1 of 14

Community Service Organisations (Education) Insurance Program

February 2025

Presented by Mike Roleff – Chief Insurance Officer Department of Education

2 of 14

Introduction

What is the CSOE insurance program?

Who does it cover?

Who are VMIA?

3 of 14

Victorian Managed Insurance Authority

VMIA is the Victorian Government’s insurer and risk adviser, covering the people, places and projects that help Victorians thrive.

4 of 14

Coverage under the Community Service Organisation Program (Education)

Public & Products Liability

Cover for your organisation, employees and volunteers in relation to any liability to pay compensation where a third party suffers bodily injury or property damage due to your negligence.

Professional Indemnity

Cover for your organisation for an alleged breach of professional duty.

Directors & Officers Liability

(including Entity Liability and Employment Practices Violation)

Cover for claims made against your organisation’s Directors and Officers (including employment related matters) while acting in that capacity.

5 of 14

Coverage under the Community Service Organisation Program (Education)

Entity Fidelity

Cover for the loss of money or other property arising from any dishonest or fraudulent act committed by an employee or volunteer of your organisation.

Personal Accident

Cover for volunteers and board/committee members and other eligible people, whilst performing their duty, for accidental bodily injury that results in loss of life, permanent or temporary disablement.

6 of 14

Benefits

Dealing with a captive insurer

VMIA portal

Access documentation
Update contact details
Lodge Claims

Administration of CSOE insurance program

Inclusion
Cessation

Betrayal of Trust requirements

Abuse coverage

Directors & Officers

Inclusion of Employment Practices Liability

7 of 14

Where you may be uninsured

You will need to source cover through the commercial market for policies such as;

Property
Contents
Motor Vehicle
Cyber
Construction Works
Worker’s compensation

8 of 14

Frequently asked Questions

Are our volunteers covered?

Yes, volunteers who work for your organisation are covered while volunteering on your behalf.

Are contractors covered under our Program?

No, contractors are not covered. You should request a copy of their certificate of currency to ensure they are adequately insured.

However, contractors who are receiving payment for providing educational or training services or training-related activities on behalf of your organisation are covered.

Are people who attend our event covered under our Program?

No, people who participate in your events are not covered. Your organisation, its employees and volunteers are covered for any legal liability arising out of their negligence to a third-party including participants

9 of 14

Frequently asked Questions

If we organise an excursion or school event at a site not at the usual school premises, are we covered for this?

Yes, cover applies. The policy provides Australia-wide protection.

If a teacher neglects his or her duties, i.e. is not on yard duty or left the class alone and a student gets injured, who covers the costs?

The student is a third party and will be responsible to meet their own costs. If they believe that the school is responsible for their injury, they can lodge a claim against the school to seek recovery of those costs.

Is unfair dismissal a possible claim for casual staff? Our staff have a contract for one year on a casual basis.

The definition of Employee means any person who is or has been employed by the Named Insured under a contract of service and includes such persons employed on a part time, seasonal or temporary basis. Employee does not include a person contracting his or her labour to the Named Insured unless on a permanent and full-time basis.

10 of 14

Frequently asked Questions

If a committee member is also an employee, which cover applies - Personal Accident or Workcover?

If an injury arises through employment activities WorkCover applies. If the injury occurs whilst the committee member is undertaking voluntary duties in that capacity, the Personal Accident policy applies.

When does policy start/end?

The policy starts when DE funding commences or the date that DE confirms inclusion in the CSOE Insurance Program and ceases when DE funding ceases (noting that a 30-day grace period applies from the date of funding cessation).

11 of 14

Frequently asked Questions

We have students who were not deemed eligible for DE funding – are these students covered?

The policies don’t cover students, they cover the organisation, regardless of overall funding/ineligible students.

If a teacher is on the way to the venue and has an accident, is it TAC who covers this?

Yes, if the accident involved a car, bus, tram or train.

12 of 14

Additional Resources

VMIA

Website www.vmia.vic.gov.au

CSOE Policies & cover | Victorian Managed Insurance Authority

Portal access enquiries

VMIA 03 9270 6900

contact@vmia.vic.gov.au

13 of 14

Questions

14 of 14

[Community Language Schools Insurance program is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria (Department of Education), indicate if changes were made and comply with the other licence terms, see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The licence does not apply to:�• any images, photographs, trademarks or branding, including the Victorian Government logo and the DE logo; and�• content supplied by third parties.

Copyright queries may be directed to copyright@education.vic.gov.au