In the current hard market, a broker can make the world of difference for businesses finding it tough to secure insurance. For one school camp park operator, whose insurance struggle was mentioned in a recent ABC News article, the business is now able to host camping activities after a broker referral. 

“From a school camp perspective, I’d be more than happy to say that there is cover readily available,” GJ Insurance Consulting MD Gregory Thomas, who arranged the insurance for the school camp operator, told insuranceNEWS.com.au. 

“The ones that are problematic are ones that are ‘inferior risks’ where there is no risk management, like a free for all with unpaved surfaces and allowing people to pitch their tents where they want and do whatever outdoor activities they want with no supervision.” 

Like many sectors across the country, school camp venue operators have found it difficult to afford or secure property and liability insurance in the current hard market conditions. 

In such a tough environment, a broker with the right expertise can make a difference. A National Insurance Brokers Association report in 2020 – prepared by consultancy Deloitte – says insurance markets can often be complex and difficult for the average client to navigate.

By engaging brokers, businesses get access to qualified advice in relation to insurance needs such as coverage levels and tailored solutions, according to the report. 

In the case of the school camp park operator, Mr Thomas says his brokerage arranged to insure the camping activity via a liability arrangement they have in place with a Lloyd’s coverholder. Mr Thomas also wholesales that cover to other brokers across Australia. 

“We went through the process, looked at what the business needed and we’ve arranged the cover under the new policy. We very much tailor every product we write for each client and were able to tailor a product to suit this client's school camping activities.” 

GJ Insurance Consulting, a PSC Connect corporate authorised representative, specialises in arranging business covers for camping, churches, charities and not-for-profits and has been operating since 1999 from its main Melbourne office. 

Mr Thomas says risk mitigation is especially important for businesses like school camp operators who require liability insurance. 

“Things like staff training and having a policy or procedure around every activity like having a lifeguard in place when there is canoeing on the lake and doing routine safety checks on equipment such as rope courses and flying foxes if these are on the sites,” he said. 

“If they have done the hard yards of getting the risk management in place, the renewal process is certainly going to be straightforward.” 

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) says since 2019 the caravan and camping sector has been impacted by a hardening market, causing some insurance providers to withdraw from the sector. 

ICA via its Business Advisory Council has been engaging with key insurers, brokers and underwriting agencies across the sector to explore ways to address insurance affordability and availability.