How to write a death notice or an obituary in Australia

A death notice and an obituary are two different things, though the terms are often used interchangeably. Both have a role to play, and neither has to be difficult to write. Here's the difference and how to approach each one.

Death notice vs obituary: what's the difference?

Death notice

A death notice is a formal announcement of a death, typically published in a newspaper or online. It is factual and brief, usually fewer than 100 words. It announces the death, names immediate family, and provides funeral service details. It is intended to inform the community that someone has passed and give relevant people the opportunity to attend or pay respects.

Obituary

An obituary is a longer tribute: a short biography of the person's life. It may be published in a newspaper, on a funeral director's website, or shared on social media. It captures who the person was: their career, their passions, their relationships, the things they cared about and the mark they left. An obituary is a permanent record: something the family may keep for generations.

Where to publish a death notice in Australia

Most Australians publish death notices through their funeral director, who can coordinate placement in local and national newspapers. If you're still in the early stages of organising, our funeral checklist for Australian families covers what to arrange first. You can also submit directly to:

• The Sydney Morning Herald / The Age / Brisbane Times: via tributes.com.au
• The Australian: via The Australian's classified section
• State and regional newspapers: most accept online submissions
• Legacy.com: a major obituary platform used by Australian newspapers
• Funeral director's website: most publish notices on their own site

Costs vary by newspaper, day and length, so ask the newspaper or your funeral director for a price before you send it. Notices on a funeral director's own website are often part of their service; check what yours includes.

What to include in a death notice

A standard death notice typically includes:

• Full name (and maiden name if applicable)
• Age and date of passing
• Location of passing (optional)
• Names of immediate family: spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings
• Funeral service details: date, time, location
• Whether the service is private or open to the public
• Any request regarding flowers or donations in lieu
• A brief personal line (optional): a phrase that captures who they were

Writing an obituary

An obituary doesn't need to be a formal document. The best ones read like a story written by someone who knew and loved the person. A few prompts to help you start:

• Where were they born and where did they grow up?
• What was their working life?
• Who did they love, and who loved them?
• What did they care about most?
• What is the thing most people would say about them?
• What will the world look like without them in it?

Aim for 200 to 500 words. Start with a line that captures who they were, not just their name and age. End with something that feels like a goodbye.

Social media announcements

Many families now also share a death notice or tribute on Facebook, Instagram or other platforms. There are no rules for how to do this. A simple, sincere post is often the most powerful. You may want to let close family and friends know before posting publicly so they hear it from you directly rather than through a feed.

For other ways to let people know the date and place, see our guide to sharing funeral details with family and friends.