Community Benifits Scheme - Funeral Grants

NSW Aboriginal Land Council – Community Benefits Scheme

Funeral Grants to NSW Aboriginal People

Under Section 108 of The Aboriginal Land Rights Act, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) is able to

provide community benefits scheme.Funeral Assistance

NSWALC has adopted guidelines for grants it will make to provide financial assistance in relation to the

costs of funerals of Aboriginal persons in New South Wales.

A Funeral Fund was established in 1991

‐1992 and membership of the fund was opened up to all NSW

Aboriginal people. Members were required to pay an annual membership fee. Following a court order,
membership of the Funeral Fund was closed in February 1994.
As members of the fund had paid membership fees in the expectation that they would be given assistance
with funeral expenses, NSWALC has determined that’s persons who were financial members when the
Funeral Fund closed are entitled to a funeral grant of up to $5000.
NSWALC has also determined that any NSW Aboriginal person who was not a member of the Funeral
Fund is entitled to a funeral grant of up to $1000 to assist with covering the costs of the funeral.
Grants will be paid directly to funeral service providers under this community benefits scheme.

Applying for a Funeral Grant – Members

NSW Aboriginal Land Council can provide a grant for funeral costs of up to $5000 for members of the

Funeral Fund.

This may include such costs as:

• Funeral parlour service fee

• Basic coffin / casket

• Cemetery / cremation fee

• Removal fee from hospital or place of death to local funeral parlour

• Clergy and organist fees

• Death Certificate and / or doctor’s certificate for cremation

This does not include such costs as:

• Headstones, plaques or grave markers

• Return of body from one town to another for burial

• Floral tribut• Radio or newspaper announcements

• Cost of additional cars

• Viewing fees

To apply for the funeral fund grant on behalf of a member, you will need to do the following:

1. Complete the Claim form (Attachment A) and return via post to the New South Wales Aboriginal

Land Council.

2. If you are unsure of the deceased person’s member number or to confirm if the deceased person

was a member, please contact the Administration Officer on (02) 9689 4489.

3. The following documentation is required in order to process a funeral grant for a member:

A. Original Funeral Invoice

B. Copy of Death Certificate / Coroners report / Medical Cause of Death certificateApplying for a Funeral Grant – Non

‐Members

To apply for the funeral fund grant on behalf of a non

‐member, you will need to do the following:

1. Complete the Claim form (Attachment A) and return via post to the New South Wales

Aboriginal Land Council.

2. The following documentation is required in order to process a funeral grant claim for nonmember:

A. Letter of Confirmation form provided by the Local Aboriginal Land Councils (Form B)

signed by an office bearer and stamped with Common Seal.

B. Funeral Invoice

C. Copy of Death Certificate / Coroners report / Medical Cause of Death certificate

Funeral Assistance to Aboriginal people with Non

‐Aboriginal Spouses

NSWALC has determined that any NSW Aboriginal person who has a Non

-Aboriginal spouse will be

entitled to up to $1000 to assist with covering the costs of their spouse’s funeral.

Please send all funeral documentation to the following address:

NSWALC Funeral Grants

PO Box 1125

Parramatta NSW 2124

Once we received the Claim form and all supporting documentation, it may take up to 6

‐8 weeks to

process the application. Applications for Funeral Grants are submitted to Council for approval. Should we

required any further documentation in order to process your claim, we will notify you as soon as possible.

Please note that submitting an incomplete application may cause delays in processing your funeral grant

Attachments & Form

A. Funeral Fund Claim form

B. Letter of Confirmation form