Duck for Cover

Bulk buying. The insurer and broker get a decent premium and we get a cheap price for Public Liability Insurance. Each member of Duck is covered for claims relating third party bodily injury or property damage up to the policy limit of $30,000,000 any one occurrence.
We have a reputation for low claims. As soon as we have big pay-outs the premiums will go through the roof or, worse, we won't be able to get cover.

why is there an $400,000 income restriction?

We asked the insurers for a cheap price for performers who can't afford the current high prices for liability cover. They obliged by giving us a very good rate, but say that they aren't willing to cover high-earning performers, which is reasonable. This income restriction covers only your performing work and your related teaching, so income from non-performing sources is not included in this restriction.

who are we insured with?

Our underwriters and brokers are both authorized to trade in Australia and are governed by Australian legislation.

Duck for Cover have appointed Steadfast IRS Pty Ltd (formerly IC Frith Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd) to look after our insurance arrangements with effect from 1 July 2009. All existing claims and all new claims are handled by Steadfast IRS.

The Public Liability Insurance policy continues to be arranged through Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd.

The Personal Accident Insurance policy will continue to be arranged through Accident & Health (agents of CGU Insurance).

The Performing Equipment Insurance policy has been arranged through Hollard Insurance.

Because of our arrangement with them, if you approach any of the above companies they will only redirect you back to us.

i'd like to see the policy, how can i?

All the documentation is in the Official Bits. You can read or download the information from there.

i am in a performing group or band, can we get cover together?

Yes, your group can be registered under the Duck for Cover policy. There are a couple of options for performing groups available. Please read through the information on the Group page for the options and contact the office if you have any questions.

what if not everyone in my group is a performer?

If every performer in your group has joined Duck for Cover as an individual member, the group can then be registered, as an insured group, which will cover non-performing employees or volunteers (not contractors or sub-contractors) of the group and provide an additional certificate of currency in the name of the group.

Remember, you are not covered for the actions of other performers in your act. It would be sensible to have all members of your act to take out a cover through Duck for Cover or any insurer to avoid any gaps.

do I have to be over 18 to join?

You don’t! But if you are under 18 you need a parent or legal guardian to sign your application for you. Check out the information on cover for Ducklings here.

workshops – what can duck for cover cover me for?

The Public Liability policy specifically includes cover for all claims arising from workshop/teaching activities other than workshops/teaching which include any of the following activities: Aerial Performers, Angle Grinding, Bed of Nails, Cooking Demonstrations, Fire Acts, Parkour, Roller Skating, Sword Swallowing, and Own Body Piercing.

You can arrange cover for workshop/teaching of the following activities through the High Risk Teaching extension: Aerial Performers, Angle Grinding, Bed of Nails, Fire Acts, Sword Swallowing and Own Body Piercing.

This will leave Cooking Demonstrations, Parkour and Roller Skating/Skateboarding as the only approved performing activities which members cannot be covered for teaching and workshops under the Duck for Cover Public Liability policy.

Check here for more information on cover for Teaching and Workshops.

i'm in more than one category – do i have to pay more than one premium?

No. You pay one fee for your Public Liability – that for the highest category your activities fall into. If you want to take out additional covers as well, this will, of course, add to the total you pay.

where does my money go?

Duck for Cover charges each member an annual membership fee, this covers administrative costs, including office staff. The rest goes to the insurance brokers who charge an admin fee for each member, to the insurers in premiums and to the government in stamp duties and GST.

i checked my account and my credit card has been charged twice

You probably clicked the "Submit" button more than once during the on-line payment process. We usually pick up such things, but drop us an email to let us know and we'll organise the refund as soon as we can.

what is the definition of fire?

Fire means that a naked flame occurs as part of your performance, including flash paper and even if it is only for a short time.

i'm a musician – does playing acoustic or electric make a difference?

No. We assume that you will be using mics and amps and electric guitars and keyboards. Singers who sing accompanied or a capella are listed as musicians.

what about a hold harmless clause?

Any signed Venue Hire Agreement must not contain a Hold Harmless clause – this has the effect of the hirer accepting Liability of the venue regardless of cause of incident. The Property Owner of the venue has their own Public Liability exposures and it is not the intention of the Duck policy to pick up these exposures.

i'm joining now - do i get a discount because it's not a whole year?

In the past, the answer was no! One of the conditions we had to accept from the insurer is that there will be no pro rata reductions during the year. The deal we got was so good for most members that even if you were only with us for a couple of months, it was still cheaper than a lot of other places. However the insurers have agreed to additional discounts through the policy year in recognition of the shorter amount of time on the policy. We'll let you know when these become available.

i've lost my certificate of currency

You are able to download any of your certificates and your receipt at any time by logging in through the My Duck section of the website. There are copies of all your materials stored there for you. However, if you have any difficulties, we are happy to help. Just email us for a replacement certificate.

i've been asked by an employer to list (or note) them as an interested party

This is an increasingly common request. Your Duck for Cover public liability policy will automatically note the interest of employers, councils and venues. It's called a universal indemnity clause.

The following text will appear on your Certificate of Currency when it is issued:

"This policy automatically indemnifies any principal who hires a Duck For Cover member to perform or on whose land or premises the Duck For Cover Member temporarily occupies for the purpose of performing (including where required Local Governments comprising City Councils, Municipal Councils, and other Authorities i n Australia), in respect of such principal's liability for the acts, errors or omissions of the Duck for Cover member in the performance of work or as a result of the use of land or premises of such principal, subject always to the extent of cover and Limit of Indemnity provided in the Policy."

i'm from a different state/country. can i be covered under the duck for cover policy?

If you are an Australian citizen, you are welcome to join Duck regardless of where you are living. The public liability cover for Australian performers (citizens or permanent residents) is worldwide, excluding the USA and Canada.

International performers are also welcome to join Duck to be covered while they are performing in Australia, but are only covered while performing in Australia.

i teach yoga/pilates/meditation/zumba/personal development. can I be covered for doing this under the duck policy?

No. The Duck member’s policy covers teaching and workshops only in the member's listed performing activities. It does not cover teaching and workshops in other activities. You would need to arrange insurance outside of Duck to properly insure your exposure for your other work.

i'm teaching gymnastics. would I be covered?

No.

Some of the skills involved in gymnastics are the same as the skills displayed in acrobatics.
Duck members can cover acrobatics as an approved performing activity.
Duck members cannot cover Gymnastics as an approved performing activity as it is deemed by insurers to be a sporting activity.
Teaching is only covered under the Duck program for the teaching of the approved performing activity (in this case acrobatics not gymnastics).
Whether teaching of Acrobatics is covered will depend on the purpose of the teaching.
Teaching a dancer / actor some acrobatic skills to use with their own performing activities would be acceptable.
Teaching acrobatic skills as part of a circus workshop would be acceptable.
Teaching acrobatic skills as a gymnastics teacher at a gymnastics centre which utilises gymnastics equipment would not be acceptable.
Separate Liability insurance outside of Duck for Cover would be required to cover any gymnastic teaching activities.

what's the point of public liability insurance? i'm just a performer.

A tale from the Insurance Industry (From James Finucane of Steadfast IRS Pty Ltd)

A magician was performing at a club. Part of his act was to juggle apples which he bit and spat while he was juggling. Later one of the audience got up from her chair and slipped on a piece of the apple that was missed during clean up after the performance. The injured lady sued the club and the performer for $250,000.

The incident occurred in 1999 but the claim was not made against the insured until late 2002. I am not sure what the final outcome of this claim was but if the insurer decided to defend the claim all the way to judgement, defense costs would have far exceeded $50,000 PLUS the courts in the past have usually found in favour of the injured third party and she would have been paid a settlement.

If the performer did not have insurance, the injured lady's solicitors would "chase the money" and concentrate on suing the club.

Since councils and venues have been hit very hard with insurance premiums and have been forced to take very high excesses, negligence by a performer at their venue could potentially cost them a lot of money.

This is why you will find an increase over the last few years in the number of venues and councils requiring proof that you carry Public Liability insurance before allowing you to perform.

FAQ

why are Duck for Cover's prices so low?