SPORTING INJURIES INSURANCE FOR NSW SCHOOL CHILDREN

The Supplementary Sporting Injuries Benefits Scheme covers death and serious injuries for children who are injured while participating in school authorised sporting or athletic activities.

The NSW Sporting Injuries Committee promotes safety in sport and encourages injury prevention practices. The Committee manages the NSW Government funded Scheme that has been in operation since 1983.

Who can make a claim?
Any enrolled NSW school student who has been seriously injured during an authorised school sporting or athletic activity. This includes physical education, sport, athletics or representative competitions.

What are the entitlements?
· A lump sum benefit is paid to any NSW school student (or Public Trustee if under the age of 18) who has suffered death or a permanent disability of a certain kind while participating in a school authorised sporting or athletic activity
· The lump sum benefits vary depending upon the severity of the injury
· Should the injury result in death, a benefit may be paid to the personal legal representative of the deceased.
· Medical expenses or dental costs are not covered under this Scheme.

How to lodge a claim?
Current legislation requires school principals to report serious sports injuries within 12 months of occurrence to the NSW Sporting Injuries Committee.

When making a claim under this Scheme for an injury, you must:

1. Advise the school principal that you wish to make a claim.

• The principal or school official will complete Form 3 – Notice of Serious Injury or Death http://www.sportinginjuries.nsw.gov.au/pdf/Form_3_Notice_Injury_or_Death.pdf and send it to our office.
• Our office will open a file and acknowledge notification to the principal and the child and their family.

2. Complete the Benefit Application Form that we send to you.

3. Forward the Benefit Application Form to us within 12 months of the date of injury. Include the required witness statements, medical reports and hospital discharge documentation.

4. Send all completed forms to the NSW Sporting Injuries Committee

Address to: Claims Manager, NSW Sporting Injuries Committee

Level 4, 92 – 100 Donnison Street, Gosford NSW 2250

What entitlements can I receive?

Examples include:

• Permanent Injuries

o Permanent loss of use of the whole or greater part of the arm (threshold of more than 33%) up to $43,265.

o Permanent loss of use of the whole or greater part of the leg (threshold of more than 33%) up to $39,500.

• Death

o Reimbursement of funeral expenses up to $4,650 may be paid.

The maximum benefit payable under the Scheme is $171,000, typically for paraplegia or quadriplegia injuries. We do not cover medical expenses or dental costs.

Details of benefits payable are available in the Sporting Injuries Handbook or visit our website www.sportinginjuries.nsw.gov.au for a full list of injuries covered.

Important information if there is an injury
· Your school must lodge the Form 3 – Notice of Serious Injury or Death immediately after the incident

· Lodge the Benefit Application Form within 12 months of the date of injury

· Provide as much information as possible to support your claim

· Lump sum benefits are payable within stated thresholds

· Please contact the Claims Manager on (02) 4321 5392 if you have any questions.

Further information

Visit our website www.sportinginjuries.nsw.gov.au