Insurance The insurance policy for P&Cs is issued in the name of the ACT Council of P&C Associations and each individual association participating is endorsed on that policy. Insurance cover relates only to activities sponsored by and/or staffed by P&C representatives and equipment owned or purchased by the P&C. It is not a general school or student insurance scheme. It covers the following: public liability, loss through fire, burglary, theft in the open air, machinery breakdown, loss of money, personal accident for voluntary workers and children in their care. Worker's Compensation Public Liability covers the legal liability of the P&C and its representatives that may be incurred at any P&C function or activity. As well as physical injury, it covers property damage through accident or negligence. For insurance purposes, the P&C should place on record (in its minutes and a notice in the schools newsletter) its use of volunteers. The P&C should keep a register of P&C donated items with a description (serial number where appropriate) and date of purchase. P&Cs should retain evidence of purchases. The insurance scheme only covers volunteers who are assisting at a school event. Risky activities such as fireworks displays and canoeing need approval as a valid activity from the broker and may incur extra insurance. In such instances, the P&C should notify the insurance brokers in writing. There is no general accident insurance for students at school or taking part in school activities. Medicare covers medical expenses for individuals where no third party is involved, that is, where there is no claim for negligence or compensation. Private medical insurance will provide specific cover as a top up to general cover - there is a variety of packages available. If a student is injured at school through negligence, the matter should be referred to the Department of Education. The P&C can take out an extra cover for children injured while in Outside School Hours Care. This does not include the ‘Medicare Gap'. The extra cover is for such expenses as dental, x-ray treatment, ambulance, parent loss of wages, travel, pharmaceutical and optical. The P&C is not obliged to arrange its insurance cover through Council. Insurance is offered to P&Cs as a service providing reasonably high levels of cover at acceptable premium levels. The Council provided insurance scheme operates from April each year to the end of March of the following year. Insurance should be renewed by the 31 March of each year. A four-page document about the insurance scheme is sent to every P&C association in the second half of February each year along with appropriate application forms. |