New Regulations commence
The Cemeteries and Crematoria Regulations 2025 (the 2025 Regulations) came into effect on 15 June 2025. The 2025 Regulations, made under section 180 of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003, prescribe matters for the care, protection and management of public cemeteries and crematoria by cemetery trusts. They include forms for applications relating to interments, cremations and exhumations, and set out Model Rules to control behaviours and activities within public cemeteries. To download the regulations, visit the Victorian Legislation .
Consultation
The Department of Health consulted with a broad range of stakeholders through a publicly released discussion paper and targeted communications and meetings with key sector groups. This engagement informed the development of the new 2025 Regulations.
The department has prepared a summary of review outcomes, outlining the consultation process and stakeholder perspectives. It summarises the updates made in the 2025 Regulations, the rationale behind the changes, and implementation considerations. The summary of review outcomes is available below.
Changes in the 2025 Regulations
The 2025 Regulations largely remake the 2015 Regulations with targeted improvements and updates. These changes are intended to:
- modernise and clarify the Regulations
- improve privacy and cultural protections
- formalise current industry practices
- clarify regulatory requirements and powers of cemetery trusts to address unsafe or inappropriate activities within public cemeteries
- reflect community expectations.
Implementation
The requirements in the 2025 Regulations take effect immediately.
The department has created a fact sheet for cemetery trusts that provides implementation guidance and a detailed appendix of changes in the 2025 Regulations.
To support implementation, the department has created new downloadable Word templates of the prescribed forms. These can be accessed below.
If a cemetery trust needs time to update its systems to accommodate the new forms, it should continue to use the 2015 forms and contact the department to discuss transition timeframes.
Contact the department
For enquiries about the 2025 Regulations, contact:
Legislative and Regulatory Reform
Email: legandregreform@health.vic.gov.au
For enquiries about cemetery statutory approvals, contact:
Permits and Licensing
Email: statutoryapprovals.cemeteries@health.vic.gov.au
For all other cemetery enquiries, contact:
Divisional Portfolio Entity and Appointments Advisory Unit
Email: cemeteries@health.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 15 June 2025