  
Shoalhaven Bushwalkers Inc.
     
Insurance
Bushwalking Australia organises a National Insurance Scheme providing Public Liability, Personal Accident and Associations Liability Insurance cover to clubs affiliated with the peak body in their home state - in our case, this is Bushwalking NSW. Most of your Shoalhaven Bushwalkers annual subscription is paid to Bushwalking NSW for this insurance.
More and more clubs are adding overseas and extended domestic trips to their programs. While domestic trips and New Zealand are covered under the existing policies, there is no cover for overseas trips other than NZ. Bushwalking Australia's broker, Marsh, have negotiated special rates with Accident & Health International Underwriting Pty Ltd for comprehensive, yet affordable cover for use by club members when participating in club-organised domestic and overseas trips. See the Bushwalking Australia website for details.
Public Liability Insurance
Sometimes accidents occur, and if a person, whether a member of the general public or a club member, suffers an injury or damage to their property and they feel that this is the fault of the club or its members, they may take legal action against the club or the members involved. If they can prove that the club and/or individual is responsible, then the club or member may be ordered to compensate them and this cost can usually be covered by public and products liability insurance. Public Liability Insurance protects the club including office bearers, walks leaders, members and, in turn the State Federation. The Public Liability Policy is designed to pay, by way of compensation on behalf of the club, all sums which the club shall become legally liable to pay in respect to injury and or damage as a result of an occurrence in connection with the insured activities of the club. This Policy currently provides a Limit of Liability - $20,000,000 for any one occurrence.
Personal Accident Insurance
The Personal Accident Policy provides cover to club members in respect to injury incurred while the member is engaged in an activity authorised by and under the control of the club, including direct uninterrupted travel to and from such activity.
However - as of March 2023 - riders of e-bikes are not covered by the club's personal accident insurance on club events.
The Schedule of Benefits will vary from year to year, but the benefits shown below are indicative and were current under the Personal Accident Policy for 2014-15:
- Loss of earnings - Benefit of $700 per week (increased from $500 per week) up to age 95, maximum of 80% of income, 7 day excess, maximum of 52 weeks
- Non-Medicare medical benefit, 80% claimable to a maximum of $3,000 (previously $2,000)
- Broken bones benefit of up to $2,000
- Capital Benefit - $50,000 up to age 84, $10,000 age 85-95 or under age 18
- Critical Incident Debriefing - benefit of up to $5,000 per person per event
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Personal Accident cover is detailed in the policy available from the Bushwalking NSW website, and the claims process is quite straightforward.
If you are injured on a club walk and wish to make a claim, you should contact the Conferation's broker to obtain a PA claim form within 30 days of the date of the accident. The contact name and number are shown below. Click here for a detailed explanation of how to claim.
Contact: Mr Fred Grima, Marsh Pty Ltd on: (02) 9761-7328
If you are injured on a walk and wish to claim insurance, it is extremely likely that proof - such as an incident report written by the walk leader detailing the accident and subsequent treatment - will be required to accompany the claim form, so it is in your interest to ensure that the walk leader completes an incident report.
Associations Liability Policy
The Bushwalking Australia Associations Liability policy protects office bearers, committee members and general members of affiliated organisations (i.e. clubs, state peak bodies and Bushwalking Australia) from being personally pursued for 'wrongful acts' that lead to claims against either the affiliate member organisation, the member/office bearer personally, or both. There have been considerable claims made in Australia against individuals for wrongful acts made in running of an association which have seen personal assets of members and office bearers put at stake. The Associations Liability new cover gives members peace of mind that should they make a financial decision in carrying out their official duties that results in an action against them, they will be covered subject always to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy. The cost of this policy is met from Bushwalking Australia annual affiliation fees.
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