Protecting students during University activities
Griffith’s insurance program protects students when they perform work integrated learning (WIL), work experience (WEXP), community placement, field activities, and study and research work. It also covers students attending events connected with the University.
Work-integrated learning, work experience, and community placement
Griffith’s work-integrated learning, work experience, and community placement programs give students a chance to participate in a real-world workplace relevant to their field of study. They are based on an agreement between the workplace, the University, and the student. The work is unpaid and does not include collecting data or research information for study or research that is not within a student’s study area.
Students who do unpaid WIL, WEXP, or community placement are covered by Griffith’s Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance. This insurance protects students whether the placement is a course requirement (for credit), or to gain real-life work experience.
Insurance for placement
To make sure placement is covered by insurance, students must have their placement approved before they start. This is done in writing, using the appropriate form.
For all WIL and Community Internship programs, please complete the appropriate Work Integrated Learning (WIL) form.
For WEXP, please complete the Work Experience Agreement (WEXP) form.
Once you have read and understand the appropriate form, sign it and return to Student Connect. Before the Agreement is signed by Griffith, the WIL Course Convenor / Placement Coordinator must confirm that:
- the student will benefit academically from the WIL placement;
- due consideration has been given to the factors specified in “Work-Integrated Learning at Griffith” (policy library) in selecting the Host for a WIL placement.
To make sure you are insured for your placement, follow these steps:
- Download and complete the form or get one from Student Connect
- Print the completed form
- Ask one of your program directors to authorise the WIL, WEXP, or community placement. (Make sure the placement is relevant to the program director)
- Lodge the completed form with Student Connect
- You will be given a letter that details your responsibility while on placement
Student Connect will confirm your student status and send a letter to your placement provider detailing the insurance cover that applies to you.
What’s not covered?
Paid placement
If a student receives any form of payment or reward for work experience, be it monetary or in-kind, the University insurance program can not cover that student.
Private motor vehicles
The university insurance policies do not extend to the use of or incidents involving private motor vehicles. If students use a private vehicle when on placement, it is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to insure their own vehicles for damage and damage caused to other vehicles or property.
The University insurance does not apply if students drive a vehicle owned by the host organisation, it is the responsibility of the host organisation to insure their own vehicles and determine who can drive their vehicles
Medicare expenses
For personal accident claims no cover is provided for the ‘Medicare Gap’. This is the difference between the medical fee and the amount refunded by Medicare. The Health Insurance Act states that no insurer is permitted to cover this cost.
WorkCover
Students are not employees of the University or the host organisation. Therefore, they cannot be covered under either the University's or the host organisation’s WorkCover insurance.
Personal Belongings
The University does not take out insurance cover for your belongings, nor does it accept responsibility for their loss or damage. You should make sure that you protect your personal belongings by obtaining adequate personal insurance.
Study, Research and Field work
Paid
Any student doing research, study, or field work connected with the University is covered by the University Public Liability Policy. The cover includes both undergraduate and postgraduate students. It protects students from legal actions that may result from activity directly associated with the research or study. Students are also protected by Griffith’s Personal Accident insurance.
Postgraduate, PhD and Honours students may be covered for the use of University vehicles if approved by their supervisor. For more detail, please refer to the approved users in the Motor Vehicle Policy.
What’s not covered?
Private vehicles
The university insurance policies do not extend to the use of or incidents involving private motor vehicles. If students use a private vehicle when doing study, research, fieldwork or other work off campus, it is up to the owner of the vehicle to insure it for damage and damage caused to other vehicles or property.
Undergraduate use of motor vehicles
Undergraduate students are not covered to drive University vehicles. For more detail, please refer to the approved users in the Motor Vehicle Policy.
Medicare expenses
For personal accident claims, no cover is provided for the ‘Medicare Gap’. This is the difference between the medical fee and the amount refunded by Medicare. The Health Insurance Act states that no insurer is permitted to cover this cost.
Travel for University activities
Griffith insures staff and students who travel within Australia or overseas on approved University activities. This may include exchange programs, short term internships, research or field trips. University travel should be booked through the Griffith purchasing system via the relevant academic program. This automatically includes you in insurance coverage.
Professional indemnity
Griffith staff and students are protected against legal action that may arise from a breach of professional duty. This includes a negligent act, error or omission committed whilst engaged in University sanctioned activities.
Medical malpractice
Griffith and its staff and students are insured against claims of medical malpractice associated with University activities. The cover includes a student practitioner undertaking a practical clinical experience as part of the academic accreditation of the University. In this circumstance before treatment, the patient must be informed that treatment is to be provided by a student who is under the direct supervision or express instruction of a qualified practitioner.
What’s not covered?
This excludes clinical or drug trials which are covered under a separate policy. You need to seek specific approval prior to starting any trial. Please contact the Insurance Office on insurance@griffith.edu.au to discuss coverage for your proposed trial.
Making a claim
- For travel, student personal accident, and non-student Griffith sport accidents, download the relevant claim form and follow the instructions (these may vary depending on the type of claim).
- Gather all the required documentation. The Insurance Office can assist if you need help.
- Submit the claim form and all supporting documentation directly to our insurer using the email address on the claim form.