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RQ determines the base level insurance requirements that Clubs must satisfy in order to be licensed. In some cases, RQ may require Clubs to have additional or alternative coverage, or grant conditional exemptions to any one or more of these requirements, where this has been deemed appropriate by RQ in its sole discretion.
In order to demonstrate the appropriate insurances are in place, Clubs must provide a copy of the certificate of currency, as issued by the insurer, for all insurances when submitting the Licence application.
Clubs must ensure insurance policies remain current for the duration of the Licence and, where any policy expires during the Licence period, must provide updated certificates of currency to RQ prior to the expiry of that policy.
Each Licence type has different insurance requirements. The base level insurance requirements for each Licence type are outlined in the table below, categorised by Club tier (as communicated by RQ to the Club):
RQ, along with its brokers, has developed an insurance program for Public and Products Liability and Volunteer Insurance.
For more information about particular insurance requirements and brokerage arrangements available, please visit the following webpage: http://www.rqclubportal.com.au/insurance-and-whs/insurance/
For a comprehensive information session on Club Insurance see this video link RQ Race Club Committee Training Session - Insurance.
RQ along with its brokers, has developed a state-wide Personal Accident (Volunteer Insurance) Policy that is designed to offer coverage to individuals that help Licensed Clubs operate by performing duties on a voluntary basis.
Information on the Personal Accident Policy is available below:
Policy wording is available upon request.
For all policy queries, claims and additional information please contact Aon Insurance Brokers.
Property, Contents and Inventory coverage is required for all Licensed Club Venues (All Tiers).
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU SEEK GUIDANCE ON HOW TO ASSESS THE LEVEL OF COVER YOU REQUIRE; INDEPENDENT VALUATIONS ARE AVAILABLE.
For further information on Building and Contents (ISR) queries and claims, please contact Aon Insurance Brokers.
RQ along with its brokers has developed a state-wide Public & Products Liability Insurance Program for all Licenced Thoroughbred & Greyhound Clubs.
Information on Public & Product Liability Coverage is available below:
Before Clubs enter into a lease agreement to hire a ground, venue or facility, Clubs must understand clauses relating to insurance, indemnity and hold harmless.
Additionally, for further information on the Alternative events click here.
For all policy queries, claims and additional information please contact Aon Insurance Brokers.
V-Insurance Group are the insurance broker for Harness Racing Australia (HRA). This insurance program has been designed to cover Harness Racing Australia, including ACT, NT, QLD, SA, VIC and WA Associations, Clubs, Tracks and all registered persons/entities involved in activities that are sanctioned by HRA. This program incorporates three covers:
For further information please visit:
V-Insurance Group are also able to arrange the following additional policies for clubs upon request:
- Property Insurance
- Business Package
- Management Liability (Directors & Officer Insurance)
To find out more information and receive personal advice please contact V-Insurance Group:
Phone: (02) 8599 8660 or local call cost only 1300 945 547 or email: sports@vinsurancegroup.com
Racing Queensland advises it has purchased public liability and professional indemnity insurance for all licensed trainers in Queensland.
The policy includes $5m in Professional Indemnity Cover (increased from $500k), $20m in Public Liability Cover and $1.5m in Care, Custody and Control Coverage (decreased from $5m).
If you have any questions about the policy, or need to notify the insurer of a potential claim, please contact Aon Susan Lindores on 0434 691 795
Please note, Queensland is the only state that funds this insurance and any additional coverage that you may require will need to be at your own expense.
View the documents here:
RQ holds an insurance contract with WorkCover Queensland for jockeys and apprentices who are licensed to ride at licensed racetracks and all programmed race meetings. This coverage applies to jockeys and apprentices who have ridden in a programmed race within the last 12 months. Trainee apprentices are not covered under this policy as they are not licensed to ride in races (see below for details on Apprentice discounts).
RQ’s policy also specifically covers jockeys and apprentice jockeys while they are riding a registered Thoroughbred horse on a registered racetrack, including during a race, trackwork, jump outs, or barrier trials. However, any injuries sustained during other activities outside of these circumstances may fall under the trainer’s liability. This is assessed by WorkCover. Activities that are separate from the role of a jockey would almost certainly be covered by the Trainer’s WorkCover.
In addition, RQ provides further protection for jockeys through a public liability policy and a personal accident policy, which can offer extra financial support in specific circumstances.
Racing Australia also offers additional insurance coverage for jockeys, further enhancing their protection.
The Insurance Levy was introduced on 1 January 2024 and will run for an initial trial period until 30 June 2025. The levy collects 1% of prize money winnings on all TAB races with a goal to use the money to support Queensland Trainers in funding rising WorkCover premiums, contribute towards Trainers public liability insurance (RQ funded), support improved WHS practices and assist in the management of WorkCover statutory claims. For more information on the levy, please click here.
Racing Queensland (RQ) would like to remind all clubs and trainers of their obligation to ensure appropriate level of WorkCover insurance is in place. RQ strongly encourages all clubs and trainers that don’t have WorkCover insurance to consider taking out WorkCover insurance and encourages clubs and trainers with existing WorkCover insurance to review their existing arrangements to ensure sufficient coverage is in place. For more information about what WorkCover insurance is, please click on this link.
Apprentice Discount for Trainers
Trainers who employ Apprentice’s or Trainee Apprentice’s, are eligible to receive a discount on their Workcover premium. Trainers still need to declare any apprentice wages however the discount works by excluding any wages paid to an apprentice from their premium calculation. For more information please click on this link How to reduce your premium | WorkSafe.qld.gov.au.
Employers of Employees
WorkCover insurance is mandatory for all Queensland employers and the implications of being uninsured or under-insured are serious and can lead to fines and penalties being imposed on the club by WorkCover Queensland. WorkCover Queensland has the ability to carry out administrative compliance actions to identify and penalise employers who don't hold adequate workers’ compensation insurance. For more information on this risk, please click on this link.
Volunteers
The racing industry is serviced by a significant volume of volunteer support and some clubs may not strictly meet the criteria of being an ‘employer’. However, the parameters of who is to be insured as a ‘worker’ is not black and white, particularly when considering volunteers. RQ encourages all clubs to speak with WorkCover to obtain insurance and to clarify if any of your current arrangements could result in your club being subject to a WorkCover claim. Some examples of work arrangements that may not be clear and require clarification may include (please note this list is not exhaustive):
- Internships: A person maybe a worker if the person is performing work for a club or undertaking without payment of wages to gain practical experience in the type of work performed by the club or undertaking, or seeking to obtain a qualification; and would be a worker if the work performed by the person were for the payment of wages (eg. Track curator, etc).
- Volunteer receiving non-cash benefit: A person receiving benefit for services (e.g. race tickets, travel expenses) may be considered a worker.
- Volunteer receiving cash benefit: A person receiving cash for a service (eg. barrier staff, bar staff, clerks, starter, etc) will likely be considered a worker.
- A person who paid for work as a “contractor” and provides an ABN, may in fact be a ‘worker’ and must be insured by the club (eg. Barrier staff, farrier, vet, etc).
- A person who ‘volunteers’ on a regular basis and receives a benefit or recompense for the work may be considered a worker (eg. Barrier staff, judge, photo finish operator).
- A person who is paid for work but has an ABN may well still be a ‘worker’ under the act.
Given the uncertainty RQ strongly encourages all clubs to take out WorkCover insurance with WorkCover Queensland.
It should be noted that Clubs and Trainers can insure with WorkCover Queensland for as little as $200 per year, whereas the penalties for being uninsured or underinsured can be far more significant. In the event of a fine or penalty against a club, any other insurance arrangements that RQ has on behalf of the club will not cover the club and, therefore, it would be the responsibility of the club to pay in full.
A comprehensive guide to WorkCover Accident Insurance can be viewed here.
WorkCover information on premium calculation: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/claims-and-insurance/workcover-insurance/premium-calculation
WorkCover information on the apprentice discount: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/claims-and-insurance/workcover-insurance/premium-calculation/how-to-reduce-your-premium
Further Information
For more information on WorkCover policies please call WorkCover on 1300 362 128. Should you have any questions about other insurances that RQ maintains on behalf of Clubs please contact Hayley Vincent, General Manager Risk and Compliance on (07) 3869 9721.