Personal Property and Insurance
The school cannot obtain insurance cover for items that it does not own, and cannot make a claim for property it does not own (e.g. property of a staff member or member of the school community) under school insurance. This includes losses of personal property at the school or on school trips (e.g. EOTC, camps) caused by theft, fire, or other events. The school cannot usually replace or repair personal property that is damaged or stolen.
Everyone is responsible for their own personal property that they bring to school or on school activities. No one should bring unnecessary valuables to school. If an insurance claim for damage or loss to personal property is made, any insurance excess is payable by the person insured.
Personal insurance cover
- Staff are advised to have their own insurance cover for the loss of, or damage to, any personal property they bring to the school, including their vehicle.
- Parents are advised to have their own insurance cover for the loss of, or damage to, personal property of their child (e.g. home contents insurance typically covers phones, devices, bikes). Students are discouraged from bringing valuables to school unless required for their learning. The school is not responsible or liable for personal items that are damaged, lost, or stolen.
Personal insurance claims
- If a staff member or parent makes a claim under their own insurance, any excess is payable by the staff member or parent. This includes any damage to school property or the personal property of another student caused by a student.
- An insurer has the right to recover its costs from the person who caused the damage, or from their insurance company if they are insured. This may include the excess that has been paid by the person insured. The person insured should check whether their insurance company will refund their excess if/when the person that caused the damage pays them for the costs.
- If a student is responsible for damage to the personal property of another student, the affected student and/or their parents should contact the school. They should not contact the other student or their family about compensation and/or reimbursement but should request the assistance of the school to mediate. See Raising Concerns and Complaints.
School involvement in staff claims
If a staff member makes a claim that is related to school-related work or activities and their insurer declines the claim or does not provide compensation, the board may consider a contribution towards the loss. The staff member should write to the board, and explain:
- whether the item was required at school or the incident was part of school business for the staff member to carry out their role
- the circumstances that led to the damage or loss, including any negligence
- duty of care of the staff member in protecting their property.
The board will consider the request and advise the staff member of its decision.
Personal vehicles
Any staff member or parent who uses their personal vehicle to transport students should consider the terms and conditions of their vehicle insurance. Personal insurance policies can vary and we advise staff members and parents to check their policies and seek advice from their insurer as needed. For example, insurers may state that using a personal vehicle for business purposes might leave the car uninsured for any accidents or incidents that are business related.
Related policies
: Term 3 2025, Term 2 2021
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