National Diploma in Funeral Services (combination of Level 5 National Certificate in Embalming and National Certificate in Funeral Directing)

Norm Murray trained to become a funeral director after being a school teacher. Picture / Graeme Sedal

QUALIFICATION

National Diploma in Funeral Services (combination of Level 5 National Certificate in Embalming and National Certificate in Funeral Directing)

Wellington Institute of Technology

0800 935 832 or 04 9202 672

Email

www.weltec.ac.nz/schools/funeral/

Starting salary: $28,000-$50,000 No award structure so varies enormously, depending on qualification, experience and employer.

2006 fees: Approximately $8615. (Funeral directing fees over 15 months around $4258; embalming course around $4357).

Both weddings and funerals are emotional times, but while people usually take months to plan weddings, a funeral is planned in no time at all making the role of funeral director hugely important.

The Wellington-based National Diploma in Funeral Services, which is the only one in the country, consists of two certificate courses in embalming and funeral direction. The course is only partially taught on campus, so applicants need to be currently employed with a funeral service, have had some experience and have an approved, qualified supervisor lined up to assist their workplace learning. You must also be 20 years or older.

During the 15-month course, trainees spend two six-week modules on campus honing their dexterity and skills in practical areas such as facial remodelling and reconstructive technologies, along with other topics such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, chemistry and embalming theory.

The funeral directing certificate, which is also 15 months long, covers how to successfully arrange and direct funerals.

Topics include psychological, social and cultural behaviours related to death and dying. Trainees are on campus for three two-week modules as well as undertaking work-based supervised learning experiences.

Assessments include log books and case reports on funerals. A final clinical module provides opportunity for reflective practice.

Up to 18 students are accepted into the course each year. Applications close in December but people can be accepted later, depending on the circumstances.

THE GRADUATE

Norm Murray
60 years old
Dil's Funeral Services funeral director and embalmer, Auckland
Graduated February this year.

I was previously a high school teacher and have been at Dil's Funeral Services for 15 years. I find huge satisfaction in helping people, shattered or paralysed with grief, to organize a funeral they desire and cope with issues around death.

A funeral is a pretty intense time for families and a major event that happens in a short time frame so it needs tight event management. Even a name spelt wrongly in the paper can cause huge upset around this time.

I enjoy the people involvement and the importance of strong communication skills. You also have to be very methodical and organised.

I've just completed a one off 'experienced practitioner' version of the national diploma. This was designed for people without the diploma but with 10 years or more experience. I did the embalming course in 1991.

I decided to do the diploma because, although you learn a lot on the hoof, it provided the opportunity to understand the philosophy, history and practice that underpins what I do as a professional.

You don't often have the chance to step back and reflect on what you do and whether it is our best practice. Doing this course gave me that opportunity.

I think the greatest benefit of studying when you're already experienced in the job is gaining the reassurance that what you're doing is appropriate and right.

In this job you never know how your day is going to turn out, but the course has been set up with that in mind.

There is enough elasticity in assignment time frames to allow you to organize study around busy and quiet times. Even so, a lot of midnight oil was burned at home as well.

THE EMPLOYER

Wade Downey
Dil's funeral services manager

Norm knows the how of the job inside and out. But the qualification adds the 'why'.

Although it is not currently a requirement to have the qualification, it certainly earns industry respect. The course creates a benchmark and provides a sense of continuity along with the knowledge that staff are up-to-date and are doing their job well.

The behavioural science learning is particularly important because you learn why families behave as they do which means you are better equipped to deal with their emotions confidently. A funeral director needs to be open-minded, non-judgmental, and professionally empathetic. Otherwise, the job will crush you. The course helps you to detach and leave your prejudices to one side.