Group Insurance Allocation - FAQ
The Scout Association of Australia Queensland Branch Inc. maintains insurance coverage in select areas to cover the broad standard operations of the organization. This is renewed each year on the 31 March, with associated costs on-charged to groups, based on the same approved model which has been used the past three years.
The following are frequently asked questions related to the annual insurance renewal:
For more information related to Scouts Queensland insurance program please see The Queensland Branch Scouting Instructions (QBSI) Section 5.6 Insurance
Why have insurance?
Scouts Queensland understand that insurance costs can be a significant expenses for groups. Insurance is a way of managing risks, by transferring the cost of a potential loss to the insurance company in exchange for a fee. Insurance is an added layer of protection for the formation, leaders and members, should the unthinkable happen.
How are the insurance values calculated?
The cost of insurance is then spread across all formations based on an agreed standard model that was approved at the November 2018 Regional Commissioners Conference.
- Public liability and volunteer accident insurance is charged through the membership fee from April 2025
- Contents, marine, and vehicle insurance costs (where applicable) are charged based on information supplied through the annual property return.
- Property value, is based on a banded model that estimates the replacement value of a standard design den, again this was conformed through the annual property return.
If you would like a copy of what data was used to calculate your insurance invoice, please contact risk@scoutsqld.com.au
How do rates this year compare with previous years?
The same method for allocating insurance costs has been used for the last three years. The table below shows the rates calculated from previous years: to be used for comparison purposes only
Notes on rates:
- 2020/21 rates are based a significant fee reduction due to Covid-19 impacts.
- 26 March 2020 the Association suspended of face to face program deliver, and transition to Scouting@Home. With this change we were able to negotiate significantly reduced insurance costs, with this saving directly passed on to formations. Had we not negotiated this last minute fee reduction the rate for the 2020/21 public liability would have been $33.92.
- 2022/23 ISR rates were heavily impacted by the February March Floods/Storm Events
- 2023/24 The insurer declined to offer flood coverage across 55 sites, these sites have been offered a discounted rate on their insurance recharge.
- From 2025/26 Public Liability is charged within the membership fee and no longer charged separately
Isn’t insurance covered in the membership fee?
Personal accident Insurance is covered in the annual membership fee. This is separate from the other policies such as public liability, industrial special risk (property), marine and vehicle insurance.
Why can’t groups arrange their own property insurance?
Most leader will be familiar with their own property home and contents insurance. The first thing they will notice is there is a big price difference between a domestic insurance and the Associations Industrial Special Risk (Property) policy. They may feel the group will be better off if allow to negotiate their own policy.
There are several factors the determine the price difference between our policy, and your own home and contents insurance. Most of this links back to the risk profile. Most of our sites are older facilities, only used in some cases 4-9 hours per week, with multiple people with keys, as well as perception that they may not be maintained to industry standards, we are also paying commercial not domestic rates. A lot of effort goes into our insurers understanding our property, how it is managed and the associated risk, if this isn’t handled right then it creates opportunities for insurers to deny claims. If a group would take out a domestic policy, any claim would be denied. Also as part of any applictsaion you would be required to make disclosures abou the orgaisation and claims history, this is a significant policy driver. No one at group level would have access to all the required data in order to make the required disclosures. any disclosures missed may result in a claim being denied. This is just a high risk and the association need it to be managed centrally.
We also benefit from the buying power, that we are negotiating terms on a combined property and equipment valuation in the order of ~$107million, this does provide a saving when negotiating at this level. We are aware that some other community groups with comparable coverage are paying twice what we are for property insurance, this is due to our buying power.
Lastly as the legal entity, it is only Scouts Queensland that can negotiate terms and approve insurance.
My group is in recess, why was I charged?
All “active” formations in SMS are included in this calculation, and will receive an insurance allocation. This includes formations that have been put in recess at a local level, and not officially within sms.
Why are my fees higher than last year?
There could be a number of internal and external factors which impacted the insurance costs.
External factors could include:
- Natural disasters or events which have resulted, or may result, in payouts across the insurance sector
- General world market factors
Internal Factors could include:
- The number of and value of claims made across the whole association
- Risk management across the whole association, how well we develop and follow the association risk management policies and procedures impacts the premiums charged.
- Changes to property or equipment values made through the annual property return.
- Increasing building and material costs
- Any new equipment or new facilities
If you would like a copy of what data was used to calculate your insurance invoice, please contact risk@scoutsqld.com.au
The members number on the invoice does not match your membership numbers on census date?
The Public Liability allocation is based on the average over the past year, so changes made on our around census date may not effect the insurance allocation.
Why have I been charged insurance on a trailer, it is unregistered and just sitting in a shed?
For insurance purpose all trailers, irrespective of their declared value, if a trailer is listed on the property return then the trailer is insured, and the formation will need to be charged.
If a trailer is registered, then it must be recorded on your property return. If a group has an old trailer that is unregistered, the formation can choose to remove this entirely from their property return.
We would strongly discourage formations from keeping an unregistered trailer, as this is a liability to the association.
We encourage either to dispose of it or alternatively ensure it is roadworthy and arrange its registration. There is not enough information on the invoice?
We endeavor to provide as much information as we can based on the limitations of the system. Most data is generated directly from sms, and through information supplied through the annual property return.
Property value, this year, was based on a banded model that estimates the replacement value of a standard design den.
How are we supposed to pay this invoice, we don't have enough money?
We can understand that some groups may be suffering financial hardship, in those situations groups should contact their District and Region Leaders for assistance and support.
What if I have further questions?
Additional information related to Scout Queensland Insurance polices and procedures can be found in QBSI Section 5.6 Insurance
Any additional questions should be directed risk@scoutsqld.com.au
Related Articles
Insurance Fees/Deductibles
An insurance deductible, is the amount that the association is required to pay before insurance kicks in with their share of an insured loss. Across the Scouts Queensland insurance portfolio there are variety of different deductibles. For example: ...Insurance within Scouts - What do I need to know?
This document is meant to provide a summary of information related to the Scouts Queensland Insurance program, for more detail information please read The Queensland Branch Scouting Instructions (QBSI) Section 5.6 Insurance or email ...Vehicle Insurance Explained
Introduction Scouts Queensland owns and operates several different types of vehicles, in support scouting activities. These include but may not be limited to: Trailers Motor vehicles Tractors Ride on mowers Buses These assets, when recorded through ...A Guide to Completing the Annual Property Return
Introduction As part of Scouts Qld's insurance renewal process and as specified in QBSI 5.6.8. , formations are required to review and validate their property records and values through the Annual Property Return. This directly impacts the insurance ...Group Personal Accident: Instructions on lodging a claim
Introduction As described in QBSI 5.6.6, Scouts Queensland maintains a Personal Accident Insurance Policy. This policy provides a level of coverage for all members, and volunteers, providing support as part of an approved scouting activity. While not ...