Broker-arranged
Family day care insurance
Family day care educators must hold public liability insurance of at least $10 million under the National Regulations, and the approved provider must hold it too. Here is what the rules say, what else an educator working from home needs, and how a licensed broker arranges it.
- The $10 million minimum under the National Regulations
- Cover for a service run from your home
- One short form, then a licensed broker takes it from there
What insurance does a family day care educator need?
Public liability of at least $10 million, because the Education and Care Services National Regulations require it. ACECQA’s guide to the National Quality Framework explains that an approved provider must hold public liability cover with a minimum of $10 million for each service (regulation 29), and that a family day care provider must ensure each educator engaged by or registered with the service holds public liability insurance with a minimum cover of $10 million (regulation 30). Evidence of the current policy must be kept at the residence or venue (regulation 180).
Beyond the compulsory cover, educators working from home look at contents cover for the equipment children use, personal accident for their own income, and, if they transport children, commercial motor cover for the vehicle.
What the National Regulations say
| Regulation | Who | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation 29 | Approved providers | An insurance policy, or a state or territory indemnity, providing adequate public liability cover for each service, with a minimum of $10 million |
| Regulation 30 | Family day care providers | Must ensure each family day care educator holds public liability insurance with a minimum cover of $10 million |
| Regulation 180 | Providers and educators | Evidence of the current insurance kept at the service premises, or for family day care at the principal office and at the educator’s residence or venue |
| Service approval | Providers | Holding the cover, and ensuring each educator does, is a condition of service approval |
What’s usually covered, and what isn’t
Usually covered
- Injury to a child in your care, under public liability.
- Injury to a parent or visitor at your home.
- Damage to a parent’s property.
- Legal costs of defending a covered claim.
Usually not covered
- Your own injury. That’s personal accident cover.
- Your home and contents. Tell your home insurer you run a service from home.
- Abuse claims, unless the policy specifically includes them. Ask the broker.
- Employees, if you take on an assistant. That’s workers compensation.
How to get family day care cover through us
Family day care insurance questions
How much public liability does a family day care educator need?
A minimum of $10 million. ACECQA’s guidance explains that family day care providers must ensure each educator holds public liability insurance with at least that cover.
Does my home insurance cover my family day care service?
Usually not without telling the insurer. Running a service from home is a business use, and some home policies exclude it. Ask before you start.
Do I need insurance if the provider has insurance?
Yes. The regulations require the provider to hold cover and to ensure each educator holds their own $10 million public liability policy.
Does public liability cover transporting children?
Injury in a vehicle is a motor matter: CTP covers injury to people, and the vehicle itself needs a policy that allows business use.
Why is family day care insurance arranged by a broker?
The cover has a regulatory minimum and conditions that insurers check, so a licensed broker arranges it and provides the evidence your provider needs.
Keep reading
More industries arranged by a broker
Sources
Family day care