Community advisory committee guidelines for Class A cemetery trusts

The community advisory committee (CAC) guidelines are designed to assist Class A cemetery trusts to establish effective CACs that can inform on consumer and community views in relation to the provision of cemetery trust services.

Under sections 18D to 18G of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003, CACs are to be established by Class A cemetery trusts in Victoria. Section 18D of the Act states:

1. For the purpose of liaising with communities to which a Class A cemetery trust provides cemetery or crematoria services, a Class A cemetery trust
   • a)must appoint one community advisory committee; and
   • b)may appoint any additional community advisory committees it considers appropriate.
2. A Class A cemetery trust must establish a community advisory committee referred to in subsection (1)(a) within 12 months of the Class A cemetery trust becoming a Class A cemetery trust.
3. A Class A cemetery trust must include in its annual report of operations a report on the activities of its CAC.

CACs will be established in Victorian Class A cemetery trusts to ensure consumer and community views are canvassed in relation to cemetery trust services.

A cemetery trust’s CAC has two critical roles:

• to provide advice in relation to the integration of consumer and community views at all levels of the cemetery trust’s operations, planning and policy development
• to advocate to the trust on behalf of the community and consumers.

The CAC is a high-level committee, appointed in an advisory capacity to the Class A cemetery trust. It has no executive authority.

The CAC:

• provides a mechanism for consumer and community engagement in the cemetery trust services
• provides strategic advice, from consumer and community perspectives, in relation to cemetery trust services to the community, including major initiatives and changes
• advises the cemetery trust on community issues in relation to its communication with the communities it serves.