With funerals costing on average around $9,000, paying for a funeral has the potential to drive a family already experiencing financial difficulties into deep financial hardship. As a result, some families, particularly from First Nations communities, have sought to use funeral financial products. Unfortunately, some unethical providers have exploited these people.

This article explains how a coalition of organisations developed a novel philanthropic offering – available alongside a savings instrument – that provides a safety net for those who have attempted to save for their funeral and a fairer choice in the funeral insurance market.