Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Contents
How does ASF insurance work, and what am I actually covered for?
When VSA members pay their annual club fees, a significant portion of that goes to the ASF to pay for ASF’s caving insurance. As stated on the ASF’s Website under insurance:
“The ASF holds a Public Liability policy for its Individual Members, Member clubs, Speleological councils and the ASF Gift Fund. Coverage applies when members carry out business as stated in the Schedule of Cover. That business is; “Principally Association participating in the following activities: Cave, Karst & Mine Research, Exploration, Surveying & Recreation, Equipment Testing, Publishing and Photography, Caving (inclusive: Diving) together with training and practice for the above activities as declared; property owners and/or occupiers, trades and services incidental thereto.”
In summary the Federation holds two (2) Insurance policies:
- Combined Public & Product Liability – $20 million
- Directors & Officers Liability – $1 million
How Public Liability and Product Liability Insurance Works in the context of the VSA
Public liability insurance protects the VSA, its trip leaders, and members acting on official trips if they are found legally responsible for injuring someone else or damaging their property through negligence. It covers the cost of legal defence and any compensation owed.
In a caving club context, it protects the club and its leaders against claims made by participants, landowners, or members of the public who are harmed or suffer loss during club activities. It does not cover your own injuries or damage to your own property. This is particularly important to understand.
What this insurance covers
- A participant on a VSA registered trip is injured due to the club’s negligence (e.g., poor rigging, unsafe trip planning) and takes legal action against the VSA.
- A member of the public falls into a recently opened VSA dig due to the club’s negligence (e.g., failing to mark or secure the site) and takes legal action against the VSA.
- A farmer’s gate is left open during a VSA trip due to the club’s negligence, a cow escapes onto the road and is killed, and the farmer takes legal action against the VSA.
- A faulty descender hired out by the club fails, injuring a participant who then sues.
In all of these scenarios, public and/or product liability insurance should in theory defend the club/trip leader and cover compensation if the claims succeed. The insurance protects the club from having to pay these costs out of its own funds.
What this insurance does Not Cover
- Injury without negligence: A participant on a VSA registered trip is injured by a falling rock with no negligence involved; this is not covered by public liability because no one can be held legally liable.
Public liability insurance is not the same as personal accident insurance. The purpose of public liability insurance is to protect the club (VSA) and its trip leaders from being sued if negligence leads to injury or property damage. It does not cover members’ own injuries, medical costs, or income loss from accidents where no negligence is involved — those risks require separate personal accident or health insurance.
This is why it is critical that trips are registered as official VSA trips; otherwise, individuals are not covered by the club’s public liability insurance and may be personally exposed to legal claims. For example, if someone is injured on an unofficial trip due to negligence, any liable individual could be sued personally and have to cover the costs themselves. On official trips, however, the insurance protects not only the club and its leaders, but also you personally if your actions accidentally cause injury or damage.
To read more about how the ASF insurance works, please visit the ASF’s website.
How does an Introductory Membership work?
Introductory membership is designed for people joining the VSA for the first time. Introductory members pay $22.50 to the ASF for insurance, with the remaining portion of the fee going to the VSA. As an introductory member, you become a member of the ASF and are insured to participate in suitable VSA-run trips, including trips that require permits (which are common in areas such as Northern Tasmania). Introductory members cannot vote at VSA meetings and cannot act as trip leaders. Introductory membership is valid for a maximum of 12 months. When you renew your VSA membership after this period, you will automatically transition to associate membership and be charged the associate membership fee.
How do memberships get renewed?
All VSA memberships are renewed annually in June, prior to the end of the financial year.
Members will receive a reminder to renew their membership before the new financial year begins.
If you join the VSA as a new member within three months of the renewal period, you will not be required to pay again at the end of June.
Example: If you join the VSA in May, you will not need to pay again until the following June.
What is the difference between an associate member and a full member?
Associate members do not have voting rights at meetings, while full members do. Associate members may nominate themselves, or be nominated by another full member, for full membership at a general meeting. All full members present at the meeting may vote for, against, or abstain, and a simple majority “yes” vote is required for a member to become a full member. Full members are eligible to become trip leaders and run their own caving trips; to do so, they must meet the leadership criteria outlined in the Leadership Assessment Checklist document.