Insurance for U3A Associations

INSURANCES – PUBLIC LIABILITY

CERTIFICATE of CURRENCY 2023/24:  For your records you may Download the 2023/24 Aon Public & Products Liability Certificate of Currency as supplied by our brokers [dated 8 February 2023] and here is link to the related INSURANCE POLICY.

Period of Insurance From: 4.00 pm 28/02/2023 Local Standard Time To: 4.00 pm 01/02/2024 Local Standard Time.

Please Note: If you have paid your premium (via. your 2023 Census Invoice payment) and your U3A is NOT named on the Certificate of Currency, or if third party interests are required to be noted on the Certificate of Currency, please contact your Network Aon Liaison Officer.

For your guidance the Explanations and Exemptions to the Public Liability Policy are detailed below.

The Network has recognised the need for Member U3As to have access to advice about the Insurances that the Network has identified as being suitable for your activities.  Your Network Aon Liaison Officer (Email: insurance@u3anet.org.au) will assist with insurance related matters and refer to Aon for specific advice when the need exists.

PUBLIC LIABILITY, EXPLANATIONS OF CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE COVER

Public Liability insurance protects you against the financial risk of being found liable to third parties for property and personal injury. PL provides coverage where a third party, e.g. a member of the public or service user, is killed or physically injured or their property is damaged due to proven negligence of a U3A.

All authorised U3A activities attended by members and official guests are covered under the policy.  All authorised U3A activities are acceptable, but high risk programs such as Cycling, Bush Walking, Canoeing, Sailing, Strenuous exercises etc must be specifically authorised. As individual U3As do not deal with the insurer, this being organised by the U3A Network, mention of activities needing specific authorisation may be made directly to your Network Aon Liaison Officer, at least 14 days before the event, for referral and inclusion.

Should a situation present at a Member U3A that has elected the Group Public Liability Insurance option (as listed on the P/L Insurance Certificate of Currency) and they find their Membership numbers grow and exceed the Census number by greater than 10% during the current year such a variation should also be ‘flagged’ to your Network Aon Liaison Officer.

One off events such as Open Days and concerts are also covered.

The policy generally provides for events and activities of up to 250 people. If a U3A is conducting an event in excess of 250 people, notice in advance of the event is required to your Network Aon Liaison Officer, at least 14 days before the event.

Cover includes legal costs and expenses incurred when defending a claim but only if costs are agreed beforehand by the insurer on a case by case basis.

There is no upper age limit for Public Liability Insurance for U3A. The minimum age is 8!

Annually Network collects data. U3As who wish to participate in the group Public Liability Policy and the number of their members by way of a Census, this information forms part of the Certificate of Currency issued annually by the insurer and published on this page, to ensure appropriate levels of cover in the Public Liability Policy U3As should ensure any sizeable increase in their membership are notified to your Network Aon Liaison Officer as noted above.

The Network has published Guides that will assist U3As in planning program to minimise the potential for Insurance claims and liability.
Please refer to the Good Governance Resources page on this site for advice about:

  • Home based courses (downloadable resource)
  • Copyright – ONEMUSIC
  • COVID-19 Liability Implications, and
  • Many other topics.

Please Note: Exemptions to the Public Liability Policy:

1. Sporting Activities

  • Policy excludes liability arising from participation in any sporting activities” refers to competitive sporting activities. Hence, while table tennis is covered, a table tennis competition is not. Also, body contact sports are not covered by the policy at all.( Further examples are provided above)

2.Pandemic/Epidemic

  • Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary within this Policy, it is declared and agreed that this Policy does not cover any loss, destruction, damage, liability, cost, expense, or any other amounts (whether actual or alleged), directly or indirectly caused by, or contributed to by, or in consequence of, or in any way connected with any:
    • disease determined to be a Listed Human Disease or in respect of which a Human Biosecurity Emergency is declared under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth) including any amendment, replacement, re-enactment, successor, equivalent or similar legislation including delegated legislation.
    • outbreak of infectious disease declared as a pandemic or epidemic by the World Health Organization or any Australian government or Australian government agency; or
    • disease determined by the World Health Organisation to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

3. Cyber

  • Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary within this Policy or any endorsement thereto, the Insurer shall not be liable in respect of:
  • Cyber Act or Cyber Incident including, but not limited to, any action taken in controlling, preventing, suppressing, or remediating any Cyber Act or Cyber Incident; or
  • loss of use, reduction in functionality, repair, replacement, restoration, reproduction, loss, or theft of any Data, including any amount pertaining to the value of such Data; resulting from or arising out of a Cyber Incident or a Cyber Act.
  • However, this Exclusion shall not apply in respect of liability arising out of:
    • Injury other than discrimination, invasion of privacy, infringement of intellectual property rights, breach of confidentiality, libel, slander defamation or other reputational injury; or
    • 2. Property Damage, which does not include Data for the purposes of this exclusion; or
    • 3. Advertising Injury other than invasion of privacy, libel, slander, or defamation. resulting from or arising out of a Cyber Incident or a Cyber Act.

For the purpose of this exclusion only, the following definitions apply:

Computer System means any computer, hardware, software, communications system (including, but not limited to, smart phone, laptop, tablet, wearable device), server, cloud or microcontroller including any similar system or any configuration of the aforementioned and including any associated input, output, Data storage device, networking equipment or back up facility, owned or operated by the Insured or any other party.

Cyber Act means an illegal, malicious, or criminal act or series of related illegal, malicious or criminal acts, regardless of time and place, or the threat or hoax thereof involving access to, processing of, use of or operation of any Computer System.

Cyber Incident means

  • any error in creating, amending, entering, deleting, or using Data; or
  • any partial or total unavailability of, or failure to access or process Data

Data means information, facts, concepts, code, or any other information of any kind that is recorded or transmitted in electronic or digital form to be used, accessed, processed, transmitted, or stored by a Computer System. 

ADDITIONAL INSURANCE OPTIONS

The following two Insurance covers have been identified as being suitable by the Network, and with the Network’s recommendation and are available directly from Aon:

1. VOLUNTARY WORKERS PERSONAL ACCIDENT

This can help cover volunteers. “Covering people carrying out activities on behalf and at the direction of the Insured including direct travel to and from the voluntary activity, for accidental injury or death” (emphasis added).

This cover should  be considered by U3As as extending the cover of the PL policy.

Download the AoN:  VWPA Brochure and VWPA Proposal Form

For further information contact your Network Aon Liaison Officer

2. PROTECTOR ASSOCIATION LIABILITY

This covers the key areas of risk for Associations:

  • Professional Indemnity
  • Management Liability
  • Association Liability
  • Employment Practices Liability
  • Unemployment Fraud or Dishonesty

Download the AoN:  PAL Brochure and PAL Proposal Form

3. PROPERTY or THEFT INSURANCE

The Network recognises that some U3As may require Property or Theft cover as it may be appropriate in some situations.

For further information on any of the above 1. 2. and 3. insurance options contact our Aon Client Executive Sevag Jambazian sevag.jambazian@aon.com, who may also be contacted on 1800 123 266

General  The Network does not offer the above three covers, as each U3A association has its own specific requirements. These types of covers are subject to separate policies issued to each U3A upon application. You may also download information from the Aon Risk Solutions website.