently avoided in daily life. The Death Cafe provided an opportunity for community members to engage in candid discussions about death within a secure and supportive environment. Conversations encompassed various topics including end-of-life options, eco-friendly burials, living funerals, and voluntary assisted dying. 💬

It was heartening to witness the community engaging in meaningful dialogue surrounding choice, planning, and how we honour life and death.
The Dearly Departed exhibition is complimentary to attend and runs until 31st August 2026.

14/05/2026

ACCA is excited to partner with Key Business Advisors to deliver the upcoming online seminar:

💻 Understanding Psychosocial in Today’s Cemetery Workplaces

This practical seminar will focus on helping ACCA Members better understand and manage psychosocial risks within cemetery workplaces, while supporting safer and healthier work environments across our industry.

When: Wednesday 20th May 2026 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xit3hzuaT02ZSI5Tckscaw