FAQ

What are the different types of membership?

SUBSCRIBER

A Subscriber pays a yearly Subscription Fee and may sign a Cryonic Suspension Agreement when ready. The Agreement states how full payment for suspension will be made in the future and describes the terms of service. A Subscriber does not have voting rights like Members.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

A Subscriber becomes an Associate Member automatically (subject to Board approval) after 5 continuous years as a Subscriber after the Facility Commencement Date (see the Constitution). An Associate Member pays a yearly Subscription Fee and has voting rights. An Associate Member may sign a Cryonic Suspension Agreement when ready.

FOUNDING AND FULL MEMBERS

Before the Commencement Date of the facility, these Members contributed non-refundable funds to launch the company. They are like investors and their entitlements include one free suspension for themself or a nominated person. These membership types are no longer available to new clients.

What are the benefits of becoming a Subscriber?

When you are on our books as a Subscriber:

• The cost of your suspension is significantly lower than for a non-Subscriber.
• All your relevant documentation can be signed and filed in readiness, enabling us to react quickly if you need a suspension. Otherwise, a waiting period applies while we obtain signatures on all the agreements, consents, etc. that are required for your suspension.
• You have access to cryonics-specific policies with major Australian life insurance providers.
• And if you are not insurable, you have access to our advice on other suitable methods of finance.
• You have ready access to CryoPath, whom we can engage on your behalf for Standby, Stabilisation and Transportation. This makes your suspension as timely and effective as possible.
• You can help steer the direction of Southern Cryonics as an Associate Member after 5 years as a Subscriber.
• You are on our mailing list and receive updates of our activities.

How do I initiate your service when I am terminally ill or critically injured?

SUMMARY

• First call 000 if not in hospital.
• Call our contact number as shown at bottom of this website.
• Move the patient to a cool room in a hospital or mortuary.

Further explanation of these initiation steps is given below.

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

It is wise to have a representative who knows about your arrangements with us for cryonic suspension and can act for you if you are incapacitated when the time comes. Avoidance of delay is critical in order to reduce the risk of ischaemic damage to your brain. This applies regardless of the situation of your death, as follows.

DEATH IN HOSPITAL

If you are hospitalised with a potentially fatal condition and are not expected to survive, you or your representative should advise us ASAP so we can monitor and prepare. If possible, we would like to mobilise our team about 3 days in advance. If you die unexpectedly in this situation, your representative should ensure that you are moved to the hospital cool room ASAP.

DEATH AT HOME

If you are critically injured at home or elsewhere during your daily routine, you or your representative should advise us ASAP after calling 000. If you die in this situation, your representative should ask paramedics to move you to a mortuary cool room ASAP, regardless of the time elapsed since death.

NEXT OF KIN

Your Next of Kin (or your Executor) will need to be readily contactable for authorisation to release your body for SST prior to cryonic suspension.

What emergency notification device is recommended?

After completion of your suspension documentation, you may choose to wear an Emergency Notification bracelet or pendant, or keep a wallet card or keyring on your person. This would show our emergency number and tell those around you who to call. Due to differences in client preferences and possible changes in notification details over time, we do not provide such an item but rather suggest that you source one to suit your own needs.

Appropriate wording would be something like this:

For cryonic emergencies

📞 0450 643 898

Southern Cryonics

To mitigate the risk of unexpected incapacitation when at home alone, you can wear a medical alert device or similar. This device would monitor your vital signs and raise the alarm with your trusted representative in the case of a medical incident. This representative should be a family member, friend or someone else who knows about your cryonic intention, understands the need for immediate cooling, and has been given our Emergency Number.

Subscription Fee

Annual subscription funds contribute towards maintenance of the building, grounds and equipment, as well as the various professional services and government levies needed to keep the facility operational. This ensures it will be ready when you need it at short notice later in your life.

This fee does not apply to Founding and Full Members.

• Adult Subscriber: AU$350 per year
• Premium Adult Subscriber: $2,350 per year or $25,000 lump sum once only
• Child age 12–18: AU$175 per year
• Child under age 12: free.

Cryonic Suspension Fee

This once-only fee covers your suspension procedure and the ongoing storage requirements for the entire period that you remain in suspension. Note that the fee does not cover SST services prior to your suspension.

This fee does not apply to Founding and Full Members.

• AU$200,000 for a Subscriber
• AU$230,000 for a non-Subscriber

SST services estimate

This estimate covers the specialised Standby, Stabilisation and Transportation (SST) services that are needed prior to being suspended at Southern Cryonics. Your SST costs will vary according to location, and are incurred by CryoPath (or a provider of your choice) at the time of suspension on a pay-as-you-go basis. The estimate is usually for your current home address. However, you can be covered for interstate or overseas SST if you wish.

Shown here are current estimates. Any unused excess will be returned to your estate or nominated representative. SST procedures are explained in The Cryonic Process.

• Sydney/Canberra: AU$60,000
• Melbourne/Brisbane: AU$70,000
• Hobart/Adelaide/Perth/Darwin: AU$80,000
• Regional area outside capital city: additional $5,000.

When is payment made?

For all funding methods, including life insurance, payment is made at the time of suspension (or within an acceptable timeframe thereafter in the case of a payment via your Will). Note that if you use a pre-payment funding method, full payment must be made prior to your suspension with sufficient time allowed for us to initiate our services, usually about three days. Otherwise, your suspension would be delayed until payment is made, and this could seriously jeopardize its success.

The multiple funding methods we offer are designed to cater for the varying circumstances of our clients in a cost effective manner. We do not offer term payment plans due to the overheads required for us to engage fund management services on your behalf. Instead, we suggest that the same goal is achieved through your use of a bank account to make periodic deposits and manage your investment until payment is needed. This allows you to maintain control of your funds while still relatively young and to use them if necessary as your circumstances change.

This does not preclude pre-payment via installments at the time of suspension. In this case, installments are often needed to comply with bank transfer limits, and the installments would be made in close succession rather than on a term basis.

Are unused Subscriber funds returned?

If you cannot be suspended for any reason, most if not all of the funds will be unused and thus returned (minus any expenses we incur, e.g. for starting our process in good faith or performing an alternative method of burial). When you fill out your Agreement, you will specify that unused funds are to be returned either to your estate or to your nominated representative. We do this rather than specifying that funds will be returned in the event that you are not cryonically preserved. We base our practice on that of well-established cryonics organisations overseas. Past experience there, particularly in USA, shows that the latter specification can create an incentive for family members to challenge your suspension. So the usual practice overseas now is to maintain good faith by returning any unused funds to your estate or nominated representative after any incurred expenses are met. We follow the overseas practice.

Can I combine funding methods?

Yes.

Can I change my funding method?

Yes. This is done by submitting a new Cryonic Suspension Agreement. You would need to notify us of your intended change, and we can then send you a new Agreement for electronic signing. Such a change in funding method might be warranted because life insurance premiums have become too expensive with advancing age. You might wish to reduce your insured sum and complement your life insurance with pre-payment, or switch to full pre-payment. Or you might need to switch to payment through your Will.

How do I obtain life insurance?

Our insurance broker deals with major Australian life insurance organisations and has experience sourcing suitable policies for cryonics. We can put you in touch after you become a Subscriber.

As a NZ resident, how do I obtain life insurance?

Our insurance broker is unable to source a life insurance policy for a NZ resident. However, you may be able to find a provider. Some of our NZ clients do consider relocating to Australia to solve this problem, and to simplify the SST logistics in the event of sudden death.

Can I use my existing life insurance policy?

Yes, if it meets the conditions necessary to ensure payment to us at the time of your suspension. You will need to provide documentary evidence of the policy showing provider, policy type, policy number, policy indexation, beneficiary, insured amount, percentage of insured amount assigned to beneficiary, and up-to date status of premium payments. The conditions are:

• The policy must be for yourself.
• The beneficiary must be named as Stasis Systems Australia Ltd (ACN 158 203 448).
• The amount for this beneficiary must cover the fees defined in your Cryonic Suspension Agreement.
• The policy should be indexed to cover increases in SST costs over time.

Can I use my superannuation life insurance cover?

No, Australian law allows a superannuation death benefit to be paid only to a dependent or to your legal personal representative (the executor of your estate). Therefore, a company cannot be named as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy from your superannuation provider.

Can I make a yearly cash payment in lieu of life insurance?

No. We cannot provide pseudo-insurance services such as a regular annual cash payment in lieu of insurance, as we are not an accredited insurance provider. Note that this does not preclude payment in installments for clients who have opted for the pre-payment funding method.

Can life insurance cover both my suspension and SST costs?

Yes, assuming you use CryoPath as your SST provider. The amount of cover can be set depending on your SST estimate.

Can work on my suspension begin before the insurance payout occurs?

Yes. As long as we are confident the life insurance policy will ultimately cover the costs, Southern Cryonics assumes this temporary financial responsibility. If your policy is current and meets all the insurer’s requirements, we will proceed with the necessary arrangements after death and manage the expenses ourselves until the required documentation—such as death certificate—is collected, and the policy is paid out to Southern Cryonics. Typically, this payout process takes about two months.

What are the advantages of life insurance?

As a young person, you may not yet have been able to save the necessary funds for a cryonic suspension. However, with Southern Cryonics nominated as the beneficiary for the required amount and a signed Cryonic Suspension Agreement, life insurance is an affordable way to fund a cryonic suspension in the short to medium term. Because payment through life insurance is made automatically upon your death (subject to the regulations of the provider), your cryonic suspension is not jeopardized in the following circumstances:

• You do not have invested funds available for pre-payment.
• You have invested funds but want to effectively manage them while still relatively young. Note that we do not manage pre-paid funds on a long-term interest-bearing basis.
• You have no-one to transfer invested funds for you in the case of unexpected incapacitation. Note that in the absence of life insurance, we must receive your funds before your suspension can proceed.
• You have life insurance through superannuation, but it does not allow a company to be named as the beneficiary of the policy. In Australia, most life insurance through superannuation has this drawback.
• You do not have accumulated assets that can be easily liquidated to allow payment through your Will without challenge and within a reasonable timeframe.

What factors will influence the cost of a new life insurance policy?

Australian life insurance is generally affordable until the age of about 65 or 70 if you are in good health, insurable, and a permanent resident. Factors that can adversely affect this are:

• Health history. If you have any previous significant health concerns (cancer, heart attacks, etc.), this may lead to loadings or exclusions.
• Family history. If you have a significant family history of a particular health condition, this may lead to loadings or exclusions.
• Smoking status. If you are a smoker, this will almost double the cost.
• Dangerous roles. If you work with hazardous materials, or at heights, for example, a dangerous role may lead to loadings or exclusions.
• Structure of premiums. Stepped versus level structure of your premiums will have differing costs.
• Frequency of premiums. If you pay annually, you will save approximately one month’s premium.

If I am not insurable, can I pre-pay?

Yes. We understand that some Subscribers and Associate Members cannot obtain life insurance because of ill health, or that life insurance is unaffordable in their later years, or that they expect to have sufficient saved funds or liquefiable assets and therefore do not need life insurance.

Note that full payment must be completed before we can perform any work on your SST or suspension. This is because an intention to pre-pay does not give us the surety of payment that a life insurance policy provides.

If desired, we can further discuss your needs with you. Basically, there are two options, as follows.

PAYMENT IN THE SHORT TERM

This funding method involves full payment by yourself now to cater for advanced age or a diagnosed terminal condition with a limited life expectancy. Funding can include SST (provided by CryoPath) and suspension.

Please be aware that transfer of funds can potentially be delayed by the need for multiple transactions to comply with a daily bank transfer limit, by possible bank checks on large transfers, and/or by any required notice period before superannuation funds can be released.

PAYMENT IN THE FUTURE

This less common funding method relies on a trusted representative of your choice who is fully committed to your cryonic intention and can make full payment for you at a time closer to your suspension. It caters for your future incapacitation or sudden death, and/or your inability to pay through your Will because of uncertainty and possible complications. Funding can include SST (provided by CryoPath) and suspension.

It is your responsibility to make prior arrangements with your representative. These arrangements may include any joint bank account, third-party access or reimbursement that you deem necessary and should be based on advice from your solicitor. You can change your representative whenever you wish without affecting your Agreement with us.

Please be aware that transfer of funds can potentially be delayed by the need for multiple transactions to comply with a daily bank transfer limit, and by possible bank checks on large transfers. Also, note that third-party access to a bank account expires upon the holder’s death, whereas access by a living joint account holder does not.

How can I avoid delays when pre-paying?

To avoid delays, please ensure your payment allows sufficient time for our team to reach you, usually a few days.

In the case of a false alarm where an urgent payment has been made to avoid delays, the funds will be returned to you minus any costs incurred.

Why can’t I pre-pay far in advance?

We are unable to manage pre-paid funds for you on an interest-bearing basis. So our terms for payment allow you to retain control of your funds until closer to your suspension, thereby maximising the investment potential.

If I am not insurable, can I pay through my Will?

Yes. We understand that some Subscribers and Associate Members cannot obtain life insurance because of ill health, or that life insurance is unaffordable in their later years, or that they expect to have sufficient non-liquid assets and therefore do not need life insurance.

At our discretion, we may accept payment terms from certain clients who have the capacity to make payment through their Will within an acceptable timeframe. These terms will suit clients whose suspension is possibly imminent because of advanced age or ill health, who already have substantial assets but few cash reserves, and who are therefore unable to arrange pre-payment. Funding can include SST (provided by CryoPath) and suspension.

Please note:

• Payment through your Will requires a Premium Subscribership that contributes to your estimated SST expenses (refundable upon payment from your Will), because SST costs are incurred at the time of suspension and so must be prepaid. See Costs.
• Our Board of Directors would need to assess your situation to minimise the risk of payment default. You would need to demonstrate the availability of sufficient unencumbered assets of known value which can be easily liquidated and are not likely to be the subject of challenge(s) from either current or future dependants.
• There can be many complications with Wills, and you would not be able to mitigate these after your death. Your suspension could be seriously jeopardised.

What are the conditions of Premium Subscribership?

The current fee(s) for Premium Subscribership are shown under Costs.

Conditions:

1. The patient must be a Premium Subscriber for at least three consecutive years up to the date of the cryonic suspension. The annual fee for a Premium Subscriber includes the normal Subscriber Fee plus a Premium Fee to cover some of the SST costs if the patient’s Will takes some time to pay out.
2. Alternatively, the patient may pay the Premium Fees as a one-time lump sum before their cryonic suspension and remain a Premium Subscriber until suspension or termination of the agreement and will not be subject to any other Premium Fees.
3. If the suspension agreement is terminated before cryonic suspension, the Premium Fee(s) already paid by the patient will be refunded within 6 months, and there will be no further obligation by Southern Cryonics or the patient from the time of the termination of the agreement. In addition, the patient ceases at this time to be a Premium Subscriber.
4. The patient must have an approved Will in place that specifies Southern Cryonics is paid a certain amount in cash or in a form acceptable to Southern Cryonics, known as the Total Cryonics Suspension Fee, upon the patient’s death. The Total Cryonics Suspension Fee is envisaged to include the fees associated with a cryonics suspension and any SST costs (Standby, Stabilisation and Transportation). It is subject to item 5 below.
5. This Total Cryonics Suspension Fee will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on the patient’s location and type of SST required.
6. If the Total Cryonics Suspension Fee is paid through superannuation, the superannuation must pass to the estate so that it can be paid to Southern Cryonics through the patient’s Will.
7. If the patient’s Will does not pay Southern Cryonics the Total Cryonics Suspension Fee within one calendar year of suspension, the cryonic suspension of the patient will cease. There will be no refunds of the Premium Fees paid.
8. Depending on factors such as the speed of finalising the Will and the incurring of atypical costs related to the patient’s suspension, Southern Cryonics may refund part or all of the Premium Fees which will be paid to the patient’s estate. Southern Cryonics will make all such determinations.
9. If the cost of SST is lower than envisaged at the time of the agreement, Southern Cryonics will refund the excess to the patient’s estate. Southern Cryonics will make all such determinations.

Why are the fees for suspension and SST costed separately?

SST procedures require specialist expertise, and are provided by another organisation on a pay-as-you-go basis at the time of your actual suspension, i.e. in the future. As they are currently unknown and are likely to rise over time, they can only be estimated, and must be costed separately from the Cryonic Suspension Fee. Note that any unused SST funds will be returned to your estate or nominated representative.

As estimated SST costs will rise over time, how can I cover the increase?

If your funding is through life insurance, the increase in SST costs over time will likely be covered by indexation of your policy.

If your funding is via pre-payment, the increase will likely be covered if the funds are invested at a suitable interest rate.

As a Subscriber or Associate Member, is my SST covered while travelling?

Usually, the SST cost estimate provided to you is for SST from your home address in Australia. If your home is outside of NSW, your coverage will include your Australian state and states closer to NSW as well. SST costs for states further afield are not covered unless specifically stated in your estimate. Overseas travel is not covered. See below.

How can I cover extra SST costs while travelling interstate?

To cover the extra cost of SST interstate, your options depend on how often you travel, where you travel to, how much risk you think this presents, and whether you have a representative (family, friend, solicitor, etc.) to act for you in an incapacitating emergency.

Note that CryoPath can only start work when the cost of the services and supplies it requires are covered. This is because they are procured on a pay-as-you-go basis. The options to cover extra SST costs are as follows.

PRE-PAYMENT OF THE EXTRA FUNDS

If you have a representative, and if the risk is relatively low, you might opt to put aside invested funds that your representative can access in the event of your unexpected incapacity and possible death. Your representative would need to let us know when an emergency occurs and transfer any required extra funds to us.

INCREASING THE COVERAGE OF YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY

This might be an option for interstate SST, especially if you can’t find a representative to act for you.

Can my people be trained in SST procedures?

Training your own people in SST procedures to assist CryoPath, including your funeral director, is not productive. Funeral directors are needed for use of their premises, for their transportation capability, and for their presence at the hospital. They do not need any special cryonics knowledge for that. We have an independent funeral director in Sydney who is very sympathetic to what we do, and has a good network of other similar funeral directors around Australia. Each SST case is different, and the decision how to proceed depends on the situation at the time.

Possible scenarios are:

• The hospital will not usually let you start any procedures, but a nursing home might.
• If the funeral home is less than 15 minutes away from the hospital, we don’t want to add 15 minutes’ duration in the hospital trying to attach all the pulmonary/aspiration devices.
• If the funeral home is, say, 1 hour away, we have the capability to start the process in the transportation vehicle.

The main issue is for someone to contact CryoPath early enough before you need to be suspended.

Can SST be arranged for Australian clients of overseas facilities?

CryoPath is not currently offering SST services for clients of overseas cryonics facilities, as recent changes in legislation make it almost impossible for an Australian company to organize the overseas transportation.

However, it might be possible for an international SST provider like International Cryomedicine Experts (ICE) to make arrangements with CryoPath and assist with the transportation because they are not an Australian entity. Their website is:

https://www.cryomedics.org/

You would maintain your established alert system and immediately contact your cryonics provider on their own emergency number in the event of an emergency. Arrangements, if any, would be made between your provider and CryoPath, not between yourself and CryoPath. Your provider would be CryoPath’s client and would need authorization from CryoPath before acting.

Can SST be arranged for Southern Cryonics clients travelling overseas?

https://www.cryomedics.org/

The above link is for International Cryomedicine Experts (ICE) headed by Aaron Drake, based in USA. They do international SST. Aaron is a leader in this field and is a trainer and mentor of our local CryoPath SST team in Australia. Note that this involves significant additional cost in the order of $100,000 to $200,000.

Because our suspension cost is based strictly on arrival of the deceased patient at our facility in Holbrook NSW, you would need to contact ICE yourself about overseas SST. The complexities introduced by overseas standby and transportation, along with government regulations, customs, etc. in both countries are beyond our capacity to manage. So everything up to arrival of the deceased patient at our facility in Holbrook would be handled by ICE. Of course they would liaise with us along the way but that would be for information only.

As a Subscriber of Southern Cryonics, if you die while travelling overseas, SST can be arranged there through ICE if practically possible. It would be advisable for you to contact ICE beforehand if you are undertaking any travel that is potentially risky.

Note that an Australian life insurance policy generally covers you if you die overseas, although there are important conditions. Most retail policies offer worldwide coverage, provided the policy was in force while you were an Australian resident. There can also be conditions related to living/travelling in countries with a Level 5 (Do Not Travel) classification from DFAT, and engaging in high-risk activities not declared on your original policy.

How can I cover extra SST costs while travelling overseas?

To cover the extra cost of SST overseas, your options depend on how often you travel, where you travel to, how much risk you think this presents, and whether you have a representative (family, friend, solicitor, etc.) to act for you in an incapacitating emergency.

Note that CryoPath can only start work when the cost of the services and supplies it requires are covered. This is because they are procured on a pay-as-you-go basis. The options to cover extra SST costs are as follows.

PRE-PAYMENT OF THE EXTRA FUNDS

If you have a representative, and if the risk is relatively low, you might opt to put aside invested funds that your representative can access in the event of your unexpected incapacity and possible death. Your representative would need to let us know when an emergency occurs and transfer any required extra funds to us.

INCREASING THE COVERAGE OF YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY

For overseas SST, increasing the insured sum would significantly increase your premiums. However this option is used by some clients whose risk is high because they live overseas, work in a dangerous occupation, and want to be suspended in Australia rather than in one of the USA facilities or Tomorrow Bio in Europe. Your insurance coverage can be increased later if you initially live and work in Australia and then relocate overseas.

How should I arrange SST if I relocate overseas?

If you relocate overseas, it would be more efficient for you to seek a suspension arrangement with either Alcor or Cryonics Institute in USA, or Tomorrow Bio in Switzerland. They would then arrange the SST. Note that in this case, you would also need to change the beneficiary of any insurance policy that you are using to fund your suspension and SST.

If you relocate overseas but still wish to be suspended with Southern Cryonics in Australia, your life insurance policy would need an appropriate amount of cover to include international SST by International Cryomedicine Experts (ICE):

https://www.cryomedics.org/

Do SST procedures differ in the case of sudden death without notice?

If sudden death occurs in hospital, we would recommend that the patient be placed in the hospital cool room (about 5 degrees C) immediately after death. If the SST team can get there within about 48 hours, then they may still consider doing a perfusion with cryoprotectant. However, if a significant delay occurs before the death is discovered, ischaemia may have occurred in the brain. After about 72 hours, this can be the case, and perfusion would not be recommended because severe damage can be caused by pushing perfusion solutions through areas where clotting has occurred. The preferred approach would then be a straight freeze rather than perfusion. The patient would be packed in dry ice (about -70 degrees C) and transferred to Southern Cryonics for further cooling and storage.

How can I reduce the likelihood of sudden death without notice?

If desired, the level of standby service can be increased to reduce the likelihood of sudden death without notice. Some clients have friends or family who are able to provide standby, or they engage a local nursing service. CryoPath can also provide extra standby, however this would significantly increase the cost of SST.

How does the SST perfusion approach compare with the straight freeze approach?

Whilst it is unknown what any future reanimation technology will be able to achieve, the prevailing belief at present is that if the circumstances allow, perfusion is preferred as an SST approach rather than straight freeze.

PERFUSION

Modern cryonics perfuses the body with a high-concentration cryoprotectant mixture (e.g., VS55, VM1) and then cools it fast enough that the whole solution solidifies into an amorphous ‘glass’—a process called vitrification. Because no crystals can nucleate, cellular ultrastructure and biomolecules remain essentially in situ, as shown in kidney-scale modeling and animal brain studies.

The same physics underpins everyday biomedical practice: human embryos, eggs, and sperm are routinely vitrified in IVF clinics, where >90 % survive thawing with intact viability; rapid ‘glass’ cooling is also advancing organ banking, with a rabbit kidney vitrified, rewarmed, and transplanted to long-term function in 2016. By adopting and scaling these clinically proven vitrification protocols to whole bodies, particularly the brain, ice damage is minimised and the finest cellular architecture is preserved for any future repair technologies.

There is a risk of toxicity in the cells caused by the cryoprotectant. However, studies have shown that the speed of cooling results in vitrification before the cellular structure can be adversely affected. It is possible that future technology could mitigate the toxicity and allow reanimation without an adverse affect on the cells.

STRAIGHT FREEZE

Conventional freezing lets water crystallize and possibly rupture membranes.

There is a risk of damage caused by ice crystal formation in the cells. However, it is possible that future technology could repair this damage.

Is the consent of my Next of Kin required before my deceased body can be released to the SST team?

Note that the following is general insight based on our experience, rather than formal legal advice. Note also that the situation differs if the Coroner intervenes and takes control of the body. In this case, the Next of Kin will ultimately have the final say after any coronial process, but this might be too late for a suspension to be viable.

The legal right and duty to dispose of the body belongs primarily to the Executor named in the deceased person’s Will. Instructions contained in the Will (or elsewhere) can be a guide, but legally the Executor holds final discretion over the exact method and location of disposal, including release to the SST team for preparation before cryonic suspension. If there is no Will or nominated Executor, the right of disposal passes to the surviving spouse or de facto partner, followed by the senior Next of Kin.

In practice, it is often the senior Next of Kin who is present at the hospital and is recognized by the staff and funeral director, so they are frequently able to obtain release of the body to the SST team. If no-one in the chain is present, delays will occur until someone with the right of disposal can be found.

For situations where there is no Next of Kin, or the Next of Kin is unlikely to be involved, or the patient wishes to exclude the Next of Kin and appoint a non-relative as Executor, several key steps should be followed to ensure the Executor can take charge:

• Prepare a valid Will that clearly states the patient’s wish.
• Ensure the nominated Executor is sympathetic to cryonics.
• Obtain a solicitor’s letter confirming the Executor’s appointment.
• Ensure the hospital and funeral director are notified in advance.
• Ensure the Executor will be present at the hospital when the patient passes away.

Should I state my cryonic intention in my Will?

Yes. Note however that a Will deals mainly with your assets, rather than with what happens to your body after death. In Australia, that authority lies with your Executor or your senior Next of Kin. By signing the Next of Kin Agreement, this person confirms that they will fully support your cryonic suspension.

For a statement in your Will, the following is a guideline but it should not be treated as legal advice. Instead, you should see your solicitor to ensure that your wishes regarding cryonic suspension are effectively communicated and properly worded so as not to delay the administration of your estate. Your Will should:

• Nominate the person to whom you wish to transfer your interment right. This can be Southern Cryonics.
• Include a legally sound expression of your desire to be cryonically preserved immediately after your death.
• Include a definition of Cryonic Suspension: the low-temperature preservation of your body after legal death, with the expectation that future medical technologies may enable revival.
• Clearly specify your intention to undergo the cryonic preservation process.
• Mention any arrangements you’ve made with a cryonics organization, including the organization’s name (e.g., Southern Cryonics) and any membership details.
• Include instructions for the Executor to to cooperate with your chosen cryonics organization to fulfill your intention, and to facilitate payment through whatever means you have specifically earmarked for this purpose.
• Include a clause reinforcing that your cryonics wish must be respected. This can be a no-contest statement: ‘Any person who contests my decision to be cryonically preserved shall forfeit any benefit they would otherwise have received under this Will.’

Can my pet be cryonically suspended?

Yes. Pet suspension is available for both Subscribers and Non-Subscribers at our discretion on a case-by-case basis. There is no requirement to become a Subscriber and no additional yearly fee for an existing Subscriber who has their pet suspended.

Note that we only do a straight freeze for pets. We do not do SST (standby, stabilisation, transportation and perfusion) for pets.

Can my pet be suspended in Australia after dying overseas?

No. Australia has strict biosecurity laws to protect its unique ecosystem, and any animal entering the country remains under biosecurity control. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is the primary authority for biosecurity in Australia. An intact deceased pet cannot fulfill their import conditions for a live animal, so a deceased animal is not eligible for release into the country. It will not be released from biosecurity control and must be disposed of at an approved biosecurity facility. The importation of pet remains is only permitted as ashes, which makes subsequent cryonic suspension impossible.

What is the cost of pet suspension?

The cost to suspend a pet varies according to weight. A firm quote can only be given at the time of passing, and would be dependent on the submission of photos of the deceased pet.

Conditions of acceptance:

• Pets larger than a human cannot be accommodated.
• Pet suspensions must be prepaid via a lump sum.
• SST is not included in the quoted price.
• It is the owner’s responsibility to arrange SST for the pet. We can give info on options.
• All legs of the pet must be placed alongside the body in a compact manner to minimise the space required.

If accepted, the following steps must be arranged by yourself and would be at your own expense, in addition to the suspension quote:

• Pack the pet in dry ice at your local vet’s office.
• Deliver the deceased pet to the Southern Cryonics facility at Holbrook.

Can my health record be stored?

We can store this electronically for Subscribers and Members at no extra cost if you wish. However, note the following which could make this unnecessary:

• Science and medicine today is able to take interred and decayed bodies from the past and determine their ailments and cause of death. The science of 200 years from now will likely know much more than we know now about a patient who has been carefully preserved.
• Your current body (except for the brain) will probably be unusable. It is more likely that you will be brought back in a new young, healthy body.

Can my momentos be stored?

We can store token items for Subscribers and Members at no extra cost, as long as they are of sentimental value only and are not too large. Some clients are leaving USB sticks with messages and videos, or even written notes.

Note that at the time of your legal death, all your assets pass to your estate and are then owned by your heirs. They no longer belong to you. So we advise clients not to store valuable items that would most likely be wanted by the recipient of the estate. If these were stored with us, we would be legally obliged to hand them over. For items of sentimental value that are stored with us, the recipient may wish to donate them to Southern Cryonics after inheriting them.

Are neuro suspensions available?

Brain-only and head-only options are not currently available at Southern Cryonics. However they are under consideration, as we have received a significant number of inquiries. They would require additional equipment, adjustment of protocols and outsourcing of the required surgical skills. A feasibility study is underway.

Meanwhile, if you want to sign your Cryonic Suspension Agreement now, you will be able to easily change your method of suspension (and your payment amount if applicable) later if we add more offerings. That way you’re covered in the interim.

Is Aldehyde Stabilized Cryopreservation available?

Aldehyde stabilized cryopreservation (ASC), is not currently available at Southern Cryonics. As a relatively young cryonics organisation, we follow the protocols of the established cryonics facilities in USA. The AAC process is quite different from typical vitrification. At the moment, Tomorrow Bio in Europe is researching it, but none of the major international cryonic providers offers it to clients.

Is freezing of organs available?

We do not provide cryogenic storage of organs intended for transplantation. This is currently being studied using animal models in laboratories. However, it is not yet accepted in clinical practice for human patients.

Is temporary tissue storage available?

We do not provide temporary storage of human organs or tissue. Standard clinical preservation of human tissue before transplantation relies on static cold storage at 0°C to 4°C, which keeps organs viable for only a brief window. By contrast, we only conduct full human body cryonic suspensions after legal death, which involves storage at much lower liquid nitrogen temperatures over a very long term.

So whilst we are sympathetic to such requests, we must respectfully decline them. They are inconsistent with our Constitution and outside the scope of what we do as a cryonics organisation. We are bound to abide by what our Members expect of us, especially concerning the legal risks and liabilities involved in taking on something that sits well outside our defined responsibilities.

Are alternative funding models available?

We remain interested in ways to improve accessibility to cryonics, but when a client is not able to make a prior arrangement using one of our nominated funding options, we must avoid offering a pathway that undermines the legal, financial and operational safeguards of long-term dependable care for all patients.

Alternative funding models that are sometimes suggested include mutual-aid or hardship funds, charitable sponsorship, crowdfunding, and partnerships with financial institutions. The main difficulty with these is that funding is not dependable when needed. We therefore require full payment or the surety of payment through life insurance or a Will before we can begin any work on a patient’s SST or suspension. This aligns with our principles of sound governance, regulatory compliance, manageable administration, and a reliable way of meeting costs for all clients when needed.

Is revival covered by the Cryonic Suspension Fee?

Generally, yes. Our funds are invested prudently to provide a modest return above inflation over the long term, intended to consistently maintain a current funding level that will cover both storage care and revival.

However, we have no way of knowing what the revival component of the fee will be when a procedure becomes available, and therefore we cannot know whether we would have funds available to cover it for all Members. We assume that, like all fees for medical procedures, it will tend to reduce over time. So, if an initial fee for a safe revival is too high, we would need to wait until the fee was lower or an alternative affordable procedure became available.

Can I set up a Trust fund to finance my life after revival?

Some of our clients are using a separate long-term Trust to cover any additional fee (if applicable) above the funds that Southern Cryonics would have available for revival at the time. This could allow those clients to be revived earlier rather than waiting. Whilst this is an untested area of legal regulation, there are several options depending on your requirements: testamentary, in vivo, and pooled Trusts. We have a sister organization, CryoPrime, that provides these options.

The main objectives of CryoPrime’s constitution are:

• To assist with the equitable caretaking, even after death and cryonic suspension, of those donating, making bequests or similar arrangements to the Company.
• To hold funds, property, bequests and investments in trust for cryonics and related purposes.

We can provide more information depending on your requirements.

As a Founding or Full Member, what documents do I need to sign?

A contract is not required because entitlements for Founding and Full Members are described in the CONSTITUTION, available for viewing here. Entitlements include one free suspension for the Member OR anyone of their choosing, upon arrival at the facility, excluding extra services. This entitlement comes into effect after the operational commencement date of the facility (1 March 2024). However, whilst the Constitution does grant a free suspension, this suspension must be fully documented, as shown below. The following documents can be sent to a Member for electronic signing (via DocuSign) and are available here for prior viewing:

INFORMED CONSENT

Legally required, as per our regulations.

FREE SUSPENSION OPTIONS

Not mandatory. The Member may list someone other than themself to receive their one free suspension. Up to three (3) nominees may be listed in order of priority.

RELIGIOUS OBJECTION TO AUTOPSY

Not mandatory, but it can avoid destructive procedures and consequent delays that would greatly diminish your chances of an optimal suspension, especially in the event of any doubt re cause of death.

NEXT OF KIN AGREEMENT

Not mandatory, but it can avoid delays at the time of suspension. Your Next of Kin is legally responsible for the disposal of your body, and in the event of any doubt, this records their agreement with cryonic suspension procedures by Southern Cryonics.

INTERMENT RIGHT CONTRACT

Required to be signed by your Next of Kin at the time of your suspension under government regulations. Because it must be linked to a particular physical location (building, dewar, position and pod) which may need to change over time with changing storage configurations and equipment replacement, this Right is renewable rather than perpetual.

CRYOPATH ARRANGEMENT

This formal arrangement is provided by CryoPath. Signing is mandatory if you want CryoPath to provide your SST services. Note that you may arrange your own SST if you wish.

Is SST covered for Founding and Full Members?

No, not without a specific arrangement. The membership entitlements of Founding Members and Full Members do not include any extra services such as SST procedures.

For current SST estimates from CryoPath, see Costs.

SST procedures are performed by another organisation (e.g. CryoPath) on a pay-as-you-go basis at the time of your actual suspension, varying with location. So they are currently unknown and can only be estimated. They must be funded separately as an extra service and pre-paid. This can be done at any time prior to suspension, and we can advise on options to accomplish it efficiently. The unused balance of your pre-payment will be returned to your estate or nominated representative.

How can a Founding or Full Member pay for SST?

We offer some options for payment of your SST, as shown below. Our payment terms allow you to retain control of your funds until just prior to your suspension, as we are unable to manage pre-paid funds for individuals on an interest-bearing basis. Please contact us for an SST estimate.

Note that:

• Full payment must be received before any work can proceed, and sufficient time before your death should be allowed for our team to reach you, usually a few days.
• Allowance should be made for SST cost pressures over time if arranging payment in the future, either through interest accrued, topping-up, or indexation of your insurance policy. In the case of a false alarm where an urgent payment has been made to avoid delays, the funds will be returned to you minus any costs incurred.
• Transfer of funds can potentially be delayed by the need for multiple transactions to comply with a daily bank transfer limit, by possible bank checks on large transfers, by the expiration of third-party access to a bank account upon the holder’s death, and/or by any required notice period before superannuation funds can be released.

LOAN AGREEMENT WITH CRYOPATH

This funding method may suit clients who wish to transfer funds in the short term because of advanced age or a diagnosed terminal condition with a limited life expectancy.

The basis of the Agreement is an interest-free loan. It allows CryoPath to act immediately upon receiving notification of your death, avoiding any delays due to bank transfers.

PRE-PAYMENT TO CRYOPATH BY YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE FITURE

This funding method may suit younger clients who wish to cater for future incapacitation.

It is your responsibility to make prior arrangements with your trusted representative, including any joint bank account, third party access or reimbursement that you deem necessary.

LIFE INSURANCE

This funding method may suit younger clients without major health risks or dangerous occupations.

If you choose CryoPath as your SST provider, you can arrange for Southern Cryonics to liaise with CryoPath on your behalf for life insurance. To meet the conditions necessary to ensure payment at the time of your suspension, the policy must be for yourself, the beneficiary must be named as Stasis Systems Australia Ltd (ACN 158 203 448), and the amount for this beneficiary must cover the SST estimate provided. The policy should be indexed to cover increases in SST costs over time.