Media Release

March 5, 2002

COMMUNITY groups affected by the skyrocketing cost of public liability insurance are being encouraged to take part in a national survey aimed at documenting the problem across the national community sector.

Already more than 500 community and non-profit groups across Australia have taken part in the online survey, established by www.ourcommunity.com.au, a national online resource for 700,000 community, education and non-profit groups across Australia.

The survey was set up to gather information to support a national pooled public liability insurance scheme and more groups are being urged to take part. The preliminary results of the survey will be collated ahead of the Federal Government's insurance summit scheduled for March 27 and these results will be submitted for consideration.

The online survey can be found at www.ourcommunity.com.au . People wanting hard copies of the survey can call (03) 9320 6800.

Ourcommunity.com.au CEO, Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, said the survey would provide further evidence to insurance companies of the need for a dedicated community group insurance scheme tailored to the specific needs and activities of community groups.

"We have already had a tremendous response to the survey from across the community sector and from all parts of Australia. The one common factor is that the pain is not just financial. It is making a huge dent in the daily lives of our communities, particularly in regional areas," Dr Galbally said.

"At the moment we are all talking about the financial cost to community groups of the premium rises but if we don't find a solution, the issue will have a devastating effect on the community. We will be left with a very dull and sad society if we lose or scale back all the festivals, events and community activities that we currently take for granted and that make Australia what it is."

Dr Galbally said while a national pooled insurance scheme was needed to spread the risk and lower the premiums, it was just as important to help community groups establish effective risk management programs to also better protect their volunteers and members from injury, reduce their risk profile and minimise their premiums.

Several free Help Sheets, including advice on setting up a risk management strategy, can be found at the Community Insurance Centre at www.ourcommunity.com.au. More Help Sheets for community groups will be added over the coming months.