Today the majority of deaths occur in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. In those cases the staff will usually handle the necessary medical formalities.
If a person dies at home or in a location other than a health facility, the first step is to contact the person's GP or other medical practitioner who can certify that death has occurred.
The next step is to contact a funeral director who will take the deceased into their care and assist in the funeral arrangements.
The Australian Funeral Directors Association website publishes a list of funeral directors in Western Australia as well as a guide titled ‘What do I do when someone dies?’
You can also obtain useful information to assist you at this difficult time through a publication by Centrelink titled, ‘Needing help after someone has died?’
Other useful information can be found at The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement service at www.grief.org.au