South African Funeral Training Academy

22/10/2024

22/10/2024

29/06/2022

AIM
SAFTA is dedicated to providing training and education so as to provide competent and professionally qualified staff for the funeral industry so that they may service both the community and be an asset to the funeral profession.
Funeral directors should possess many critical personal traits, including tact, composure, and the ability to interact comfortably and communicate well with the bereaved families. Most importantly, funeral directors should want and be able to comfort people during times of grief appropriately.
The Academy provides training in all aspects of mortuary science and art. All courses are presented by experienced trainers with many years of experience in the funeral industry.

COURSES
Introduction to the funeral industry (1 day course R750)
This day course is aimed at those considering a career in the funeral profession and those who have a genuine interest in the work of the Funeral Director. This course is insightful, never before has the whole funeral journey been explained with such honesty, care and consideration to those who have questions and only now have the answers. This will enable you to better understand what happens behind the often-closed doors of the Funeral industry.
A Certificate of Participation is awarded for attending the day course.
An alternate to attending the one day course is a presentation via Zoom. This will be divided over three sessions.
Funeral counsellor Package (5 day course R4,900)
• Ethics
• Funeral etiquette
• Rules and regulations within the funeral industry
• Funeral counselling
• Basic bereavement counselling
• Burial versus cremation
• Documentation in the funeral industry
• Products and services
• Alternative funeral ceremonies

Funeral director package (5 day course R4,900)
• Rules and regulations within the funeral industry
• Safety in the funeral industry
• Funeral etiquette
• Documentation in the funeral industry
• Transportation of the deceased
• Taking care of the deceased
• Shuttering of the deceased
• Conducting of funerals
• Religious customs
• Products and services

Embalming package (5 day course R8,900)
• The history of embalming
• The reasons for embalming
• Mortuary hygiene
• Theory
• Practical – open case
• Practical – closed case
The above mentioned courses can be combined as one package, alternatively one can complete the course of your choice.
There is a maximum of five students per course.
All manuals and training notes can either be provided in hard copy, alternatively on a USB.
A certificate of competence will be issued upon completion of the course and the passing of the exam. The exams are composed of oral and written sections and require candidates to demonstrate specific practical skills. The final exam consists of a written paper (2.5 hours), and an oral test on arranging a funeral with an examiner (1.5 hours). There is also an observation evaluation of conducting a funeral. The pass mark is 75%.
The embalming exam consists of both theory, written paper (2 hours) and an oral test (1 hour) as well as practical embalming.
A non-refundable deposit of 25% is required upon registration.
An internship may be offered to successful candidates nationwide so as to obtain more practical experience in the funeral industry.

27/06/2022

Things to Know Before Becoming a Funeral Director
The funeral is the most heartbreaking and unexpected occurrence in our lives. And you have come forward to become a funeral director, a gloomy yet rewarding job. So I want to enlighten you with some facts about this profession.
• Before anything else, you must know that it’s a physically tough job. Always you have to get up and go to set everything up. Sometimes you need to wake up in the witching hour and perform your duties. These hampers your sleep and alone can cause physical illness.
• It’s emotionally draining too. Daily you have to see dead bodies, the mourning of their near and dear ones. You have to deal with unnatural deaths. Sometimes you will bury the resting souls of little children, which will cause emotional stress.
• This field is not humourless either! Sometimes hilarious situations arise as people talk about the departed souls and their funny activities as well. Also, by hearing the stories, you will often get inspirations and insights about life.
• Are you comfortable enough to roam around mourning people? If not, this career option is not for you. Situations can become very upsetting and moving that you can’t help but crying! But I believe you are strong enough to handle such softness.
• You have to be well educated in mortuary science and business management. You will learn the history of funeral services, merchandising, and embalming chemistry. Also, you will get knowledge of management courses, pathology, and restorative art courses.
• Embalming is both art and science. You're in charge of how a person will look when people say their good-byes. You have to make them look as natural and peaceful as possible.
• And the working schedules! They will be more pathetic as there are no regular hours. You know death and birth aren’t bound to abide by the 9 to 5 rule!
• Every so often, people will take their frustration out on you. To many people, grief means getting mad at the whole shooting match. Your family will be out of their mind about how long something takes, and they’re crazy that it costs money to die. Some will become a lunatic fringe as their loved one has died.
• You have to be around dead people all the time. It will definitely change the way you feel about the departure from life. Some funeral directors note that the job normalises demise for them.