Report outlines how we final farewelled loved ones in 2021

Restrictions on attendance numbers, funerals not being recognised as an essential service and deathcare workers not being granted vaccination priority, have impacted funeral directors' abilities to support families; all while under scrutiny from regulatory bodies who are reviewing the industry and its standards.

Peak Industry organisation, The Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) has published its inaugural Funeral Industry Trends Report: How we farewell the ones we love, based largely on survey data gathered by McCrindle Research.

The report represents more than 25,000 Australian funerals that took place between February and July 2021 in one of the largest single studies of funeral services in the country. However the industry estimates around 161,000 funerals take place nationally each year.

Among the key findings are that COVID-19 pivoted the funeral industry towards live-streamed services, which accounted for 36 per cent of funerals.

The report also showed Australians are far more likely to be cremated than buried, with seven in 10 funerals (72 per cent) involving cremation; most funerals are not pre-planned, with 85 per cent being conducted on an at-need basis; two in five (38 per cent) funerals are affiliated with Christianity, while three in 10 (30 per cent) have no religious affiliation; 38 per cent of funerals are conducted by a celebrant, and 36 per cent by a clergy member; 72 per cent of funerals are considered traditional funeral services, where a coffin is present; and 27 per cent of funerals are conducted in a crematorium, 25 per cent in a funeral home, and 25 per cent in churches.

According to the report, 58 per cent of funerals are conducted for people aged 80 or older and half of Australians die in hospital, 32 per cent in respite or aged care facilities, and 15 per cent at home.

Currently laminate (68 per cent) and hardwood (22 per cent) style coffins and caskets are used most often; 5 per cent of funerals use a cardboard coffin/casket.

AFDA president Adrian Barrett said the report provides valuable insight into the industry and the importance of its work in the wider community.

"This report contributes significantly to an improved understanding about how the funeral industry functions in Australia, which is crucial to ensuring that the sector is operating transparently and to high standards," he said.

"It also demonstrates the industry's ability to deal with the challenges of events such as COVID-19 and adapt to meet the needs of the community."