Insurance

Not-for-profit organisations engaging volunteers must carry public liability insurance and volunteer personal accident insurance.

We strongly recommend that volunteer organisations seek professional advice to determine what insurance is available and appropriate for their needs. Below are four types of insurance your organisation may wish to consider:

1. Volunteers Workers Personal Accident
2. Public Liability
3. Directors and Officers/Professional Indemnity Liability and Voluntary Boards of Management
4. Motor Vehicle Insurance

Don't forget to read The Centre's Tips on Insurance as well.

1. Volunteers Workers Personal Accident

This covers accidental injury or death, resulting from involvement in authorised volunteer activity and may cover the payment of weekly benefits whilst engaged in various voluntary activities.

Cover can also be provided for weekly benefits to volunteers who earn an income elsewhere and it is lost, due to their volunteering. These benefits are usually for 104 weeks (please confirm with your insurance provider).

Other benefits which may be provided in the Volunteer Workers Personal Accident Policy are: Home Help, Student Tutorials, some out of pocket expenses, medical, pharmaceutical and funeral expenses etc. (please confirm with your insurance provider)

Benefits are paid on approval.

2. Public Liability

This policy protects the named organisation, paid workers and volunteers for their legal liability to third party property damage or personal injury. Coverage should be organised to protect the paid workers and volunteers to include legal action against them from clients and other third parties.

Some Public Liability policies do not provide cover for injured volunteers even where coverage is available. An injured volunteer could sue the organisation for negligence which can take years of litigation (please confirm with your insurance provider).

3. Directors and Officers/Professional Indemnity Liability and Voluntary Boards of Management

This policy can cover:

1. Action for alleged negligence or breach of duty
2. Any negligent advice given by a volunteer
3. Defamation and slander
4. Sexual harassment
5. Misleading advertising
6. Cover can be extended to cover fidelity guarantee, etc.

Please note: Directors and officers can't be relieved of their legal responsibility by any Articles of Association or Contract.

4. Motor Vehicle Insurance

Please consult with your insurance provider.

Tips on Insurance

• Check that your policy specifically covers your volunteer staff for their normal work practices and has an up-to-date age range.
• Presume anything not stated in your policy is NOT covered.
• Disclose all relevant facts to the insurer, even planned activities or events requiring insurance in the future.
• Presume risk management practices are a basis for insurance.

Insurance Checklist

1. Does your organisation have volunteer support?
2. Do your volunteer/s work "in house"?
3. Do your volunteer/s work externally?
4. Do your volunteer/s drive an organisation vehicle or their own vehicle?
5. Does your organisation have a Board or Management Committee?

If you have ticked at least one option you need to be covered by Personal Accident insurance for Volunteers.

Why?

Both your volunteer/s, your organisation and your Directors can be seriously disadvantaged if you are not adequately covered. In the eyes of the law, voluntary status is no different to paid staff status where a charge of negligence is concerned.

Disclaimer

his summary is designed to help ensure that you have some knowledge of Volunteer Insurance. It is based on information that to the best of our knowledge is correct. Agencies should seek independent advice from their Insurance Provider and discuss fully their needs. However, Volunteering NSW is not responsible for any damages incurred by agencies acting on the information provided.