Insurance for Schools

4. Claims procedures

4.1 Public liability claims (legal liability claims)

All claims against the department or school council for:

• personal injury of people who are not employees or
• loss, damage or destruction of property not owned by the department or school council.

must be referred to Legal Division at legal.services@education.vic.gov.au or on 03 9637 3146.

For more information about this process refer to Legal Claims, Subpoenas, Summonses and Other Legal Documents.

4.2 Claims by volunteer workers

4.2.1 Injuries

Injury claims by volunteer school workers or volunteer student workers should be managed according to the Workers’ Compensation policy. Centrelink volunteers who are injured during the course of their school activities should contact the Financial Compliance Unit: refer to the Policy tab for contact details.

4.2.2 Property damage

Property claims by volunteer school workers, Centrelink volunteers and volunteer student workers for damage in the course of their volunteer work should be referred to Legal Division at legal.services@education.vic.gov.au or on 03 9637 3146.

4.3 Damage to facilities (fire, flood, storm etc.)

The VSBA’s Make-Safe Program assists schools that have sustained damage through an incident or event. Schools in this situation must ensure the safety of everyone onsite and contact the department's Incident and Security Operations Centre (ISOC) on 1800 126 126.

Schools should also contact the Make-Safe service provider on 1300 133 468 to respond to the incident. The VSBA, through its service provider, will make the site of the incident or event safe for staff, students and the community. Under certain circumstances, the program may reinstate school facilities to an operational standard.

For further information, schools can contact the provision planning officers at the regional office (refer to these contact details) or the VSBA at vsba@education.vic.gov.au or on 1800 896 950.

For more information on the Make-safe Program, refer to the policy for schools on Buildings and Grounds Maintenance.

4.4 Damage to electronic and other specified equipment – School Equipment Coverage Scheme (SECS) only

If equipment is stolen, damaged or destroyed, and affects SECS covered items only, schools must complete the DET – VMIA Property Damage Claim Form available in the Resources tab.

The completed claim form along with all supporting documentation should be sent via e-mail to property.claims@education.vic.gov.au

If your claim involves items covered under both SECS and VMIA School Council insurance, you are required to lodge the claim with VMIA through their client portal. If you do not have portal access, call VMIA on (03) 9270 6900 and ask for the CAT team.

4.5 School Council Insurance Program

Claims for damage or loss to non-entitled buildings or over-entitled buildings and/or contents arranged under the VMIA School Council insurance program are required to be made via the VMIA Client Portal.

4.6 DET Teacher and Principal Notebook Program

Apple notebooks only

To initiate a claim for loss or damage, please email: notebook@education.vic.gov.au

ACER notebooks only

To initiate a claim for loss or damage, please contact ACER by phone: 1300 139 211.

4.7 Construction Risks Insurance (damage to construction works or injury/damage caused by them)

Information about any claim or potential claim that comes to the knowledge of the school, especially any claim for injury resulting from the works, must be reported as promptly as possible as follows:

• in the event of any personal injury, or damage to personal property, to the Legal Division (specifically the Negligence and Redress team in Legal Division) at legal.services@education.vic.gov.au or on 03 9637 3146
• in the event of personal injury to a department employee, to the Workers Compensation Advisory service at safety@education.vic.gov.au or on 1300 074 715
• in the event of damage to buildings/construction works:
  • to the provision planning officers at the regional office (refer to contact details)
  • to Legal Division (specifically the Commercial and Property Law Team in Legal Division) at legal.services@education.vic.gov.au or on 03 9637 3146 and
  • to the VSBA at vsba@education.vic.gov.au

To make a claim, the project builder should complete the claim form accessible through the Make a claim page on the VMIA web site. This link is to the VMIA’s 'Insurance – Making a claim' webpage and has clear instructions on the process required.

4.8 WorkCover

WorkCover Claims by employees should be managed according to the Workers’ Compensation policy.

4.9 School travel insurance claims

School travel insurance claims should be managed directly with the VMIA. Schools should lodge their claims via the VMIA Client Portal.