Insurance Claims

Making a Claim

Claim forms are available for:

  • Member accidents

  • Club asset damage or loss

(Please see the links below to access the relevant claim forms.)

All claims must be submitted within 30 days of the incident.

insurance claim process
member accident claim form
club asset claim form
vehicle claim form

Member Injury Insurance Claims 

Please note the below is general information relating to member injury claims, and any cover is subject to the terms of the relevant policy or agreement. The below information is provided in relation to member injury claims, and not insurance covering other situations, such as damage to property.  

How are members insured for injuries? 

  1. Nippers who are injured while participating in Surf Life Saving (SLS) sanctioned activities are insured through Marsh, our national insurance broker. 

  1. Volunteers (not Nippers) who are injured while participating in SLS sanctioned activities in South Australia are insured by South Australian Government Financing Authority (SAFA). SAFA is a statutory authority under the South Australian Government Department for Treasury and Finance. It is a government self-insurance arrangement. SAFA’s insurance program for Surf Life Saving South Australia (SLSSA) is governed by an agency agreement.  

  1. All members participating in all SLS sanctioned activities must follow all SLS policies and procedures. 

What constitutes an SLS sanctioned activity? 

Whether something is a sanctioned activity is typically a multifactorial assessment, determined case-by-case by SLSSA. SLSSA determines whether an activity was SLS sanctioned and the relevant insurer determines the claim under the applicable insurance arrangement. 

Factors indicating likelihood of the activity being considered sanctioned by SLS include: 

  • An SLS entity (Club, State, SLSA) was aware of the activity occurring; and/or 

  • An SLS entity (Club, State, SLSA) approved of the activity occurring; and/or 

  • An SLS entity (Club, State, SLSA) organised the activity; and/or 

  • SLS Policies and Procedures were being followed during the activity; and/or 

  • The people involved in the activity were predominantly SLS members 

Typically, the following non-exhaustive list of activities are likely to be considered a sanctioned activity, and therefore members who are injured whilst participating in these activities are generally covered by insurance: 

  • State or Club organised carnivals and surf sports competition; 

  • Patrolling; 

  • Skills maintenance sessions run by the club; 

  • Member education, including proficiency and skills maintenance run by the Club or State; 

  • Camps organised by Club or State; 

  • Training arranged by a Club with an appointed coach present and following the Water Safety Policy and Procedure; and 

  • Training arranged without a coach present, but approved by the Club, and following the Water Safety Policy and Procedure. 

Typically, the following activities are not likely to be considered a sanctioned activity, and therefore members injured whilst participating in these activities would generally not be covered by insurance. This list is non-exhaustive: 

  • Training alone where it is impossible for the Club or State to implement standard policy, procedure, and risk management controls. 

What is a Volunteer for the purpose of SAFA’s insurance cover? 
Volunteer means any person working for Surf Life Saving South Australia (or affiliated Club) on a ‘voluntary basis’ (as that phrase is defined in the Volunteers Protection Act (SA) 2001) who is subject to Surf Life Saving South Australia (or affiliated Club)’s direction and control in the performance of that work. 

Need Assistance?

If you have any questions, or if your club needs to make a different type of insurance claim, please contact us at accounts@surflifesavingsa.com.au with full details of the incident, and our team will assist you.