Our organisation
Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is a public entity reporting to the Minister for Health, purposed with providing cemetery, cremation and related support services to the community on the government’s behalf.
Our Vision and Values
Our Vision
Be a sector leader in cemeteries and memorial parks and in supporting our diverse communities as they grieve, honour and celebrate life.
Our Purpose
We create and maintain cemeteries and memorial parks where people can honour and celebrate their loved ones.
Our Vision and Values
Our Values
At each of our cemeteries we pledge to our colleagues and community that we will act with these values:
Passion - commitment in heart and mind
Respect - by valuing every voice
Integrity - doing what is right
Dedication - to the needs of our community and our people
Empathy - to listen and reflect with sensitivity
Our People and Culture
Behind every garden we maintain, plaque we lay, meal we prepare and family we support, is our dedicated and passionate team. Our people are the heart of SMCT, committed to creating positive experiences for the community every day.
Work with us
Our History
A measure of a healthy society is how well we care for our most vulnerable. Since 2008, we have been helping people honour and celebrate the lives of their loved ones. We are tasked by the state government to manage and maintain 11 cemeteries, each with unique cultural and historical significance.
Our Organisation Structure
SMCT is a purposed organisation, governed by a board of nine highly skilled and experienced Trust members, led by Chairperson Dr Vanda Fortunato. Dr. Fortunato reports to the Minister for Health, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP, through the Cemetery Sector Governance Support Unit of the Department of Health.
Read about our organisational structure
Strategic Priorities
Create Better Together - SMCT provides places and services for cremation, interment and memorialisation in our communities. In 2028, we will be more environmentally and financially sustainable and will continue to maintain capability and capacity to meet our customers' needs. We will do this through our expertise, trusted relationships and products and services.
Download our Strategic Plan
Master Plan
The purpose of the Master Plan is to provide direction for all cemeteries and set priorities for SMCT.
Learn more about the Master Plan
Governance
The Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is committed to upholding strong governance and accountability across all areas of the organisation.
Learn more about governance at SMCT
Publications
We believe that transparency helps us connect with our community. These publications have been prepared to help inform our customers and the broader Victorian community.
Publications
Melbourne General Cemetery Conservation Management Plan
Environmental Strategy 2022 – 2025
As an organisation whose primary purpose is to care for our community, we also have a responsibility to care for our environment by taking ownership for our actions and impact on the planet. Through our Environmental Strategy, we aim to ensure the decisions we make today enable our organisation to provide resilient and sustainable services and facilities into the future.
Progressing Gender Equality at SMCT
Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) is firmly committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment for our employees and customers. We recognise improving gender equality is an integral part of this commitment under the Gender Equality Act 2020. This report highlights our strides towards gender equality, at the midway point of our Gender Equality Action Plan (FY2022-2025) and recognises areas for further attention and outlines our approach for ongoing initiatives.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We are an equal opportunity employer with a focus on creating a workplace that cultivates diverse views and an inclusive mindset, in support of a diverse community.
We are a proud member of the Diversity Council of Australia.
As of June 2023, SMCT had a balance of people leaders, with 51% of women and 49% of men
We formed our co-created Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) working group, chaired by our Executive GEAP Champion, which aims to educate, celebrate and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion across our organisation.
We are committed to achieving the goals set out in our Gender Equality Action Plan as well additional aspirational goals set by our DEI working group.
We are conducting research to better understand the needs and preferences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which will inform our Reconciliation Action Plan.
We continually look for ways to make workplace adjustments to ensure the opportunities available to our people are inclusive.