This information applies to approved student activities undertaken within Australia – for example coursework, excursions, placements, fieldwork, research, etc – for actively enrolled undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Please note that it is only the USC risk-assessed activity that is covered by USC insurance policies, and that USC insurance does not extend to extracurricular activities undertaken by students. It students intend to partake in extracurricular activities, they may wish to consider additional private insurance.

Student Personal Accident insurance

The Student Personal Accident insurance covers enrolled USC students and provides 24-hour cover, 365 days a year for accidental death and capital benefits while undertaking approved USC activities within Australia.

The cover is for accident only, not sickness.

The policy provides benefits for death, disability, some loss of wages and medical expenses arising from accidental injury. Medical expenses where there is a full or partial Medicare rebate/benefit available are not covered; therefore a student will be responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses should they choose to be treated by a medical practitioner or facility that does not bulk bill.

The policy assumes students will be treated in a public hospital.

This policy should not be seen as a substitute for private medical health cover or accident and life cover. Any activity which is not part of the USC (risk assessed) activity (for example extreme sports, sightseeing or shopping) is not covered by the University's personal accident insurance.

Note: Students are not covered by WorkCover. WorkCover is an insurance for organisation employees.

Public liability insurance

Students are indemnified for legal liability in respect of third-party claims for damages to property or injury to persons while undertaking an approved USC approved activity. This cover does not extend to incidents involving motor vehicles.

Professional indemnity insurance

The University holds professional indemnity insurance which covers you as a student, when you act within the limits of your training, for legal liability arising out of a breach of professional duty by reason of any negligent act, error or omission committed or alleged to have been committed by you whilst engaged in an approved unpaid placement.

Medical malpractice insurance

This policy provides cover against civil liability for compensation arising from any claim as a result of medical malpractice.

All treatment given by a student must be under the direct supervision or express instruction of a qualified practitioner. All applicable clinical protocols must be followed.

All patients or guardians must be fully informed, and consent must be obtained before commencing any care, procedure or intervention.

Personal property insurance

Student personal property is not covered by the University’s insurance at any time. If you wish to arrange cover for personal items, you must do so at your own expense.

Motor vehicle insurance

If students use a private car(s) and/or motorcycles on off-campus activities, it is the student’s responsibility to arrange insurance, as University insurance does not extend to private motor vehicles. All students should ensure any vehicle they travel in is roadworthy with current fully paid registration, and current compulsory third-party insurance at minimum.

If a student wishes to arrange motor vehicle and/or motorcycle insurance, it is at the student’s expense. If a student is driving a vehicle owned by the Industry Partner, insurance is the responsibility of the Industry Partner and not the University. However, if a student uses an Industry Partner's vehicle(s), the student should confirm what type of insurance is held and if cover applies.

Personal health insurance

The University does not provide any personal medical insurance cover for students. If a student wishes to arrange private health cover, it is at the student’s own expense.

Students who are eligible to enrol in Medicare are covered under Medicare. International students must have health insurance as a condition of their entry to Australia. International students are advised to contact the International Office in relation to Overseas Student Health Cover.

Travel insurance

The University has insurance that may cover approved USC domestic and overseas activities – for example course work, excursions, placements, fieldwork, research, etc – undertaken by actively enrolled undergraduate and postgraduate students).

In some circumstances, students may be required to purchase their own comprehensive travel insurance.

Associated leisure/private travel may be taken either side of or during an approved placement or study period. The associate leisure/private travel portion must not exceed more than 60 percent of the placement/study period in its entirety. Where the duration of the trip is less than 10 days, a maximum of five days’ leisure/private travel shall apply.

It is important to note that the University insurance policy could exclude cover for travel to countries where the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has issued a specific warning not to travel.

Under the policy, an insurer can reject claims (such as evacuation costs) in cases where:

• a warning was in place before the date the travel was booked advising that such events were likely to occur, or
• an occurrence is considered to have been foreseeable to a reasonable person before a traveller entered the country.

All claims for loss or damage, injury or sickness can be rejected if caused by an act of war (whether declared or not), including invasion or civil war, or if you do not meet the conditions the insurer sets.
Insurers can also reject medical claims for pre-existing medical conditions. If you are aware of a pre-existing health/medical condition which may impact on your travel, it is advisable that you obtain written confirmation with your medical practitioner that you are fit to travel.

Pre-Existing Medical Condition means any physical defect, medical or dental condition, illness, injury or disease that:

1. within the two (2) years prior to the Issue Date on Your Certificate of Insurance
   1. requires either of the following:
      1. ongoing medication for treatment or risk factor control;
      2. prescribed medication from a Doctor;
      3. check-ups, consultations, reviews or progress advice (other than those recommended by a Doctor to review a previous condition that is considered by a Doctor at the Issue Date to be cured or in complete remission); or
      4. surgery; or
   2. is either
      1. under investigation;
      2. pending diagnosis or test results;
      3. chronic or arthritic; or

2. within the three (3) years prior to the Issue Date on Your Certificate of Insurance involves
   1. any of the following body parts:
      • heart;
      • brain (other than a mental health related condition);
      • liver;
      • back / spine;
      • kidneys;
      • cardiovascular or circulatory or respiratory system; and
   2.  where such medical condition either
      1. involved a hospital emergency visitation or being an inpatient in hospital; or
      2. required or requires surgery, a specialist appointment or consultation; or
      3. requires:
         2. ongoing medication for treatment or risk factor control; or
         3. prescribed medication from a Doctor; or
         4. check-ups, consultations, reviews or progress advice (other than those recommended by a Doctor to review a previous condition that is considered by a Doctor at the Issue Date to be cured or in complete remission); or

   3. is currently either:

      1. under investigation; or

      2. pending diagnosis or test results; or

3. within the five (5) years prior to the Issue Date on Your Certificate of Insurance was cancer; or

4. within the three (3) months immediately prior to the Issue Date on Your Certificate of Insurance led to the manifestation of symptoms where a reasonable person in the circumstances would be expected to be aware of or a reasonable person under the circumstances would have foreseen.

Overseas travel

When considering overseas travel, you should check the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) Smartraveller website for current travel advice.

Travel outside of Australia for University purposes will not be approved to any area for which the current DFAT overall advice level is ‘Do not travel’, or if insurance cover is not available. Any international travel is currently being considered by Executive on a case-by-case basis with consideration to the risk.

DFAT’s Smartraveller website includes information for students studying overseas, which you may find helpful in preparing for your travel.

In preparation for any overseas travel, you should do the following:

• Organise comprehensive travel insurance for any personal travel you do before and after your approved USC activity, and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy.
• Subscribe to DFAT’s travel advice for your upcoming destination(s) to receive free email updates each time the travel advice is reissued.
• Check the validity of your passport before booking travel
• Check that mobile phone coverage is available at your destination, and enable international roaming (if relevant)
• Check baggage allowances with your airline carrier
• Photocopy all travel documents and insurance details, and email these to yourself and a next of kin
• If you have a pre-existing medical condition, have your doctor (after sighting your itinerary) confirm you are fit to travel.
• Receive all recommended vaccinations and medication from a doctor
• Download and install the Chubb Travel Smart app

Chubb Travel Smart app

Once you have downloaded the app, you can complete the one-time registration process within the app by clicking 'Sign up' below the login button.

You will be prompted for:

• your name and email address, and

• your company policy number (04PP007665)

You will then receive a final email to verify and activate your profile. From your smartphone, click the link within the email and follow the instructions to activate your profile.

Tap on the Travel Smart app icon and sign in using your email address and password you created during the registration process.

The smartphone app provides comprehensive support for travelling students, including:

• Direct access to Chubb’s medical and security assistance partners, providing immediate emergency medical and security assistance.
• Live location-based alerts including infrastructure and transport disruptions, natural disasters, civil and political unrest, terrorist threats and health and disease risks.
• The ability for travellers to receive messages from the University by email or SMS directly to their smartphone. For example, during a crisis situation where fast and reliable communication is needed, or to inform them of a change in their itinerary.
• Access to country-specific advice, including recommended vaccinations, cultural dos and don’ts, language, climate, visa and passport requirements, plugs and adapters required, travel and transportation advice, currency converter, public holidays and festivals.
• A library of medical conditions and medications, providing details of the likely symptoms, recommended medications, possible side-effects and treatment.
• Embassy and consulate contact information and opening hours.
• The ability to change location settings so that users can report their exact location, or just be located at country level, and still receive relevant country-based alerts.
• Access to very detailed country-specific security information and advice.

For more information

View the Student Travel Insurance Summary.

If you have any questions regarding this coverage, please contact insurance@usc.edu.au.

If you receive any form of payment, gratuity or reward for a placement undertaken, the University insurance does not extend to you. You should confirm with the placement organisation that you are covered as its employee.

Coverage for public liability, professional indemnity, medical malpractice, or for injuries sustained whilst at work (on paid placement) should be provided by an employer.

Students undertaking a paid placement overseas may be covered by the University travel insurance. However, as a general rule, students will not be covered for public liability, professional indemnity, medical malpractice, or for injuries sustained whilst at work (on paid placement)

Students should contact insurance@usc.edu.au to confirm coverage prior to departure as the University's insurance policy is subject to change.

Accidents, incidents or injuries that occur whilst attending/undertaking USC approved student activities should be reported to your supervisor and also reported in USC’s online incident reporting system ASAP. If the incident or injury has occurred at a third-party facility (eg at a non-USC facility), you may need to also follow that facility’s incident reporting procedures as well.

The University’s travel insurance policy insures all outbound University staff and students for up to 12 months in any one journey, as long as it is on approved USC business, a placement or exchange.

However, the travel policy does not cover (or may preclude under its terms and conditions) what is known as ‘foreseen circumstance’, which includes COVID-19. It is important that you consider this prior to planning or purchasing new travel arrangements.

What will not be covered due to a COVID-19 event before or during the journey

• Cancellation due to COVID-19 related border closures is excluded under the policy.

What will be covered even though it may be related to a COVID-19 event/episode

• Overseas Medical Expenses (Medical costs associated with sickness and/or hospitalisation) - COVID-19 must be diagnosed after the start of the trip. If diagnosed before the trip commences, it will be considered a pre-existing medical condition and excluded under the policy.
• Cancellation, curtailment and trip changes expenses such as cancellation fees, deposit charges, booking fees or any other pre-travel expenses as a direct result of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis prior to departure or during the trip.
• Quarantine expenses. Except where you travel against a government issued “Do Not Travel” warning or border closure.

Medical evacuation may be covered, depending on the individual circumstances and the terms and conditions of the policy.

There is a due diligence requirement on the University to ensure staff and students travel safely under all circumstances, and that appropriate risk assessments are completed. It is important to note that the University travel insurance policy could exclude cover for travel to countries for which the current DFAT overall advice level is ‘Do not travel’, or in cases where the University identifies through professional industry advice that the destination carries a high risk.

Under the policy, an insurer can reject claims (such as evacuation costs) in cases where:

• a warning was in place before the date the travel was booked advising that such events were likely to occur, or
• an occurrence is considered to have been foreseeable to a reasonable person before a traveller entered the country.

Private leisure travel exclusions – COVID-19

The University’s travel insurance policy will not pay benefits with respect to any loss, damage, liability, event, bodily injury or sickness directly or indirectly arising from, relating to or in any way connected with COVID-19 (or any mutation or variation thereof, or any related strain) and/or its outbreak, where the Covered Person was undertaking private leisure travel.

Certificate of Currency 

View the University's Certificate of Currency - COVID-19

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

If I am diagnosed with COVID-19 during my overseas trip, will my overseas medical expenses be covered?

• Yes, if you are first diagnosed with COVID-19 while on your overseas trip and require immediate medical treatment, cover is provided for the cost of medical treatment incurred overseas. Except where you were COVID-19 positive when your trip began, or you travel against a government issued “Do Not Travel” warning or border closure.

If I’m positive with COVID-19 when my trip begins, will I be covered for COVID-19 related medical expenses during my trip?

• No, you’re not covered for medical expenses incurred during your trip if you were diagnosed with COVID-19 before your departure.

If I become ill with COVID-19 before or during my Trip, will I be able to claim for costs I incur for the Cancellation or Curtailment of my Trip?

• Yes, cover is provided for costs arising from a necessary and unavoidable trip cancellation or curtailment as a result of an unforeseen illness (including COVID-19) where:

• you first contract and are diagnosed with COVID-19 after the policy is issued;

• a doctor confirms the illness in writing; and

• the illness is not a pre-existing medical condition.

I no longer want to travel because I am worried about the spread of COVID-19. Are my trip cancellation, curtailment or change costs covered?

• No, cover is not available in this scenario. Simply no longer wishing to travel is not covered under the Policy.

If I need to cancel, curtail or change my trip due to a COVID-19 border closure as announced by any departure or destination government, am I covered?

• No, cancellation due to COVID-19 government related travel advisories and/or border closures is not covered.

If I am diagnosed with COVID-19 after commencing my trip and subsequently issued with a quarantine order, will I be covered for the quarantine costs?

• Yes, additional travel or accommodation expenses incurred are covered (within the benefit limitations) as a result of a mandatory quarantine order by a local government or public health authority. Except where you travel against a government issued “Do Not Travel” warning or border closure.

I have been classified by a public health authority as a close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 and have been required to isolate as a result of this contact. Is there any benefit that I can claim?

• No, cover is not available in this scenario.

Do I need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to be eligible for the COVID-19 cover under this policy?

• No, you do not need to have the COVID-19 vaccination to be eligible for cover under this policy. However, you will not be covered for any claim for cancellation, curtailment or trip change where you do not meet the vaccination protocols required by your transport provider or by any government authority (in Australia or at the destination) prior to departure.