Australia Funeral and Cremation Service Market Overview, 2029

Australia Funeral and Cremation Service Market Overview, 2029

The Australian funeral and cremation service market has gone through sea changes, particularly in view of the changing attitude towards death in modern societies, the cultural diversity of the places, and environment-related concerns. Traditionally, industry practices were totally inclined towards burial, but in the recent few decades, cremation has emerged to take the lead with the impetus from urbanization and resultant land shortage for burials. Finally, most Australian states have legislation on these practices through the Cremation and Burial Act of 2013, which favours cremation as a more sustainable option. With that said, in the more recent years alone, a few companies have dominated the market, each with their own contributions to growth through innovation and modernization. Companies like InvoCare, Patterson Funeral Services, and Southern Cross Funerals are only but a few of the known frontrunners that help extend their services by including even the more personal, more contemporary services such as online arrangements and eco-friendly options. InvoCare, for example, has expanded their services with strategic acquisitions and partnerships to further grow its market presence by diversifying the business. Moreover, the advancement of technology in the funeral industry has allowed for online companies to be widely used by families to better plan and customize services. This has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, greatly boosting the shift to digital solution providers for arrangements and virtual memorial services. Coupled with this, the Australian market has a drive toward culturally sensitive services catering to its diverse populations in addition to Indigenous practices, different immigrant communities. Moreover, increasing interest in sustainable and eco-friendly practices, such as biodegradable urns and green burials, illustrates the market's response to consumer tastes and environmental concerns.

According to the research report, ""Australia Funeral and Cremation Services Market Outlook, 2029,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Australia funeral and cremation services market is anticipated to add to more than USD 100 Million by 2024–29. With demographic changes, technological leaps, and changing consumer preference, the funeral and cremation services market of Australia is heading toward radical expansion. With the developing cultural attitudes and concerns for the environment, acceptance of cremation has increased much. The service providers are also providing more personalized memorialization, eco-friendly cremation options, and diverse cultural practices to meet varied traditions in modern multicultural Australia. Improvements in technology have greatly influenced this market growth. This has seen funeral providers quickly embracing digital solutions that help families plan and arrange services digitally. This move has increased the usage of virtual memorials and live-streaming since COVID-19 to be connected with those far away during their time of loss. The innovations would not be just more accessible but also more in the vein of what younger generations prefer in the way they value convenience and personalization when it comes to end-of-life arrangements. Sustainability has become an issue that can now be regarded as one of the centerpieces of the industry. Environmental issues are more felt today than ever before, and the funeral home has no choice but to accommodate green practices such as marketing biodegradable caskets or performing natural burials. This emphasis on sustainability has an effect not just with environmentally sensitive customers but also on how well the provider can be perceived as forward-looking and responsible. The other critical aspect of the growth of this market is integrating customer feedback into service design. Funeral homes are increasingly putting in effort to get feedback from the families to better their services, so as to be relevant to the emotional and logistic needs of the clients.

Within the Australian funeral and cremation service market, different categories are growing at varying rates. The cremation services category currently is in the lead, and this has lately seen phenomenal growth as a result of the changing societal mores and practical reasons. Today, a high percentage of Australians prefer cremation to the traditional process of burial for reasons related to cost, environment, and simplicity. This is further promoted by the shifting cultural belief system and the rising acceptance of cremation among different communities. The funeral planning services segment is in an accelerating growth phase. This can be attributed to increasing demand from consumers who are seeking personalized, pre-arranged funeral plans. As Australians are becoming proactive in planning their end-of-life arrangements, there comes with it a growing pressure on services to bring on board customized solutions, comprehensive support, and niche advice. This is also in line with the broader trend toward more personalized control and choice in paying for funeral arrangements, increasing consumer needs, and looking for ever more meaningful and individualistic services. Transportation services are needed to logistically move the body of the deceased person from one place to another in funeral arrangements. Body preparation is taking care of and preservation of the body, which again is an intrinsic part of both burial and cremation service providers. Interment services are those actually involving the placing of remains in cemeteries or memorial sites, and they continue to be significant in spite of increasing preferences for cremation. The ""Others"" category comprises a group of ancillary services and products, including memorialization, grief counseling, and support services, among others. Although these have not been in such bright limelight as the leading and growing segments, they are not likely to be any less in importance and add breadth to what is offered within the domain of funeral and cremation services.

The general segment that seems to be leading the market at this point in time is that of Immediate Need. This, to a large extent, is influenced by the fact that death is basically urgent and incalculable. Once a death occurs, families usually need immediate, pressing support to hold a funeral and other activities affiliated with it. This segment enjoys the advantage accruable to the meeting of immediate, compelling needs, including the organization of services, legal documentation, and other logistic needs pertaining to the funeral process. The emotional and practical demands of dealing with the death of a loved one give rise to the need for services that can offer speed, hassle-free, and one-stop solutions in times of hardship. The pre-planned segment is growing at a very fast pace. This growth is driven by raising awareness and the desire to feel in control when making end-of-life arrangements. Many people in Australia now want to pre-plan their funeral service so that their own wishes are carried out, there is no burden on their family members, and lastly, to cut down costs. Pre-planned services have the benefit of customized planning that reflects one's wishes type of ceremony, place, and even financial planning. Factors such as proactive consumer behavior, the desire for peace of mind, and increasing flexibility in pre-arranged plans to meet different needs and preferences all feed into this segment's growth.

The Offline segment currently leads the market. This is due to the nature of funeral services, that are traditionally conducted in person. Most Australians would prefer to conduct their funeral arrangements in person, where consultations and other services are required, given the human sensitivity to death and the highly individualized support that would be required at such a time. The in-person experience at funeral homes and direct service providers is one many find reassuring, especially where empathy is concerned. The trust built up and the no-touch-fee aspect of face-to-face interaction keep offline services in continued preference for many consumers, especially those valuing traditional practices and direct engagement with service providers. The Online segment is exhibiting growth. The growth is further supported by the technological developments made and a shift in consumer preference towards digital solutions. The ease, accessibility, and other benefits provided by online channels for funeral and cremation services allow consumers to easily research and compare options more effectively for the kind of services desired and then plan from the comfort of their own homes. The growth of online platforms has, in turn, given consumers the ease of searching, ordering, and even handling pre-planned services from a distance. This becomes especially interesting for younger generations and people looking for more flexibility when arranging funerals. Cost-effectiveness and broad resources can also be provided via online platforms, thus attracting many users.

Considered in this report
• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029

Aspects covered in this report
• Funereal Service market Outlook with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Provider
• The Funeral Director
• Embalming Services
• Mortician Services
• Funeral Homes With Crematories
• Visitation Or Viewing Services
• Graveside Committal
• Selling Funeral Supplies
• Transporting The Deceased

By Service
• Cremation
• Funeral Planning Services
• Transportation
• Body Preparation And Interment
• Others

By Application
• Immediate need
• Pre-Planned

By Distribution Channel
• Online
• Offline

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary and secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list the companies that are present in it. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources, primary research was conducted by conducting telephone interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; we have started making primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting them in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us, we can start verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations, and organizations related to the Funereal Service industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.