The Celebrants Training College

Celebrants Training aims to put the 'Love & Heart' back into the Celebrant Industry.

OUR NEW PHONE NUMBER IS 03 976 33313

We are dedicated to raising the level of professionalism in our industry.

With our training, ongoing support through OPD and mentoring, you can create a successful business, acquire dynamic skills and become more attractive to prospective clients. Most importantly, you will be confident in your own ability to create outstanding ceremonies to delight your clients.

Weekend Funeral Courses

We run weekend courses in most states each year.
These courses prepare you to be able to create and perform an authentic funeral ceremony, celebrating the life of a person with dignity, substance and meaning, with the needs of the family in mind in a professional and respectful manner.

2010 Funeral Courses
Melbourne - 1st/2nd May

Sydney - 12th/13th June

Perth - 17th/18th July

Brisbane - 14th/15th Aug

Melbourne - 9th/10th Oct

HEART & SOUL OF CELEBRANCY

By Sally Cant
A guide to creating memorable ceremonies

To order the book - follow this link

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1 – Background to the celebrant movement

Origins and growth of the movement
Reflections on the standards and training of celebrants in Australia
What is the future of celebrancy?

Chapter 2 – Being a top celebrant

The essence of a top celebrant
What motivates someone to become a celebrant?
How can celebrants make a significant difference?
What are the biggest challenges facing a celebrant?
Deciding what type of work you want
Full-time celebrancy or part-time hobby?
How do I balance work with family life?
Learning about myself through my work as a celebrant
How can I stay fresh and keep learning?
How to manage different expectations
Being a celebrant lets me step outside my comfort zone
How can having a process help you in your work?

Chapter 3 – Interviewing

The process of interviewing clients
Building trust with clients
What communication skills are required by celebrants?
What are common barriers to effective listening?
How to collect information effectively

Chapter 4 –Wedding ceremonies

What is a wedding ceremony?
Steps involved in planning a wedding ceremony
What is an authentic ceremony?
The order and structure of the ceremony
Designing a wedding ceremony
Writing the ceremony with substance, meaning and dignity
Working with a couple leading up to the wedding
Who else can be involved in the ceremony?
Choreography and movement
Music
Music for before the ceremony
The processional
Interludes
Recessional
Music for after the ceremony
Public address system and music sources
Live musicians and singers
Poetry
Rituals and symbolism
Vows
Paperwork
Working with clients from a distance
Rehearsals
What are clients looking for in a celebrant?

Chapter 5 – Funerals

History of the funeral industry
What is a funeral?
Step by step process for a funeral ceremony
Ringing the family
Meeting the family
Reporting back to the funeral director
Writing the ceremony
Read back
Order of service
Other things to do before the day of the funeral
Liaising with family and friends
Grief awareness
What is an authentic ceremony?
The order and structure of a funeral ceremony
Selecting appropriate material
The ability to improvise and problem solve
Skills to help other speakers
Working with funeral directors
Displaying dignity and solemnity
Managing stress and emotions
The future of funerals

Chapter 6 – Creativity in ceremony

Why be creative?
Learning to be creative
Using rituals and symbols to be creative
Religious components

Chapter 7 – Public speaking

What is ceremonial public speaking?
How can you engage the guests?
How to overcome your fear of public speaking
What do successful speakers have in common?
Good planning and structure
Tone and volume
Slow down
Body language and gestures

Chapter 8 – Personal characteristics

Appearance and grooming
Punctuality
Develop your own style
Be in the role at all times
Name badges

Chapter 9 – Sales and marketing

Image and branding
How to build up your business
Have a marketing strategy
Know your clientele
Know your competitors
Value your service and price accordingly
Evaluating your marketing

Chapter 10 – Working with other professionals

Funeral directors
Photographers
Wedding venue operators

Chapter 11 – Running a business

Choose the right business structure
A business or a hobby?
Trading names
Business plan
Your office
Make it presentable
Use the right office technology efficiently and safely
Organise your paperwork and diary
Get a good accountant
Do you need a bookkeeper?
Working from home
Communications – be tech savvy
Equipment
Insurance
Protecting your intellectual property
Forms and contracts
Quality control, evaluation and feedback

Chapter 12 – Sample ceremonies and checklists

Wedding Questionnaire
Funeral Questionnaire
Wedding rehearsal checklist
Wedding Ceremony
Funeral Ceremony
Memorial Service
A commitment of partnership ceremony

Resources

OPD for 2010

Please note many changes are being made to OPD for 2010
OPD has gone to tender and will not be announced until March
Details of 2010 OPD can be found on the AG's Website
www.ag.gov.au/celebrants

We have partnered with an RTO for the tender and will update everyone with the outcome in due time.

Funeral Industry Ministerial Advisory Council

Fantastic News!!

Sally Cant has been appointed an inaugural member of the Funeral Industry Ministerial Advisory Council.

Testimonials

Dear Sally, My very sincere thanks and congratulations. Today's OPD was superb. Your presentation was, as usual, just superb. ....and you shared your knowledge and experiences so freely. Thank you.
Tony R - July 2009

Then you arrived in my life at the Belmont 16s, you turned on the sun with your passion and your experience blew me away.
Irene C - June OPD 2009

Thank you for the training today. It was awesome. Learned a few things I did not know. But it was also good to have a refresher of things I did know.
Our rehearsals are done a little differently but one can often get stuck in a vein of some kind. The ideas I gained from your rehearsals today has given me new food for thought.
Pastor Alan June 2008

Thank you very much for a wonderful workshop last Tuesday. I had heard how dry the legal stuff can be and I was delighted to find that I enjoyed it and it kept my full intention the entire 3 hours!! Your OPD came very hightly recommended and you certainly lived up to your reputation...I was disappointed when it finished!Good luck with all your endeavours, you deserve to do very well. I will see you at my next OPD. Take care,
Jenny K - Aug 2008

I would like to say that I found your presentation engaging, disciplined and worthwhile. The thought of 5 hours of PD at the end of a busy day did not exactly excite me but the time went extremely quickly. I appreciated you sharing so many of your experiences. All of the attendees would have a lot to reflect upon and utilise after your session – I certainly have. With thanks, Lyn R - June 2008

Thank you so much for your tremendous training and support. I really enjoy your style and your lovely presence. You are an excellent mentor and a wonderful role model for celebrants who aspire to a high level of professionalism and excellence. Thanks again for a terrific day, I took a great deal out of it and I look forward to continued training with you. Warm regards, Wendy - Melb May 2008

Thank you for a great day of insightful and relevant and inspiring training. I have found it such a wonderful experience to be trained by you. Roz - Geelong April 2008

Today was so well done and inspiring. Thank You. Barbara- Geelong April 2008

By Sally Cant A guide to creating memorable ceremonies

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