If your business or organisation works with children or even operates in spaces where children may be present, there are new legal obligations in Queensland you should be aware of. 

Queensland’s Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 introduced a mandatory framework to help protect children from harm. It is overseen by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) and currently covers around 40,000 organisations across the state. 

As your insurance and risk adviser, we are not here to interpret the law for you, that is best left to the QFCC and your legal advisers. What we can do is help you understand the broader picture, point you toward the right resources, and make sure your insurance is keeping pace with your obligations. 

Who Does This Apply To? 

A common question we hear is: “Does this apply to us? Children aren’t really our main focus.” 

The short answer is it might. The laws are broader than many organisations expect. You should check whether the Child Safe Standards apply to your organisation if you:

• Provide services directly to children or young people
• Run spaces or facilities that children use
• Work at sites where children may be present, even if only sometimes
• Operate online platforms or apps used by children
• Collect, store or handle information or images of children
• Engage subcontractors, volunteers or labour hire workers in child-accessible environments

This covers a wide range of businesses; tutoring centres, gyms, play centres, sports clubs, religious organisations, allied health providers, community groups, and more.

If children come through your doors or interact with your services in any way, it is worth checking your obligations.

The QFCC has a straightforward guide to help you work out whether the Standards apply to you: qfcc.qld.gov.au/childsafe

What Has Changed and When?

The new Standards have been rolling out in stages since October 2025.

Your club is not an ordinary business. In a single venue, you might be operating a bar, bistro, gaming room, function space, kids’ room or adjunct childcare, courtesy bus, sporting facility and volunteer committee structure all at once. That complexity means club insurance in Queensland is far more involved than a standard business package. The key is not just having policies in place. It’s understanding whether the risk transfer and insurance program reflects how your club operates today.

A Community Asset and a Commercial Venue.

Queensland community clubs occupy a genuinely unusual position. They exist to serve their members and the broader community. However, to do that, you run what are, in effect, multiple commercial operations under one roof.

One Venue, Many Operations

On any given day, you might be serving lunch in the bistro, running the gaming lounge, offering childcare or a kid’s playroom, hosting a weekend sports competition, managing a private function, offering courtesy bus services, operating multi-site operations, and relying on a volunteer committee to govern the whole operation. Each of those activities carries its own risk profile. Together, they create a complexity that a standard business package insurance policy was simply not designed to handle.

This is not a problem unique to large clubs. Even a modest-sized club with a bar, a gaming lounge and a regular member base has a fundamentally different risk profile than a retail shop, a professional services firm, or a tradesperson. Your mix of licensed activities, volume of foot traffic, reliance on volunteers, and gaming revenue all create exposures that require careful, specialist attention.

What to consider

That is worth understanding from the outset, not to create alarm, but because it shapes how your board should approach the insurance review process. A more useful question than “are we insured?” is whether your risk transfer and club insurance program genuinely reflects what your club does, how it earns its revenue, and where your real risk exposures sit.

Club Insurance Risks: Liquor, Gaming, Bistro, Events, Volunteers and Committees

Liquor Liability

If your club holds a community club licence under the Liquor Act 1992, you are authorised to serve alcohol to members, guests and visitors. That licence comes with significant legal responsibility. Under the Act and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, you must provide a safe environment for patrons, staff and surrounding areas, including obligations around responsible service of alcohol (RSA) and the management of intoxicated patrons.

The critical insurance issue is that liquor liability provisions within public liability policies vary significantly. Some policies include liquor liability as a standard extension. Others impose sub-limits, apply exclusions where over-service has been alleged, or contain conditions that may affect whether the policy responds to incidents involving intoxicated patrons, including incidents that occur after a patron has left the premises.

As a result, it is worth checking how your policy handles this, rather than assuming liquor liability is fully covered. The scope of the extension matters, and a risk and insurance adviser who understands how these policies respond to claims can help you confirm whether your cover is sufficient.

Gaming Machines

If electronic gaming machines (EGMs) are a significant part of your revenue, this is one area where your club insurance program should reflect your financial exposure. Under the Gaming Machine Act 1991, your gaming machine licence is contingent on maintaining a valid liquor licence. If your liquor licence is cancelled or suspended, your gaming licence can automatically cancel as well, with no compensation for the loss of gaming authorities.

As a result, that interdependency matters from a risk management perspective. A single compliance failure, or a significant claim that results in licence review, can have consequences that flow well beyond the original incident.

Insurance does not replace the need for good governance and compliance. Therefore, your Business Interruption cover needs to account for gaming revenue as a material component of total turnover, and your indemnity period should reflect how long it would realistically take to restore full operations following a major event.

Bistro and Food Service

If you run a bistro or café, you are adding food safety liability, product liability, and the potential for claims arising from foodborne illness not your existing profile. While these are standard hospitality risks, they layer onto the existing liquor, gaming and patron safety exposures rather than replacing them.

In addition, your kitchen equipment creates asset insurance considerations, including machinery breakdown cover for commercial refrigeration, cooking equipment and cool rooms.

Functions and Events

When you open your function space to hirers or run your own events, you introduce a distinct set of liability considerations: third-party property damage, patron injury, temporary structures, entertainment contractors and the management of external hirers. If you host ticketed events or engage performers and contractors, it is worth confirming whether your existing program adequately covers those arrangements, or whether you should address specific event covers or contractual requirements.

For outdoors ticketed events, it’s advisable to consider the level of costs your club can absorb should you have to cancel the event. Alternatively, you may need to consider transferring the risk to insurance.

Volunteers

Volunteers are likely central to how your club operates. From behind the bar to the kitchen, from committee roles to event management, volunteers create genuine insurance questions you should be across.

Specifically, the first is voluntary workers personal accident insurance. Unlike your employees, ‘workers’ compensation generally does not cover volunteers (although Queensland’s Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 does extend cover to certain volunteer categories with specific not-for-profit organisations). Personal accident cover for volunteers provides a safety net for medical costs, lost income and rehabilitation expenses if a volunteer is injured while working for the club.

The second is whether the club’s public liability policy extends appropriately to activities carried out by volunteers on your club’s behalf.

Your Committee and Governance Risks

Committee Members

As a volunteer committee member, you can face personal financial exposure for decisions made in your governance role. Incorporation provides a degree of limited liability protection. However, it does not insulate you or other committee members from claims made against your committee as a whole or against individual members, including allegations of wrongful acts, mismanagement, employment disputes with staff, and breaches of statutory obligations.

Importantly, most insurers write management liability policies on a claims-made basis. This means the policy only covers claims your committee makes and notifies during the policy period. If your committee becomes aware of circumstances that could give rise to a claim, even if no formal claim has been made, notify your insurer promptly. Failing to do so can affect your cover.

Member-Based Governance and Club Insurance

Your club most likely operates as a member-owned, not-for profit organisation, and that structure creates a governance context worth understanding when it comes to club insurance.

Your board members are typically volunteers elected from the membership base, not professional directors. This is part of what makes your club what it is. It also means your committee may be overseeing a complex, multi-revenue commercial operation without a dedicated background in financial oversight, regulatory compliance, or commercial insurance.

For example, common governance-related exposures for clubs in your position include:

• Financial management and oversight gaps that may not become apparent until a claim or audit arises
• Situations where the personal interests of member directors and your club’s interests may overlap
• Record-keeping and compliance documentation that has not kept pace with how your club has grown or changed
• Limited familiarity with how your commercial insurance program is structured, what your policies cover, and when they need to be updated.

None of these are unusual for volunteer-governed organisations. They are simply part of the landscape, and worth keeping in mind as your board approaches its club insurance review. Having an adviser who can walk your committee through your risk transfer and insurance program clearly, makes the conversation easier.

Why Underinsurance and BI Gaps Can Become Serious

Club Insurance Gap: Underinsurance on Property

Underinsurance occurs when your sum insured does not reflect the true cost of reinstating your property. It is a widespread issue in commercial insurance, and your club is not immune.

For example, building values set years ago and never reviewed, fit-outs upgraded without updating your policy, specialist equipment added over time, and rising construction costs can all create a situation where the sum insured on paper does not match what it now costs to rebuild and reopen.

Consequently, when a property claim involves partial loss, an underinsurance clause (or average clause) can result in your insurer only meeting a proportion of the loss, leaving the club to fund the remainder. For a full loss, the gap between the insured value and the actual cost of reinstatement can be severe.

If your club has a heritage-listed building, an unusual fit-out or specialist equipment, you may face challenges here, because standard construction benchmarks may not apply to your premises.

Business Interruption: Revenue and Indemnity Period

Business interruption (BI) insurance covers your loss of income and ongoing fixed expenses when your club cannot trade following an insured event. If your club depends on gaming revenue, bar takings, function bookings and food service, a forced closure can become financially damaging within a very short period.

Two common club insurance gaps are worth your committee’s specific attention.

Revenue mix. Specifically, your BI sum insured needs to reflect the club’s actual gross profit. It should consider all revenue streams; bar, gaming, food service, memberships, function hire and any other income. A BI sum insured calculated on bistro takings alone, for example, would leave the gaming and function revenue unprotected. It is worth working with your accountant and insurance adviser to ensure your declared value genuinely reflects your club’s total trading position.

Indemnity period. This is the length of time for which your policy will respond following an insured event. A standard 12-month indemnity period sounds reasonable in theory. However, major property damage, particularly in Queensland where weather events can affect both your premises and the availability of trades and materials, can extend reconstruction timelines well beyond 12 months. The time required to demolish, obtain approvals, rebuild, re-fit, obtain new licences and rebuild your membership base can realistically stretch to 18-24 months for a major loss. A 12-month indemnity period with an actual 24-month reinstatement means your club bears any financial shortfall.

Regulatory Exclusions

A less commonly discussed BI gap is the coverage position when a closure arises from your club’s own regulatory circumstances rather than from physical damage. Standard BI policies only respond following insured physical damage to your property. A licence suspension, a compliance order, or a government direction arising from your club’s conduct which cause a business interruption may fall outside of the standard BI trigger; unless specific extensions have been arranged.

In summary, this is not to suggest you should assume the worst-case compliance scenario. However, it is a reason why understanding the scope of your club insurance coverage matters, and why a conversation with a qualified risk and insurance adviser about what your policy covers is worth having before a problem arises.

Why Your Committee Should Review Club Insurance Before Renewal

Insurance renewal is often treated as an administrative task, something that happens automatically because the premiums get paid and the policies roll over. For most businesses, that might be adequate. For your club, it is not.

Your club changes from year to year. Revenue streams evolve. A bistro is added. Gaming machines are replaced or upgraded. A function space is built. A courtesy bus is purchased. A sporting facility is expanded. Membership grows or contracts. Staff numbers change. Volunteer structures are reorganised. Each of these changes can have material implications for your insurance program. In addition, not all of them are automatically captured at renewal.

What a club insurance review should cover

There are practical reasons why a board-level conversation about insurance before each renewal is genuinely valuable:

• Capturing what has changed. An insurance adviser working from last year’s information will produce last year’s program. Your committee is best placed to identify what has changed in your operations over the past 12 months and ensure that information reaches your insurance adviser in time to be reflected in renewal terms.

• Checking your sums insured. Your building and contents values should be reviewed regularly against current replacement costs, not historical values. Construction costs have risen materially in recent years, and what was adequate three years ago may no longer be.

• Reviewing your BI declared value. If your revenue has changed, from new operations, changed trading patterns, or reduced membership income, your BI declared value needs to be updated accordingly.

• Confirming your coverage scope. Policy wordings change. Insurer appetite changes. An extension included in last year’s policy may be narrowed or removed at renewal without the change being immediately obvious. A genuine review, rather than a passive rollover, is the way to catch these shifts.

• Understanding your committee’s personal exposure. Management liability is still frequently underweighted in club insurance programs. Your renewal conversation is a natural point to confirm that your management liability limit and scope remain appropriate for your current committee and governance profile.

Overall, none of this requires a dramatic overhaul every year. It requires a deliberate, informed conversation with a broker who understands club operations, before the renewal is placed, not after.

Questions to Ask Your Broker About Club Insurance

Your renewal meeting is most productive when you come prepared. The following questions are a starting point for your board-level conversation.

On property and assets:

• When was our building sum insured last reviewed against current construction costs?
• Does our property insurance reflect recent upgrades, fit-out changes or equipment additions?
• Do we have machinery breakdown cover for our gaming machines, cool rooms and commercial kitchen equipment?

On business interruption:

• Does our BI declared value reflect our full revenue mix, including gaming, food service, functions and membership income?
• What is our current indemnity period, and does it reflect how long it would realistically take to rebuild and reopen?
• Are there any extensions to the BI trigger, for example, for government actions or non-damage events, that we should consider?

On liability:

• Does our public liability policy include an adequate liquor liability extension? Are there sub-limits or conditions that could affect how it responds?
• How does our liability cover apply to volunteers acting on our behalf?
• Are we covered for liability arising from function space hirers and contractors attending our premises?

On committee and governance:

• Do we have management liability insurance covering our committee members and officers?
• Is our current management liability limit appropriate for the size of our committee and our club’s operations?
• Does our management liability policy include Employment Practices Liability and fidelity cover?
• Does our committee understand that management liability is a claims-made policy and that incidents need to be notified promptly?

On voluntary workers:

• Do we have voluntary workers personal accident insurance, and does it cover the full range of activities our volunteers perform?

On the program overall:

• Are there any activities we have added or changed in the past 12 months that may not be reflected in our current policies?
• Are there any gaps or exclusions in our current program that we should be aware of?

An insurance adviser with genuine experience in the Queensland club market should be able to answer these questions clearly and specifically, not in generalities. If the answers are vague, or if this conversation has not happened at all, that is itself something your board should take note of.

Ready to Review Your Club’s Insurance?

A specialist club insurance review does not need to be complicated. It starts with a conversation, one that takes the time to understand how your club actually operates before making any recommendations.

Clear Insurance works with Queensland clubs across the full range of their club insurance needs, from property and liability through to business interruption, management liability and voluntary workers cover.

If your renewal is approaching, or you’d like clarity on your exposure, or you feel your club’s insurance program may not be keeping pace with your operational changes, now is a good time to have that conversation.

You can contact an experienced adviser by calling Clear Insurance on 1300 721 132 or complete our online enquiry form. You can also ask about our no-obligation risk and insurance review which includes a comprehensive review of your existing insurance program and a detailed gap analysis report helping you to make informed decisions on your insurance program.

Sources & Further Reading

• Liquor Act 1992 (Qld) business.qld.gov.au/industries/hospitality-tourism-sport/liquor-gaming/liquor  
• Gaming Machine Act 1991 (Qld)  business.qld.gov.au/industries/hospitality-tourism-sport/liquor-gaming/gaming
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)  https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/
• Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld) https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/
• Queensland Government, Business Queensland — Liquor compliance: patron and staff safety https://www.business.qld.gov.au/
• Insurance Council of Australia: Making a business interruption claim https://insurancecouncil.com.au/
• Institute of Community Directors Australia: Types of insurance an organisation needs https://www.communitydirectors.com.au/
• ASIC Regulatory Guide 234: Advertising financial products and advice services https://www.asic.gov.au/

Why is it important to understand your financial risks?

Understanding your risks is crucial. It’s vital to identify the risks associated with your hospitality business, as these can change depending on the activities and services you offer. By staying informed about potential risks, such as property damage, liability claims, or operational disruptions, you are better equipped to make informed decisions about how to manage, mitigate or transfer those risks through insurance.

With a solid understanding of your insurance needs, you can ensure your insurance program offers real value and protection.

What protective role can insurance play for clubs and hospitality businesses?

Insurance serves as a risk transfer mechanism, offering financial protection against unforeseen events. However, merely having insurance is not sufficient; the insurance must be tailored to meet your specific needs. Your insurance adviser can explain the available insurance solutions, allowing you to choose coverage that aligns with the scale and scope of your club’s activities.

How can a hospitality business evaluate its insurance cover?

Clubs, boards, and business directors can consider several factors:

Risk Assessment – Are there new or evolving risks that may impact your insurance?

Coverage Scope – Are there any gaps or exclusions that may leave your club vulnerable?

Policy Limits – Are the policy limits sufficient, or do they expose the business to potential financial losses?

Suitability – Does your insurer understand the unique needs of a hospitality business like yours?

Is underinsurance an issue for hospitality businesses?

Underinsurance is a common problem for venues across Australia. It’s essential to thoroughly understand your insurance program and the limits of your sums insured. For instance, if a claim exceeds the limit, a community club could incur significant out-of-pocket expenses and expose board members to personal liability. Independent insurance replacement valuations by qualified valuers can establish replacement values, reinstatement costs, debris removal expenses, and adequate rebuilding timeframes to inform the appropriate sums insured limits.

What should you do if you have concerns about your risk and insurance program?

If you have concerns about your risk and insurance program, we encourage you to consult your insurance adviser promptly. If you are not satisfied, Clear Insurance offers a no-obligation risk and insurance review for your peace of mind. Contact Lisa Carter at lisa.carter@clearinsurance.com.au or call 1300 721 132.

Queensland clubs operating a courtesy bus service are now within a critical compliance window. The new safety management framework commenced on 20 February 2026, introducing expanded safety obligations and mandatory Safety Management Plans for all courtesy bus operators.  

Full compliance becomes mandatory on 20 August 2026. That’s less than five months away. 

These changes reinforce why robust safety systems matter, and build on the foundations clubs have already been putting in place, such as driver security checks. They also introduce new responsibilities that extend well beyond day-to-day operations, including formal duties for boards and management committees. 

This article summarises what has changed and what it means for your club. 

Key Dates

The table below outlines the critical compliance milestones for courtesy bus operators.

Please note: Clear Insurance provides general insurance advice and risk transfer solutions under our AFSL authorisation. We do not provide risk management consulting or safety compliance advice – that is outside the scope of our licence. For guidance on implementing Safety Management Plans and meeting your regulatory obligations, clubs should consult qualified risk management consultants or safety advisers or refer to guidance published by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. 

Updated: 25 June 2026

The violent assault incident inside Easts Leagues Club has prompted important conversations across the club community about preparedness and protection. For general managers and board members, it’s timely to consider how your club would respond in similar circumstances and whether your insurance arrangements provide adequate support.  

Beyond Property Damage

Traditional club insurance focuses on property damage and business interruption. These remain important. However, violent incidents can create different challenges. The Easts situation illustrates that while immediate physical damage may be limited, the wider impact on the club, its members, and the community is substantial. 

The Financial Impact of Closure 

Beyond immediate costs, clubs may face substantial financial losses if required to close temporarily following a violent incident. Police investigations could restrict access for days or weeks, while patron hesitancy may reduce trade during recovery. Lost gaming revenue, bar sales and function bookings can quickly erode financial position. Traditional business interruption policies typically require physical property damage to trigger coverage, potentially leaving clubs without income support when it’s needed most. 

What Standard Policies May Not Cover 

When such events occur, clubs face other immediate needs that existing policies may not address, for example: 

• Crisis Management Expertise may become essential. You could need access to professionals who understand how to coordinate with police, communicate with members, staff and the media, while protecting your club’s reputation during a traumatic period.

• Legal Representation emerges as another significant concern. Injured patrons and staff may pursue claims related to security measures, response procedures, or duty of care. Even clubs that act responsibly could need specialist legal representation to defend their position and demonstrate they met their obligations.

• Independent Investigation Services may provide crucial documentation of events. This could protect your club’s interests while showing transparency to members, authorities, and the broader community. When questions arise about what happened and how your club responded, having objective evidence may prove invaluable.

• Professional Counselling Support for affected staff and patrons may be needed. The psychological impact of witnessing or experiencing violence can be profound and long-lasting.

Specialised Coverage for Modern Risks

If you’re concerned that your club may not be adequately prepared for such incidents, insurance solutions are available that may suit your needs. For example, Deadly Weapons Protection insurance specifically addresses these devastating scenarios, responding when weapons are involved, including firearms, knives, syringes, corrosive substances, or vehicles used deliberately to cause harm. Importantly, the policy activates even when weapons are simply brandished rather than used, enabling early crisis intervention. 

The coverage connects you immediately with crisis management services, covers business interruption (consequential loss of profits), provides legal services during investigations, ensures proper documentation through investigation support, and offers counselling services to help your community heal. 

Your Board’s Duty of Care 

Every club board carries a duty of care extending to members, staff, and visitors. Part of meeting this obligation involves ensuring appropriate insurance protection for scenarios that, whilst rare, can have severe consequences when they occur. 

Need Advice on Your Insurance Program

If you’d like to discuss your club’s insurance arrangements and how you’re covered for violent incidents, contact Clear Insurance on 1300 721 132, email info@clearinsurance.com.au or complete our online enquiry form and an adviser will be in touch. A risk and insurance review can help you understand your current position and any gaps in cover that might exist.

The incident at Easts Leagues Club reminds us that community clubs operate in an unpredictable environment. Sound governance means acknowledging these risks and ensuring your club has access to the expert support needed should the unthinkable occur. Your community and customers expect nothing less.

Claim Example: How an Expired Licence Could Leave Your Club Uninsured

Say a club’s courtesy bus is involved in a collision and the driver’s licence has expired. It is highly likely that the expired license will come to light during the claim investigation. In that case, the insurance policy may be deemed void for that trip, exposing the club to significant financial and legal exposure.

Such a scenario can be avoided by creating a simple register that requires monthly checks of your drivers to ensure they have valid licences before starting their shift.

It’s important not to rely upon conditions in employment contracts for drivers or employees to maintain a current driver’s licence.

Your motor vehicle insurance policy will have a clause that states it is the Club’s responsibility to ensure that operators abide by all regulations and laws. Compliance is required to ensure the insurance policy responds successfully in the event of a claim.

Your Insurance Policy Requirements for Driver and Security Licensing

Most motor vehicle public liability insurance policies place clear responsibility on venue operators to ensure all courtesy bus drivers hold current, valid licences appropriate for the vehicles they’re operating. This isn’t about insurance companies being difficult – it’s a fundamental requirement that protects both your patrons and your business.

The same principle applies to contracted security providers. It is best practice for your venue to verify and maintain evidence that your security company holds current public liability insurance. Should their insurance lapse and an incident occurs, the full responsibility of any claims falls to the club’s liability insurance policy creating potentially significant financial exposure to the club.

Key insurance requirements typically include:

Why Licence Management Matters More During Busy Periods

There are several reasons why it matters more during busy times for your venue, for example you may experience:

• Increased patron numbers and extended trading hours
• Higher demand for courtesy bus services to ensure patron safety
• Employ additional casual or relief drivers, and security staff
• More people relying on your services to get home safely
• Greater scrutiny on venue risk management and insurance compliance due to increased patronage

When you’re bringing on extra staff or engaging additional security providers to meet seasonal demand, the risk of overlooking licence and insurance certificate checks increases. Therefore, this is precisely when maintaining accurate driver licence registers and security provider insurance documentation becomes increasingly important for your club’s insurance coverage.

Simple Systems for Register Management

Protecting your venue doesn’t require complex processes. There are some simple steps you can take to help maintain good records of your courtesy bus drivers and security providers, which in turn will provide the evidence you need to support your risk transfer and insurance program:

For Courtesy Bus Drivers

• Maintain a driver licence register of all authorised drivers
• Record licence numbers and expiry dates in a central system
• Set calendar reminders 30 days before expiry dates
• Sight and copy current licences before each roster period
• Ensure the licence class matches your vehicle requirements
• Verify licence status through official channels when onboarding

For Security Providers:

• Request current public liability insurance certificates from your security company, yearly
• Record policy numbers and expiry dates in your register
• Set calendar reminders 30 days before expiry dates
• Obtain updated certificates before engaging services each year
• Keep copies of all current certificates on file
• Verify their cover is appropriate for your venue type and activities
• Request immediate notification if their insurance status changes

Best Practices for Community Clubs

There are several practical steps you can consider that aim to strengthen your driver and security verification processes. You may wish to implement:

A robust checking system:

• Develop a simple spreadsheet with automated expiry date alerts
• Assign one person responsibility for monthly register reviews
• Build licence and certificate checks into your onboarding process
• Include verification in your pre-shift checklist during peak periods
• Communicate clearly with drivers and security providers about renewal timeframes and responsibilities

A process to build accurate records:

• Photograph or scan all licences and insurance certificates for your records
• Note the date you verified each licence
• Record who conducted the verification
• Maintain a log of any renewals
• Store documentation securely but accessibly

The Benefits Beyond Insurance Compliance

While maintaining these registers helps to protect your courtesy bus insurance and public liability coverage, the overall benefits extend beyond your insurance program. For example, it can also:

• Demonstrate your duty of care to patrons and staff
• Support compliance with hospitality venue regulatory requirements
• Provide clear documentation if questions arise during claims
• Create accountability across your team and service providers
• Give you confidence in your operations
• Protect your reputation in the community
• Reduce potential legal liability exposure

Pre-Festive Season Checklist for Venue Operators

If you haven’t reviewed your driver and security registers recently, now is the perfect time. A quick audit today could save significant headaches this festive season.

• Do all current drivers on your register have current licences?
• Do you have copies of current driver licences on file?
• Are any drivers licences due to expire in the next 60 days?
• Do you have current public liability insurance certificates from all security providers?
• Are any security provider insurance certificates due to expire in the next 60 days?
• Do casual staff have their documentation ready for when you need them?
• Have you verified document authenticity through official channels?
• Is your register easily accessible for compliance checks?
• Do staff and providers know how to report renewals or changes to their licence or insurance cover?
• Have you briefed managers on verification procedures?

Frequently Asked Questions About Driver and Security Licence Management

How often should we check courtesy bus driver licences?

Best practice is to verify licences monthly, with additional checks whenever rostering casual or relief drivers. Always verify before the busy periods begin.

What happens if a driver’s licence expires on the day of their shift?

If a licence expires and an incident occurs, your insurance coverage may be void. Build in 30-day warning systems to prevent this scenario.

How often should we request updated insurance certificates from our security company?

Request certificates annually, and always before expiry. Set calendar reminders 30 days before expiry to ensure continuous coverage.

What documentation should we keep for insurance purposes?

Maintain copies of all current licences and insurance certificates, a dated register showing verification checks, and records of any communications about renewals. Keep these for at least seven years.

Can we rely on drivers and security companies to tell us when licences are expiring?

While they should notify you, the legal responsibility under your insurance policy rests with you, the venue operator. Implement your own tracking system rather than relying on employment contracts. Don’t forget, compliance with regulations and laws is the responsibility of the club and is a crucial factor in claim success.

Need advice on your risk transfer and insurance program?

Take advantage of the Clear Insurance no-obligation risk and insurance review for clarity on your current risk transfer and insurance program.  You’ll receive a detailed gap analysis report helping you to make informed decisions. Contact Clear Insurance today.

Understanding What True Insurance Value Means 

When assessing your club’s insurance program, it’s worth considering a broader value equation that goes beyond the bottom-line figure: 

Value = (Protection + Service + Expertise + Claims Outcomes) ÷ Cost 

This framework helps shift focus from simply finding the lowest premium to understanding the total return on your insurance investment—a critical distinction for clubs managing staff, members, assets and business continuity. 

The Real Cost of Club Insurance 

The premium is just one component of your insurance cost. Consider also what happens during a claim: coverage gaps that emerge when a patron is injured on your premises, exclusions that apply during flood damage to your gaming area, or limited support during a cyber incident affecting member data. 

These factors—often unclear at renewal time—can significantly impact your club’s actual out-of-pocket costs when protection is needed most. Hidden excesses, policy exclusions, and claims handling quality all influence the real value your club receives from its insurance program. 

Five Key Value Indicators for Club Insurance 

Consider benchmarking your insurance program against these essential elements: 

1. Taking a Strategic Approach to Insurance Management 

By taking a strategic approach to insurance, you can build a better understanding of your risk exposure and the level of coverage you actually receive from your insurance program. For example, you may consider:

• Risk exposure: Do you have a clear understanding of your risks, risk mitigation strategies and any insurance coverage gap relevant to your operations?

• Risk transfer: Does your risk transfer to insurance program adequately cover your gaming operations, liquor liability, food and beverage services, function spaces, events, and accommodation facilities? 

• High-quality advice: Are you receiving strategic risk and insurance advice that evolves with your venue’s needs, beyond annual insurance renewal administration? Your insurance adviser should understand the unique risks facing Australian clubs and hospitality venues and be on hand to advise on the insurance implications of business decisions, before you commit to new purchases, contracts or building works. 

• Claims support: Is your insurance adviser providing advice, advocacy and support throughout the claims process? When a claim occurs, responsive professional advocacy can make a difference. 

• Business changes: Does your risk and insurance program adapt to your club’s growth plans, renovations, and changing income? Whether you’re expanding gaming areas, renovating dining facilities, or adding additional spaces, your insurance should flex with your strategic direction. Likewise, it may contract with changing circumstances.  

• Level of service: Do you have clear benchmarks for service standards, response times, and outcomes to measure expectations? You should know what to expect from your insurance partner and how to measure their performance. 

Taking a Strategic Approach to Insurance Management 

Many successful clubs across Australia conduct regular value audits of their insurance programs. This includes reviewing how well coverage aligns with key revenue streams (gaming, food and beverage, functions, and accommodation) and evaluating adviser performance against measurable service standards. 

It’s worth considering the following questions: 

• Does your adviser provide risk improvement insights specific to hospitality operations? 
• How quickly are claims typically resolved? 
• How does your insurance program support your club’s strategic objectives? 
• Are you receiving proactive risk management advice, or just annual renewal paperwork? 

Talk to your adviser about any service issues. Professional risk and insurance advisers pride themselves on building long-term relationships with their clients and value client feedback.

Maximising Your Insurance Investment 

Your club’s insurance program represents a significant investment in protecting member assets and ensuring business continuity. Treating it as a strategic partnership, with clear performance expectations and regular evaluation, helps ensure you’re receiving optimal value for your members and operations.

After all, effective risk transfer isn’t simply minimising premium cost. It’s about maximising protection for the community club you have built over the years. 

Next Steps: Evaluating Your Current Program 

If you haven’t reviewed your club’s insurance program recently beyond premium comparison, now might be the time to conduct a comprehensive value assessment. Consider scheduling a strategic review that examines coverage adequacy, adviser performance, claims handling, and alignment with your club’s future direction. 

Remember, the right insurance partner should help you navigate the complex risk landscape facing Australian clubs; from regulatory compliance and duty of care obligations to emerging risks like cyber threats and climate-related events. 

If you need help with your risk and insurance program, consider taking advantage of Clear Insurance’s no obligation risk and insurance review for clarity and peace of mind.  

To safeguard your business against this trend, it’s essential to grasp the risks and responsibilities involved in operating a successful venue. 

Risk Factors to Consider

1. The importance of industry knowledge and experience 

When seeking insurance for your hospitality business, insurers will evaluate your depth of industry knowledge and experience.  

A deep understanding of the hospitality sector demonstrates to insurers that you are aware of and capable of managing operational risks. This knowledge is crucial for determining your business’s insurance coverage and premium costs. 

2. Understanding the risks of operating a Hospitality Business 

Running a hospitality venue involves various operational risks. These risks can vary based on the services offered and the physical characteristics of the venue.  

Understanding, identifying and analysing these risks allows you to make informed management decisions about how to handle them—whether to retain, mitigate, or transfer them to an insurance provider. 

3. What insurers consider when assessing Live Entertainment risks for venues 

Hosting live entertainment is integral to the charm of many hospitality venues, but it brings its own set of risks. Insurers evaluate various aspects, including: 

• Venue Age: Older venues struggle with compliance for new regulations and may also face potential structural risks.
• Construction Materials: Materials that pose fire risks can increase insurance premiums and affect insurability.
• Infrastructure Condition: The age and condition of plumbing and electrical systems are essential for safety.
• Location Risks: Understanding potential flood risk and the proximity to high-risk neighbouring businesses is crucial.
• Capacity and Security: The maximum capacity and security measures, such as CCTV coverage, influence risk assessment.
• Operational Factors: Operating hours, on-site facilities, and entertainment offerings can affect risk profiles.
• Safety Systems: Operating hours, on-site facilities, and entertainment offerings can affect risk profiles
• Staff Management Competency: Properly trained staff and managers contribute significantly to effective risk management.

How your hospitality services affect insurance premiums 

A lively, vibrant hospitality venue typically comes with higher risks, which ultimately influences premium pricing.  

For example, a casual pub that offers food and drink with background music to encourage patron spending may experience minimal impact to insurance costs.   

However, venues that feature dance floors, regular DJs, or live bands are classified into higher risk categories, consequently attracting higher premiums.  

By fortifying your understanding of the risk factors, you can better navigate the complexities of insurance in the hospitality industry.  

What insurers consider when assessing Live Entertainment risks for venues 

Hosting live entertainment is integral to the charm of many hospitality venues, but it brings its own set of risks. Insurers evaluate various aspects, including: 

• The type of music offered—background music, solo artists, duos, or bands 
• The presence of a dedicated or non-dedicated dance floor and how frequently events with dancing occur 
• Whether you host concerts or regular band performances 
• If you charge entry fees for events 
• The type and frequency of entertainment nights held throughout the week 
• The preventative measures for alcohol consumption on dance floors (e.g., plastic vs. glass)  
• Your security protocols and use of external security 
• Maintenance and cleaning protocols 

The impact of external security services on insurance premiums 

The presence of external security services can significantly influence insurance premiums for hospitality venues.

Insurers typically view venues with dedicated, trained security personnel as favourable because some of the risk is transferred. 

The right security measures can deter potential incidents, thereby reducing the likelihood of insurance claims.  

Key benefits of integrating external security services may include:

• Risk Mitigation: Professional security firms provide expertise in identifying potential risks and implementing strategies to mitigate them.
• Incident Response: Quick response times to incidents can prevent escalation, influencing insurers’ perceptions of your risk profile. 
• Reputation Management: Enhanced security can improve patron safety and comfort, leading to a better business reputation and customer loyalty.

Insurers conduct thorough research beyond your insurance proposal forms, including evaluating your online presence. They may look at your social media presence and website for further insights into your business.  

They may look at: 

• Types of events and entertainment on offer
• Use of high-risk activities, such as pyrotechnics
• Unfiltered feedback from patrons on your social media platforms

Activities that may elevate your insurance premiums might include: 

What is prize Indemnity insurance and how does it work?  Well, have you ever wondered how businesses and charities can offer new homes, large sums of money, and expensive cars in competitions?

Prize indemnity insurance is one way to make it happen. It’s known as the hole-in-one insurance.

In short, it’s a type of insurance that enables companies to offer enticing, high-value prizes, and rewards without financial risk to the business. It transfers the financial risk of the prize to insurance. It also means businesses or charities with a small budget can offer a life-changing or high-value prize without the financial risk.

What financial risk does prize indemnity insurance cover?

Prize indemnity insurance enables you to transfer the risk of a high-value prize to insurance.

For Example:

Say you are running a hole-in-one golf competition with an expensive new car as the prize. If a participant gets a hole-in-one, the insurer will pay for the car. Therefore, the company can offer the reward without the financial risk of buying the car.

Do I need prize indemnity insurance?

Offering high-value prizes may have benefits for your business, such as loyalty, increased patronage, high participation, brand awareness, and more.

However, there are financial risks to your business when offering high-value prizes.

Firstly, high-value prizes are expensive. Secondly, someone may or may not win. Thirdly, the prize(s) cost can leave a big hole in your cash flow and profit.

That’s why prize indemnity insurance is recommended to companies thinking about offering high-value prizes.

Your insurance adviser can help you understand your risks and how to transfer those risks to insurance.

How much does prize indemnity insurance cost?

The insurer will calculate your premium based on the value of the prize and the statistical odds of someone winning.

With prize indemnity cover in place, the insurer commits to paying for the prize, ensuring the winner receives their promised prize.

The policy will have a limit, generally equal to the value of the prize. That means the out-of-pocket cost to your business should someone win the award.

There are many insurers offering prize indemnity. Your insurance adviser will help you determine which product best suits your business needs and risk appetite.

Do I need special terms in the competition rules?

Your insurance adviser will work with you and the insurer to help you develop clear contest guidelines that meet the terms of your insurance coverage.

Your business and participants must follow the competition rules set by the insurer. This ensures that the insurer will cover the prize and removes any unfair advantage that may void the insurance contract.

Prize Indemnity Insurance Examples

Pokie Machine Promotions: Clubs can use prize indemnity insurance for large-scale promotions. For instance, hitting a specific combination on a slot machine may trigger a huge payout. The club buys insurance to cover the cost of the potential payout.

Customer Rebates and Giveaways: Businesses may offer cash rebates or prize giveaways to customers who meet certain conditions, such as buying a product or using a specific service during a set period. Should the number of eligible participants exceed your expectations, the insurer can cover the cost of the rebates or prizes.

Good Advice on Prize Indemnity Insurance

For expert insights into prize indemnity insurance and how it could benefit your business, consider talking to one of our experienced risk and insurance advisers. Additionally, you might find it helpful to explore our informative blog, which outlines 5 ways prize indemnity insurance can help you gain clarity on your promotional activities to ensure it aligns with your business goals.

Clear Insurance is here to help. Contact us today and ask about our no-obligation risk and insurance review to gain.