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Insurance Requirements for Clubs
Public and Products Liability (Thoroughbred and Greyhound Clubs)
Personal Accident (Volunteer) Insurance for Clubs
Building & Contents for Clubs (ISR)
Insurance for Harness Clubs, Drivers & Trainers
Thoroughbred Trainers
Jockeys & Apprentice Jockeys
Insurance Levy
WorkCover Information for Clubs and Trainers
Insurance Requirements for Clubs
Racing Queensland (RQ) determines the minimum 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, where this has been deemed appropriate by RQ in its sole discretion, grant conditional exemptions to any one or more of these requirements.
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 minimum insurance requirements for each Licence type are outlined in the table below, categorised by Club tier (as communicated by RQ to the Club):
Public and Products Liability Insurance for Thoroughbred & Greyhound Clubs
RQ, along with its brokers, has developed an insurance program for Public and Products Liability and Volunteer Insurance for clubs, which means clubs do not need to obtain this insurance however, should look to obtain additional Public Liability insurance in the following circumstances.
Please note that this is general advice only and RQ recommends that clubs undertake their own investigations into insurance where they are unsure.
- Insured - Racing Queensland Board t/as Racing Queensland including all affiliated Licensed Clubs.
- Insurer - SLE Worldwide Aust Pty Ltd.
- Period of Insurance - 4.00 pm 31/10/2025 to 4.00 pm 31/10/2026.
What's covered:
The policy provides cover for the insured’s legal liability to pay compensation for:
- Personal Injury;
- Property Damage; or
- Advertising Liability
happening during the Period of Insurance and caused by an Occurrence within the geographical limits in connection with the Business.
This means the liability insurance covers incidents that occur at the venue, while the club is undertaking activities of a racing nature controlled by the club. That is, a normal race day. Events, known as ‘Alternative Events’ such as Sighthound races, Arabian Horse/ Stock Horse races and Camel races must be endorsed by the insurer on the Public Liability policy. In these cases, the club must seek endorsement of the event, through applying to RQ Clubs, Tracks and Assets team with specific details of the event, and RQ Insurance will seek endorsement through the broker and insurer.
The following events are not ‘Alternative Events’ provided that the events are not conducted on, or may have a detrimental impact to, the Club’s racetrack, and will not be endorsed by the RQ liability insurer -
- birthday parties, weddings and functions,
- carnivals, festivals, displays and shows,
- community markets,
- exhibitions, competitions and social gatherings, and
- novelty events (for example, jumping castles),
Where the public liability insurance does not cover the event, the Club must take out additional public liability insurance in respect of the Club’s venue and the event which -
- has a limit of indemnity of not less than $20,000,000 per occurrence and unlimited in the aggregate;
- provides a notation that confirms an indemnity for the Club for claims arising from participation in equine activities; and
- that provides a principal’s indemnity or interested party notation that names the Club and “the Racing Queensland Board (trading as Racing Queensland)”.
Information on Public & Product Liability Coverage is available below:
Additionally, for further information on the Alternative events, click here.
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.
For all policy queries, claims and additional information please contact Aon Insurance Brokers.
Personal Accident (Volunteer) Insurance for Clubs
RQ 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.
The insurance covers a Covered Person engaged in voluntary work on behalf of the Policyholder, including necessary direct travel to and from such voluntary work. Provided always that any voluntary work is officially organised by and under the control of the Policyholder. The policyholder being Racing Queensland Board (trading as Racing Queensland) and volunteers of all licensed thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing clubs in Queensland.
The main aspects of the insurance:
- A weekly benefit capped at $500/week, or 85% of the insured persons salary, whichever is the lesser, for a maximum period of 52 weeks.
- 7 day excess period applies.
- An age limit for weekly benefits is set at 75 years old, but no bottom limit applies.
- Certain non-medicare expenses and lump sums for certain injuries.
The full policy wording is available upon request.
Relevant Personal Accident documents are available below:
Policy wording is available upon request.
For all policy queries, claims and additional information please contact Aon Insurance Brokers.
Building & Contents for Clubs (ISR)
Property, Contents and Inventory coverage is required for all Licensed Club Venues (All Tiers).
The level of insurance you require as a club is directly related to the scope of cover you need and the amount of premium you will pay. It also dictates the insurance payments your club may receive if you need to claim. That is, if you are over-insured you will be paying more premium than you need to pay and if you are under-insured, or uninsured, your club could be paying out for the under or uninsured loss.
Therefore, RQ STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOUR CLUB SEEKS GUIDANCE ON HOW TO ASSESS THE LEVEL OF COVER YOU REQUIRE BY UNDERTAKING A INSURANCE SURVEY OF YOUR RISK, OR OBTAINING INDEPENDENT VALUATIONS.
For further information on Building and Contents (ISR) queries and claims, please contact Aon Insurance Brokers.
Insurance for Harness Clubs, Drivers & Trainers
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:
- Public Liability
- Professional Indemnity
- Personal Accident
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
Thoroughbred Trainers
Racing Queensland advises it has purchased public liability and professional indemnity insurance for all licensed thoroughbred trainers in Queensland.
The policy includes $5m in Professional Indemnity Cover, $20m in Public Liability Cover and $1.5m in Care, Custody and Control Coverage (decreased from $5m).
If you have any questions about the policyor, need to notify the insurer of a potential claim, please contact Minka Cahill on 0432 781 903.
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:
Jockeys & Apprentice Jockeys
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 and trainee apprentice jockeys whilst undertaking the work of a trainee apprentice jockey. This coverage applies to jockeys and apprentices who have ridden in a programmed race within the last 12 months and while they are undertaking the usual duties of a jockey.
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.
Insurance Levy
The Insurance Levy was introduced on 1 January 2024 with an initial trial period ending 30 June 2025. Following the trial, the levy will continue and will be reviewed annually to determine its ongoing continuation. The levy collects 1% of prize money winnings on all TAB races, with the aim of supporting Queensland Trainers by helping fund rising WorkCover premiums, contributing to RQ-funded Trainers public liability insurance, improving WHS practices, and assisting in the management of WorkCover statutory claims. For more information on the levy, please click here.
WorkCover Information for Clubs and Trainers
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.
View Trainers Guide To WorkCover & FAQ’s here.
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 Mark Hopsick, WHS and Insurance Manager, on (07) 3869 9721.
