Many companies have little or no insurance cover in place in the event that a volunteer is injured while helping out.
Volunteers do not receive a wage and are therefore not eligible for workers’ compensation cover, insurance cover can offer protection against accidents instead.
What Does Voluntary Workers Insurance Cover?
Events that will generally be covered under a Voluntary Workers Policy include those listed below. Benefit amounts and types offered will vary depending on the event suffered by the insured person.
If as a result of the injury the insured person becomes completely incapable of carrying out all of the usual duties of their occupation. It’s important to note that there must be no normal duties that they are still capable of performing.
If the insured person does not have an occupation, cover will be provided if they become totally incapable of carrying out some of their usual duties, resulting in the necessary cost of employing domestic help as a result.
If the insured person becomes totally and permanently incapable or performing any occupation at all as a result of their workplace injury, a lump sum payment will be provided. To receive this benefit there must be no occupation at all that the insured person can reasonably carry out.
If the insured person dies as a result of an injury suffered while working as a volunteer.
Total and permanent loss of all sight in both eyes.
Total and permanent loss of the use of both hands.
Total and permanent loss of the use of both feet.
Total and permanent loss of the use of one hand and one foot.
Total and permanent loss of the use of one arm or the greater portion of one arm.
Total and permanent loss of the use of one leg.
Total and permanent loss of all sight in one eye as well as the irrecoverable loss of at least 50 per cent of sight in the other eye.
Total and permanent loss of the use of one hand, or four fingers and the thumb of one hand, or the lower part of one arm.
Total and permanent loss of the use of one foot or the lower part of one leg.
Total and permanent loss of hearing.
Total and irrecoverable loss of the lens of, or of all sight in, one of two eyes.
Burns or disfigurement to more than 50 per cent of the body.
Total and permanent loss of the use of either phalanx of either thumb or of any finger.
Total and permanent loss of hearing in one ear.
Total and permanent loss of use of any toe other than a great toe.
Additional Voluntary Workers Insurance Cover Benefits to Consider
Rehabilitation expenses: If the insured person suffers temporary total or partial disablement, a voluntary workers insurance policy will cover the cost of tuition or advice from a licensed vocational school. However, you’ll usually have to get the agreement of your insurer and your doctor before receiving the tuition or advice.
Age limitation extension: Generally, for those aged between 75 and 85 years of age, cover may be able to be extended up to a certain amount for a limited period of time.
Corporate image protection: If a claim on an organisation’s voluntary workers insurance policy is likely to result in a benefit being paid for accidental death or total and permanent disablement, that organisation may need to take steps to protect its image and reputation. Voluntary workers insurance policies often offer an additional benefit which allows organisations to be reimbursed for the costs incurred for engaging the services of image or public relations consultants, or for releasing information through the media.
Home/car modification expenses: If a voluntary worker suffers an injury which results in them requiring modifications to their home, workplace and/or car in order to be able to maintain an independent existence, this benefit will cover the costs involved in making these modifications.
Chauffeur services: If a voluntary worker suffers a certain injury while working for your organisation, this optional benefit provides cover for the cost of a chauffeur or taxi service to and from the injured person’s usual place of work and their home.
Funeral expenses: If an insured person suffers accidental death while working as a voluntary worker, your insurance policy can cover the burial or cremation expenses that result.
What does Voluntary Workers Insurance not Cover?
There are, however, a number of instances where a voluntary workers insurance benefit will not be paid. These include:
When a claim arises from any deliberately self-inflicted injury.
Any claim related to the taking of poisonous substances or drugs, except as prescribed by a medical practitioner
If you are under the influence of, or addicted to, alcohol, your claim will not be paid.
Claims arising from the insured person suffering a hernia.
Any injury suffered in an accident that occurs before your policy period commences will not be covered.
If the insured person is injured while taking part in a sporting activity, the claim will not be paid. Similarly, if the insured person is travelling by air or taking part in any aerial activities when the injury is suffered then a claim will not be paid.
If the claim arises from the insured person taking part in a riot or any illegal or criminal activity.
Claims resulting from war or warlike activity will not be paid, nor will those arising from acts of foreign enemies, terrorism, insurrection or revolution.
Any claims involving radioactivity, nuclear energy or nuclear weapons material will not be covered.
Voluntary Workers Insurance Duty of Disclosure
No matter what type of insurance you’re applying for, it’s vital that you are completely upfront and honest with your insurance provider throughout the entirety of the application process. It’s up to you to tell your insurer everything you know, and even everything you should know, that may in any way affect their decision to insure you or the terms of your insurance policy. Answer any questions from your insurance provider truthfully, and make sure to disclose all relevant information.
If you withhold any relevant information or do not answer your insurer’s questions honestly, you could cause yourself a whole lot of trouble. If you have not fulfilled your duty of disclosure, your insurer can reduce the amount it pays for your claim or even cancel your policy. If your failure to disclose is deemed fraudulent or if you answer untruthfully, your insurance provider can treat your policy as if it never existed. Take a sensible and honest approach at all times to prevent any issues or difficulties further down the line.
To find out more about voluntary workers insurance and finding the right level of cover for your needs, speak to an insurance consultant to receive tailored advice.
Making a Voluntary Workers Insurance Claim
Though the process for making a voluntary workers insurance claim differs from one provider to the next, the first step is to notify your insurer of the situation immediately. If a voluntary worker suffers an injury while performing their duties, get in touch with your insurer as soon as you can — this may be by phone or email, depending on your provider. Most companies will also require written notice of any incident within 30 days of it occurring.
Once you’ve notified your insurer, it’s time to fill out and submit a claim form. This will contain details of the worker involved, the incident that occurred and the injury resulting from that event. In some cases your insurer will ask for supporting information such as witness statements or medical reports and it’s up to you to provide any information required as quickly as possible. Being upfront and honest with your insurer is the best way to guarantee the quick and successful processing of your claim.
As for the injured party, they must seek and follow medical advice, plus obtain a medical certificate confirming the nature and extent of their injury.
Once again, the time an insurer will take to process your claim varies on the provider and the complexity of your claim. Make sure you maintain regular contact with the person handling your claim and submit any information they require as soon as possible.
Risks Associated With Volunteer Workers
While they can be crucial to the success of an organisation, volunteer workers will also present certain risks that you need to be aware of. Volunteers face the risk of being injured as the result of an accident or from physical assault. On the other hand, volunteers can be responsible for accidents that result in injury and claims for compensation from third parties, or volunteers could offer negligent advice to clients which could then result in them suffering a loss.
It’s the responsibility of an organisation to ensure adequate cover is in place for its volunteer workers, though there are certain limitations to be wary of. For example, volunteers under 15 years of age are only able to perform certain tasks and work for certain periods of time by law. In addition, if your volunteers are over a certain age limit, for example 90 years old, they may not be covered by your insurance policy.
It’s important that you keep your volunteers informed about what is and isn’t covered under your personal accident insurance policy. This will help them make an informed decision about the benefits and risks of working for your organisation.
How to Compare Voluntary Workers Insurance Policies
There are a number of factors you need to take into consideration when comparing voluntary workers insurance policies.
Assess the risk. First of all, you need to assess how many voluntary workers you have and the type of work they are doing. Do you regularly use the services of a large number of volunteers? Do they perform work in high-risk or hazardous areas, or do they simply perform low-risk office duties? Answering these questions will help you determine the amount of cover you need.
Cover for work travel.The next tip is to consider whether policies provide cover for your volunteers when they are travelling to and from work. This is an important consideration and can influence the cost of your policy and the level of cover you have in place. All policies also impose age restrictions on the workers they insure, so check whether your volunteers would still be eligible for cover.
Review policy features.Compare the benefits offered by each policy and remember to take note of the limits and exclusions and make sure to read the product disclosure statement closely.
Assess suitability of a policy.Use comparison tools to weigh up the pros and cons of a number of policies. Get quotes from several insurance providers and rather than simply accepting the cheapest quote you receive, research exactly what each policy offers to ensure you get a tailored deal.
Consider a broker.Insurance brokers can also offer vital advice when you’re shopping for cover. A broker can offer their expert knowledge to help find a policy that suits your business down to the ground.
Talk to a broker about voluntary workers insurance
Voluntary Workers Insurance - questions you still might have
No. Because these workers are volunteers and are not paid for the duties they perform, they are not eligible for cover under workers' compensation. As a result, taking out extra insurance to cover your volunteers is a vital move for many businesses.
Voluntary workers are often crucial to the successful operation of a business — they're important assets that should be protected. In addition, having insurance cover in place generates goodwill with volunteer workers and will certainly make them more willing to offer their services to your organisation.
In order to find the voluntary workers' insurance policy that best suits your needs, start by comparing various policy options. Obtain quotes from multiple insurers and weigh up the features and benefits offered by each policy. Read product disclosure statements closely to familiarise yourself with limits and exclusions, and seek recommendations from fellow professionals for particular companies.
Depending on the insurer, some providers may offer you a discount if you bundle your voluntary workers insurance with other business insurance policies. Speak to your insurance provider to see what they can offer you.
Finder.com.au is a valuable resource when it comes to comparing a range of voluntary workers insurance policies. However, for expert and in-depth advice tailored to your business, seek out the services of an insurance broker. A professional broker will take the time to understand the needs of your business and help match them with the right insurance policy.
Willam Eve is the country manager for Finder's Canada operations. He has previously held the positions of group publisher of insurance for Finder Australia and lead publisher for the Finder global team. William has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. He loves the challenge of launching Finder into new markets while helping grow Finder’s global team. See full bio
When faulty products cause injury or loss, your business needs to protect itself with product liability insurance. Learn how product liability cover works and get quotes.
How likely would you be to recommend Finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
