> About

• Annual Report 2016
• Annual Report 2017
• Annual Report 2018
• Annual Report 2019
• Annual Report 202
• Annual Report 2021

• Gayle Boschert – Chair
• Dr Judy Verlin AM
• Mr B Davison
• Ms L Josephs
• Ms S Lia
• Mr D Reeves
• Ms S Peden
• Mr R Tommasini
• Mr J Wilkinson

• Annie De Jong, CEO – annie@ballaratcemeteries.com.au  Ph 0419 304 117
• Charlie Stebbing, Operations Manager
• John Noone, CFO

• Schedule of Fees 1st July 2021
• Information Sheet – Burial – 1st July 2021
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorials Permanent – 1st July 2021
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorials Tenure – 1st July 2021
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorials Transfer Limited Tenure to Permanent – 1st July 2021

• Schedule of Fees 1st of October 2020
• Information sheet – Burial – 1st July 2020
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorials Permanent 1st October 2020
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorials Tenure 1st October 2020
• Information sheet – Cremation Memorials Transfer Limited Tenure to Permanent – 1st July 2020

•  Schedule of Fees 2019
• Information Sheet – Burial 1st July 2019
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorial – 1st July 2019
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorial Tenure – 1st July 2019
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorial Transfer Limited Tenure to Permanent – 1st July 2019

• Schedule of Fees 1st July 2018
• Information Sheet – Burial – 1st July 2018
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorial – 1st July 2018
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorial Tenure – 1st July 2018
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorial Transfer Limited Tenure to Permanent – 1st July 2018

• Schedule of Fees October 2017
• Information Sheet – Burials
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorials Permanent
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorials Tenure
• Information Sheet – Cremation Memorials Conversion from Limited Tenure to Permanent

• Ground Rules
• Open Space Maintenance Service Standards
• Fraud and Protected Disclosures Policy – March 2018

Community Advisory Committee Member

The Ballarat Cemeteries Community Advisory Committee provides advice and guidance to The Trust to assist in carrying out its community engagement responsibilities, as well as its statutory requirements as stipulated in the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003.

The Committee’s objectives are;

• To ensure that community and client views are considered in the planning and delivery of Cemetery services.
• To provide advice in relation to the integration of client and community views at all levels of Cemetery Trust operations, planning and policy development.

Specific Duties of the Committee:

• Advise the Ballarat Cemeteries on strategies to enhance and promote effective client and community engagement, assisting the Ballarat Cemetery Trust to carry out its responsibilities and commitments as they relate to client and community engagement and its impact on service outcomes.
• Advise the Ballarat Cemeteries on behalf of clients and the community and advise the Ballarat Cemeteries on priority areas and issues requiring client and community input and involvement.
• In consultation with the Ballarat Cemeteries, develop a Community Engagement Plan for consideration by The Trust and monitor implementation and effectiveness of the approved plan.
• Monitor the implementation of Ballarat Cemeteries Strategic Plan as it relates to client engagement.

Ballarat Cemeteries mission  :  Remembering the past, Caring for the present, Planning for the future.

The organisation: Ballarat General Cemeteries Trust is a State Government Agency which is a self-funded and not for profit organisation.  With a proud history and a well-planned future, Ballarat Cemeteries, comprising the Old Ballarat Cemetery, and the New Ballarat Cemetery, is a tranquil and beautifully maintained, essential community asset. As one of only two Botanical Cemeteries in Victoria, the New Ballarat Cemetery covers 55 hectares and includes 63,000 square meters of lawns, over 6,500 trees and roses and peaceful open parkland.

Ballarat Cemeteries is seeking community members with skills / knowledge in one or more of the following –

• Reflect the needs and interests of a broad range of people and communities, e.g. culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, religious groups.
• Are representative or knowledgeable in heritage/historical, cultural, religious or environmental matters.
• Can articulate the potential issues that confront families utilising Cemetery Services and work collaboratively with other CAC members.

Ballarat Cemeteries are committed to providing quality and accessible cemetery and crematoria services to our community.

All appointments made by Ballarat Cemeteries are for up to three years with options for further terms. The committee has identified a number of projects it will undertake, these relate to establishment of various tours, events and ceremonies.  The Board and cemetery staff highly value the advice and assistance received from the CAC and its members. These are voluntary positions.

Please note: Government guidelines states that preference to members who are not funeral directors, stonemasons registered cemetery providers or directly involved in the provision of cemetery sector services.

When placing an application please include a short summary identifying the skills and experience you would bring to the role along with your resume/bio.

Further Documents – Community Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
                                    Department of Health and Human Services CAC Guidelines

Applications received at any time  

For further information, please contact Annie De Jong, Chief Executive Officer, on Ph 03 5332 1469 or annie@ballaratcemeteries.com.au

Applications  should be addressed to:
Ms Annie DeJong
Chief Executive Officer Ballarat Cemeteries
1250 Doveton St Nth.
Ballarat 3350
or emailed to annie@ballaratcemeteries.com.au
Application for Community Advisory Committee are to be marked Confidential.

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) gives people a right of access to information held a range of organisations including cemetery trusts.

Types of documents held by Ballarat Cemeteries

Ballarat Cemeteries hold a range of documents relating to the operation of its cemeteries and crematoria, including those acquired from former Cemetery Trusts administering the cemeteries prior to amalgamation. This includes records relating to:

• Cremations and interments
• Governance and administration of Ballarat Cemeteries
• Construction and maintenance records relating to cemetery structures
• Land acquisition and management
• You have a right to apply for access to documents held by the Ballarat Cemeteries including, but not limited to, the following documents:
• Documents relating to your own personal affairs (such as your ownership of a Right of Interment)
• Documents of a non-personal nature which are not older than 5 July 1978
• Access may be refused in some circumstances
• Access to part or all of some documents may be refused if deemed to be ‘exempt’ in line with the principles of the FOI Act. Information is most typically exempted because it:
• Relates to the personal affairs of another person;
• is commercially confidential; or
• contains information supplied in confidence.

Application fee

An application fee of $29.62 is generally required to constitute a valid application. Please make payment with your application, either by enclosing a cheque/money order with your application or ring and make payment via credit card over the phone.

Ballarat Cemeteries may agree to waive the application fee if you can demonstrate that payment of the application fee would cause you hardship.

Additional costs

In addition to the application fee, charges may also be incurred for:

• Search time in locating documents
• Photocopying
• Providing written transcripts of a recorded document
• Supervising your inspection of documents

If the charges relating to your request are expected to be more than $50.00, Ballarat Cemeteries will notify you of this in writing and you may be required to pay a deposit before work continues. You can request that the access charges be waived or reduced and Ballarat Cemeteries will consider this when processing your request.

Request access to documents under the FOI Act

1. Please complete the Freedom of Information (FOI) application form (available below) or prepare a letter clearly outlining the details of your request and stating that you are making a Freedom of Information request.
2. If you wish to request waiver of the application fee please include this in your application along with supporting evidence (such as a concession or pension card).
3. If you are seeking access to documents relating to your own personal affairs, please attach proof of your identity (e.g. driver’s licence, passport or Health Care card).
4. Hand deliver or mail the request and application fee.

Freedom of Information officer

The Ballarat Cemeteries, 1250 Doveton Street North, Invermay Park  Vic  3350 or to enquiries@ballaratcemeteries.com.au

1. Your request becomes valid once it has been received, together with the application fee and accompanying proof of identity documentation (if required),
2. Once your valid FOI application has been received, Ballarat Cemeteries will acknowledge your request and may also seek to clarify aspects of your request.
3. Ballarat Cemeteries will respond to you in writing outlining its decision no later than 30 days from the date your request was received.
4. The FOI Act provides for this time period to be extended in some circumstances but we would notify you if this were to occur.

Download a Freedom of Information application form

Freedom of Information application form

Correction of personal records

You have the right to request the correction or amendment of information about you held by the Ballarat Cemeteries and which you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date, or misleading. A request to amend documents must be made in writing with details of why the information is considered incorrect. Please note that you may be required to provide evidence to support your request.

A decision in relation to a request to amend personal records must be made no later than 30 days from the date the request was received.

Can I request a review of my FOI decision?

If you are not satisfied with the decision, you have the right to seek a review from the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner.

If the request involves health information, you can also contact the Health Services Commissioner.

For more information visit the Victorian Government’s Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner website.