Regional councils step up to help families with ‘profound grief’
Nine regional councils have amended how burial fees apply to stillborn babies after advocacy from a state government committee.
Gawler, Goyder and Naracoorte Lucindale councils made the change to support grieving families in July, following similar changes made by Copper Coast, Light, Peterborough, Port Pirie and Robe councils in May.
Yorke Peninsula Council is the latest to change its fees and charges, so no fee applies to burials or wall placements of children aged 17 years or under or stillborn.
Two more councils, the Northern Areas and Walkerville have said they will consider removing fees, while Alexandrina and Burnside are taking no action at present.
The move comes after the government’s Select Committee on Stillbirth wrote to councils that run burial services in April.
Select Committee Chair Olivia Savvas MP said the committee urged councils to consider removing fees to lessen the burden on families at what is already a difficult time.
“This is not a financial decision, it’s a compassionate one,” Savvas said.
“I believe waiving grave-digging and burial fees for infant and child deaths is an important step to mitigate the financial burden on parents during the darkest time of their lives.
You might like
“Further, it sends a signal to those families that their grief is important, and their child’s life mattered, no matter how short.”
Savvas visited Naracoorte Lucindale Council in early July after councillors voted against waiving burial fees, which cost between $570 and $1258.
After Savvas briefed councillors on the committee’s learnings so far, it reversed its decision, with councillors voting unanimously to remove cemetery fees for stillborn babies and children up to 10.
That came after Naracoorte Lucindale locals gathered in its town square in protest, joined by Adelaide MP Lucy Hood, who is from Naracoorte and sits on the Stillbirth Committee.
Savvas said Naracoorte Lucindale was a good example of community in action and changing minds with more information.
“I think people can make the wrong decision and accept that maybe that wasn’t the right decision for their community, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” Savvas said.
“I actually think it’s quite commendable of the councillors to have listened, asked the questions, taken the time to think about it and change their minds.”
Savvas said the issue is “about people” not budgets.
Stay informed, daily
“It was important for me to showcase that there is space for compassionate decision making in all levels of Government – as shown by the response of community members in Naracoorte Lucindale,” she said.
“Wattle Range Funerals (who presented to the council in June) were quoted as saying ‘this isn’t a financial decision, it’s a human one’ – and I commend the Councillors who have advocated for ‘human’ decision making in their community.
“I’d be pleased to present to other councils on the matter in the future.”
For councils that run cemeteries and related services, the waiving of burial fees is a way they can support bereaved parents and families.
In a hearing in May, Erin Tharme, whose daughter was stillborn in 2016, told the Committee that though her family could afford burial costs, she’s mindful of those who can’t.
“You are already preparing for your baby and buying things for your baby’s life, and then – that was my Monday and by the Friday, we were at her funeral,” Tharme told the committee.
Tharme said she was fortunate as her parents had the means to pay and stepped in, but she knew the costs can add up.
“We didn’t bury Gemma, we have her at home in an urn,” she said.
“I know that the baby’s urn was $300 or $400 for a small urn. That is one component—possibly the cheapest part—but there was getting her photographs and her coffin and her plaques.
“There were all of those costs, and then there was the absence from work and the gradual return to work, so I had periods of leave without pay, and then not full pay, and psychologist appointments.
“I think that any support for people, as they’re going through this profound grief, to be able to then at least give their child the farewell that they would like is really important.”
Savvas said the federal inquiry into stillbirth, which began in 2018 and handed down recommendations in 2020, found most bereavement support is the responsibility of the state government, not councils or the Commonwealth.
Six other councils – Adelaide Hills, Barunga West, Berri Barmera, Kangaroo Island, Salisbury and Wattle Range councils – had already waived, reduced or did not charge fees for the burial of children.
The government’s Select Committee on Stillbirth is due to hand down recommendations by the end of the year.
