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1. Student Volunteering and Service Learning
LEGAL AND INSURANCE ISSUES
April 2009
2. Duty of Care
Courts hold DET to a very high standard content of the duty depends on age, maturity and any relevant individual characteristics of the student
DET personnel are required to take reasonable steps to protect students from risks that are reasonably foreseeable
Duty of care is not an absolute guarantee of safety
Duty of care is generally not being met if no action is taken to assess and manage potential risks
3. How can you tell what was reasonable or foreseeable in the circumstances?
What would a reasonable person do?
Was the risk foreseeable or was it far-fetched or fanciful?
4. What should staff do?
Dont ignore potential hazards -
assess risks and take firm, positive action to
safeguard students;
Act in accordance with DETs policies and procedures;
Document actions taken
5. Principle of Vicarious Liability Common law principle unless acting with serious and wilful misconduct, staff are not personally liable for injuries to students
Employees Liability Act, 1991 reinforces this principle in relation to negligent acts and omissions of staff again provided there is no serious and wilful misconduct on part of staff
6. Occupational Health & Safety Departments obligation to ensure health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
Departments obligation to ensure that students and visitors to its sites are not exposed to risks to their health and safety
7. Risk Management Risk management is recognised as an integral part of good management practice by the systematic application of management policies, procedures and practices to the tasks of:
identification
analysis
assessment
treatment and
monitoring of risk.
8. Self Insurance The TMF (Treasury Managed Funds) scheme is a form of self insurance which allows public sector agencies
direct control and
involvement in the funds allocated to cover losses arising from insurable risks.
9. Employer Indemnity The Department indemnifies host organisations for any amount they may be legally liable to pay for injury to students who are injured whilst working as volunteers, up to $20,000,000 provided that:
any claim is immediately notified to the relevant school
the Department has full conduct of the claim
the host organisation co-operates fully with the Department and any legal services provider acting for the Department
the host organisation complies with OH&S legislation
the injury does not stem from a lack of instruction or supervision by the host organisation.
10. Public Liability Indemnity The Department indemnifies host organisations for any amount they may be legally liable to pay for property damage or personal injury to third parties caused by students working as volunteers, up to $20,000,000 provided that:
any claim is immediately notified to the relevant school
the Department has full conduct of the claim
the host organisation co-operates fully with the Department and any legal services provider acting for the Department and
the damage or injury does not stem from a lack of instruction or supervision by the host organisation.
11. Damage to Employers Property The Department will compensate host organisations to the full extent of any damage caused by students to the host organisations property or property in their physical or legal control, up to $200,000 per incident provided that:
any claim is immediately notified to the relevant school
the host organisation co-operates fully with the Department and any legal services provider acting for the Department and
the injury does not stem from a lack of instruction or supervision by the host organisation.
12. Compensation to Students Students participating in Student Volunteering activities must not receive wages or payments.
Subject to certain conditions, the Department may compensate injured students under its voluntary workers insurance arrangement.
The cover provides compensation for any out of pocket expenses.
13. Contacts Legal :
Legal Services Directorate
Department of Education and Training
Levels 5 & 7, 35 Bridge Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Ph: (02) 9561 8538 Facsimile: (02) 9561 8543
Email: legal@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: http://detwww.nsw.edu.au/directorates/leglserv/
Insurance :
Administration Policy
Department of Education and Training
Level 1, Bridge Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000
Ph : (02) 9561 8641 Facsimile : (02) 9561 8881
Website: http://detwww.det.nsw.edu.au/directorates/admiserv/manafund/insurance