Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mourning: Understanding Sorry Business

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia have many different communities, languages, and customs around death. This article explains what government guidance says about “Sorry Business” and how to be respectful. It is a general introduction, not a substitute for guidance from the local community and the family, and it leaves out ceremonial detail that is not public.

What is Sorry Business?

It is a term widely used across Aboriginal communities for the mourning process and the obligations that go with it. The NSW Government’s guidelines say that during Sorry Business, families, friends, and the community come together to grieve, with mourning protocols, time frames, and communal activities that can include rituals, ceremonies, and burial. What it involves varies from place to place. Services Australia notes that in Torres Strait Islander culture the mourning period is known as Sad News. A local council describes Sorry Business as a sacred cultural practice that extends beyond the immediate family and brings the wider community together.

How long does it last?

The family decides. The NSW guidelines say the time frame for Sorry Business is determined by the family, and the conventions and time frames vary from place to place, Services Australia says. During this time, a council guide notes, non-essential business may be delayed until Sorry Business is finished.

Why is the name of a person who has died sometimes not used?

Out of respect, and to allow the spirit to rest. The NSW guidelines explain that many communities no longer display photographs or videos of the person, and no longer speak their name. This is to allow the person’s spirit to “let go.” Sometimes another word is used in its place. Services Australia adds that, in general, the name of a deceased person is not spoken in communities. Community members who share the name must change theirs. Even names similar to the person’s name, or an everyday item with that name, may stop being used.

What does that mean in practice?

Ask first. The NSW guidelines say a deceased person’s name or image should not be used without the family’s permission. An Australian Capital Territory good-practice guide explains that for some Aboriginal peoples, particularly in northern Australia, strict cultural practices prohibit seeing an image of a person who has died. This can include their name, written material with their name, their artwork, and recordings of their music. Seeing or hearing these can cause deep distress for the family and community. The guide says that if you have used a person’s photo on a website and the person has passed away, the family may ask you to take it down.

How can I show respect during Sorry Business?

By being mindful of privacy. A local council advises not asking for more information than you need and avoiding unnecessary questions, which can be seen as prying and offensive. Another council’s cultural guide says to avoid using the person’s name and not to display pictures of them. It notes that close family may take time off work. Others will take time off to help organize Sorry Business and support the family. It adds that leave for Sorry Business is available only to people the family of the person who died approves.

What about funeral and cemetery arrangements?

The NSW Government has published guidelines to help cemeteries and funeral providers meet the cultural and spiritual needs of Aboriginal people, which shows that these needs are recognized in official practice. If you are a funeral professional, ask the family and local community what they want rather than assuming. For comparison with other communities’ practices, see Māori Tangihanga and Death Around the World. For general support with loss, see What Is Grief?.