Invitation

Together in Practice - Funerals Australia & CCANSW Regional Joint Seminar 2026 - Armidale, NSW

The Together in Practice Seminar brings together funeral directors and cemetery/crematoria professionals  from across New South Wales for two days of insight, innovation, practical learning and networking.

Held at Rydges Armidale from 12-13 November 2026, the two‑day schedule will examine today’s operational pressures, spotlight emerging best practice and present workable solutions guiding the sector’s future. Delegates will benefit from expert presentations, peer learning and thoughtful dialogue, equipping them with practical tools and fresh thinking to take back to their organisations.

Join colleagues from both sectors to connect, learn and come together in practice.

CPD Points: 14 Hours

Program Highlights (Full program will be available on the main landing page shortly)

Wednesday 11 November

NSW/ACT Division Council Meeting (2.00pm-5.00pm)

Casual Dinner at The White Bull - pay our own way (6.00pm-9.00pm)  

Thursday 12 November 

Registration - 8.30am - 9.00am

Friday 13 November 

Site Visit to University of New England (UNE) Body Donation and Piddingtons Funerals

Joint Education Sessions with CCANSW

Dinner at The Welder's Dog Brewery (6.00pm-9.00pm)

To be re-directed back to the main landing page, click here

Speaker Highlights

• Funeral Learning Hub (FLH) - what's new and how to use the FLH as a valuable business tool - Greg Shorland, Funeral Learning Hub

Greg Shorland has over 20 years’ experience working in training and assessment frameworks and is passionate about leveraging technology to engage learners effectively.  Greg has been working with Funerals Australia since 2022 and has been pivotal in developing the Funeral Learning Hub launched in November 2023, which now offers over 100 courses, resources, webinars and reporting features. Greg will provide an overview of the Funeral Learning Hub and explore how technology, including AI, can enhance the learning journey.

• What all the AI talk is hiding:  the money in what your business already knows. - Matthew Wysel, founder and Managing Director, MadewithData 

Matthew Wysel is the founder and Managing Director of MadeWithData, an Armidale-based firm that helps clients make money from what they already know. His PhD founded datanomics, the economics of turning what a business knows into commercial value, which MadeWithData now applies to AI projects, business model redesign and executive advisory. Before MadeWithData, Matthew designed military aircraft, researched satellite refuelling with NASA, and trained neurosurgeons across Western Europe. He lectures at the University of New England and serves as a non-executive director in education and technology governance. You can read more and connect with him on LinkedIn

• Leading the Intersection, Not Managing the Friction - Asha Dooley, Grace Funerals

The greatest challenges are often found not within organisation, but between them. This interactive workshop invites participants to explore how communication, trust, ownership and leadership influence the experience delivered to families when multiple parties are involved. Through discussion, practical activities and shared reflection, participants will discover new ways of understanding friction and creating stronger outcomes across organisational boundaries.

• Compassionate Fatigue Workshop – Vanessa DeSauty & Catherine Bedford, Mindskills

Designed to address compassion fatigue and burnout within the sector, combining evidence-based psychoeducation with practical strategies, personal reflection and facilitated peer discussion. *Includes an optional pre-workshop burnout assessment, see details below. 

• Graveside Safety: A Co-ordinated Approach – Fiona Hurst (Footprint Training) & MMP

This session will explore the critical relationship between funeral directors and cemetery operators in ensuring safe, well managed graveside services. It will highlight common risks, clarify shared responsibilities and outline practical steps for working together to maintain safety, dignity and smooth coordination during interments.

Psychological Assessment Offering

MindSkills will be providing a Burnout Prevention and Compassion Fatigue Seminar, with the option to complete a psychological assessment and receive a personalised report from a registered psychologist.

The assessment will provide insight into your current levels of Burnout, Stress, Depression and Anxiety prior to the seminar. It will also help MindSkills tailor the seminar content and strategies to your individual needs. All assessment data will be strictly confidential, and only de-identified results may be presented.

If you would like to participate, please provide your email address and date of birth as part of your registration. This information is required by 1st November. 

Site Tours Include:

• Phoenix Foundry – see where and how bronze plaques are made in Uralla
• Piddingtons (est. 1899) – funeral home and crematorium plus pet crematorium
• UNE Armidale, Body Science unit

Event App

An Event App will be available for the conference. To access it, you’ll need to consent to sharing your details with the App and Nectar (company who are coordinating the event). The consent question is included in the registration process.

Dress Code

• Wednesday and Thursday Night Dinner: Smart Casual
• Thursday and Friday Education Program: Smart casual
• Friday Night Dinner: Smart Casual

Rydges Armidale

Rydges Armidale offers a comfortable and welcoming base for the event with stylish accommodation, onsite dining and conference facilities all in one convenient location. Just a short walk from Armidale's town centre, it's the perfect place to relax, connect and explore the charm of the New England region.

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in your registration.  The primary event accommodation is Rydges Armidale.  
Phone: 02 6772 7788
Email: reservations_rydgesarmidale@evt.com

Please note that our primary event accommodation at Rydges Armidale is now at capacity.

The good news is that there are several excellent alternative stay options located within less than a 5-minute walk from the venue:

• Cotswold Gardens Armidale(Located directly across the road)
• White Lanterns Motel(3-minute walk)
• Elite Motor Inn(Under 5-minute walk)

For full details or to explore further accommodation options in the region, please visit the Visit Armidale website.

If you have any questions regarding accommodation, you can contact the hotel directly and identify yourself as being part of the CCANSW/Funerals Australia Group.

Parking

Parking is available and free for guests