What the Hendra virus means for you
At Guild Insurance, we understand the complex nature of the Hendra virus and the challenges with diagnosing the disease.
As a Veterinarian, you are legally obligated to ensure you have taken precautions to minimise the risk of Hendra virus infection. In conjunction with State Biosecurity, Public Health, Workplace Health and Safety Agencies, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) and Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA), Guild Insurance strongly encourages the vaccination of horses. It is the single most effective way of reducing the risk of Hendra virus infection and provides a work health and safety, and public health, benefit.
Ensuring your safety and the wellbeing of others is fundamental to how you operate as a Veterinarian. State Government Agencies and the AVA have released guidelines to assist you with taking the necessary precautions.
About this product
Your Guild Insurance policy provides Professional Indemnity and Liability cover for infectious and/or transmissible diseases. If you can demonstrate that you have complied with Government guidelines and protocols (see suggested references below) for the investigation or treatment of horses infected with Hendra virus and a complaint is made, you will be covered.
With Guild, you will be covered for allegations, legal defence costs and the financial loss of a breach of professional duty from a Hendra virus related incident.
If your practice is closed due to a Hendra virus incident, Business Interruption cover for loss of profits, wages, rent and other fixed business expenses is not available.
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Guidelines for veterinarians handling potential Hendra virus infection in horses
- Department of Health - HEV infection prevention advice
- Worksafe QLD - Hendra virus – information for veterinarians
Frequently Asked Questions
The law governs that any professional exercise the required skill to an appropriate level expected by that profession. A professional may be liable for financial loss, injury or damage arising from an act, error or omission of fault if the professional has not acted to the required level of skill deemed in that profession. Failure through this may result in the claimant (person who suffered the loss) be awarded for that loss, damage or injury.
Many professions require you to hold a professional indemnity insurance policy by law, such as Ahpra registered professions, but can be for other industries such as financial institutions also. Please check with your registration body or associations of your profession to know if it is required by law to have professional indemnity insurance. It is often also required by companies who take on contract workers that are not governed under the companies own insurance policy. It is acceptable for a company to ask you as the professional contractor to provide evidence of cover for professional indemnity before starting the contract period.
As stated above professional indemnity insurance covers you for breaches in relation to your professional duty. Liability insurance covers you for activity that results in personal injury or property damage as a result of your business activities that do not relate to your specific profession. An example may be someone who trips and is injured from spilled water within your office may be covered under liability, because it is your duty of care as business person to provide a safe environment. Whereas a person who suffers a loss or injury because of your professional treatment in relation to your job has caused it would usually be consider as an indemnity breach.
Generally business insurance is to cover the physical assets of your business for material damage loss and options for theft cover. It can also include cover for financial loss due to business interruption. Usually basic insurance does not cover breach of duty or flood cover, but if you speak to an insurance specialist it can often be added to your policy for a nominal fee.
Depending on the policy you are taking out, covers will often vary. At Guild insurance we specialise in making a policy to suit your business so that you are not over paying for covers you wouldn't normally need. The best thing to do is call 1800 810 213 to speak to an insurance specialist, they can find out what activities and structure your business is in to then provide you with adequate cover for you.
A certificate of currency (or COC for short) is a written document that confirms that your insurance policy is current and valid at a specific date and time. At Guild we provide easy access to your COC at any time within a few clicks of our online portal PolicyHub. If you are a new customer we can provide you with one post purchase.
