The Library
MyCroquet

Insurance

CAQ clubs are covered under the V-Insurance policy arranged through Croquet Australia. It comes with affiliation — clubs don't arrange it separately.

V-Insurance: (02) 8599 8660 or 1300 172 321

What's covered

There are two separate layers of coverage, protecting two different groups of people.

For office holders — Association Liability: Directors and Officers (D&O) Protects committee members (presidents, secretaries, treasurers, general committee) against governance claims: - Legal threats from members (disciplinary decisions, team selection, policy disputes) - Employment-related claims if the club employs staff - Inquiry costs if a government body investigates the club - Defence costs even when no claim ultimately succeeds

For guests — Public Liability Protects the club when a third party (someone who is not a financial member) is injured or suffers property damage: - A visitor injured on club grounds - A participant injured during a Come & Try event - Property damage caused by club activities

Public liability does not cover injuries to financial members in normal play — that falls under personal accident/sports injury cover.

When to call

Call as soon as any of these happen — don't wait to see how serious it gets:

  • Someone is injured at a club event or on club grounds
  • A member threatens legal action against the club or a committee member
  • You receive a formal letter from a lawyer
  • A government body contacts the club about a regulatory matter
  • A media inquiry arrives about a club incident
  • A committee member is named personally in any legal document

Rule: notify first, gather details second.

What to say

"I'm calling from [Club Name], a member of Croquet Australia Queensland. We have a potential insurance claim regarding [brief description]. We need guidance on next steps."

You don't need all the details ready. The insurer guides you through what they need.

What happens after you call

  1. The insurer logs the notification and assigns a reference number — keep it
  2. D&O / legal threats: specialist lawyers review the claim and send a formal response. Do not communicate with the claimant directly after this point
  3. Public liability / injuries: the insurer guides the claims process and may ask for an incident report, photos, and witness statements
  4. Follow the insurer's guidance, not your instinct

Most threats against QLD community club committees go nowhere once lawyers are involved.

What's not covered

  • Deliberate dishonest acts or fraud
  • Conduct outside the scope of the committee role
  • Pre-existing known disputes not disclosed at policy renewal
  • Some fines and penalties in regulatory matters

When in doubt, call and ask. It costs nothing to notify early.

  • Insurance Claim Checklist — what to gather before calling
  • Emergency Response One-Pager — immediate steps for event injuries
  • Volunteer Protection — the Civil Liability Act framework that insurance backs up
  • President's Protection Guide — role-specific insurance guidance for presidents
  • Secretary Legal Duties — what the law requires from the secretary
  • ← Legal & Risk