Child Care Centre Insurance

Yes. Public liability insurance covers claims from children who are injured on playground equipment, provided the centre has met its duty of care obligations. Insurers expect centres to maintain equipment to Australian Standards, conduct regular safety inspections and maintain soft-fall surfacing. Documented maintenance records strengthen your position in the event of a claim.

Yes. Commercial property cover includes fixed and portable playground equipment, shade structures, soft-fall surfacing and fencing against fire, storm, flood, vandalism and other insured events. Ensure the sum insured reflects current replacement costs including installation.

Business interruption insurance covers the loss of fee revenue and ongoing expenses while the centre is closed for repairs. It also covers additional costs such as temporary premises and expedited rebuilding. Because parents may find alternative care during a closure, the indemnity period should include time for enrolment recovery after reopening.

Yes. Public liability cover can extend to supervised excursions away from the centre premises, including activities at parks, museums and other venues. Ensure your policy specifically includes excursion cover, and maintain appropriate risk assessments and supervision ratios for all off-site activities.

Yes. As a tenant, you are responsible for insuring your fit-out, playground equipment, contents, business interruption and public liability. The landlord's insurance covers only the base building structure. A tenant's commercial property package through Shielded covers all of your exposures as an operator.

Major commercial insurers including CGU, QBE, Zurich, Vero, Hollard, Allianz and AIG all offer policies suitable for child care centres. Given the heightened liability exposure of childcare operations, insurers assess each centre individually based on capacity, compliance history and claims record. Shielded compares options across this panel to find the best cover for your centre.

Yes. Public liability and products liability cover extends to claims arising from allergic reactions to food prepared and served at the centre. Given the prevalence of food allergies in young children, insurers expect documented allergy management plans, staff training and clear food preparation protocols. These measures also strengthen your defence in the event of a claim.

Commercial property insurance covers a wide range of property types including office buildings, retail shops, warehouses, factories, shopping centres, hotels, motels, restaurants, cafes, medical centres, child care centres, gyms, salons, laundromats, churches, petrol stations, mixed-use developments and more. Whether you own a single tenancy or a multi-storey complex, we tailor cover to match your property.

Premiums vary based on building value, location, construction type, tenant occupation and risk profile. A small retail shop may cost $1,500 to $4,000 per year, a standard office building $3,000 to $10,000, and a large warehouse or industrial property $5,000 to $25,000+. High-risk tenancies (restaurants, manufacturing) attract higher premiums. Request a free quote through Shielded for an accurate indication.

Commercial building insurance covers the physical structure including walls, roof, floors, fixed fixtures, common areas, car parks, fencing and services (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) against fire, storm, flood, impact damage, malicious damage, theft and accidental damage. It typically also covers demolition and removal costs, professional fees (architects, engineers) and compliance with current building codes when rebuilding.

If you own a commercial building and lease it to tenants, you need commercial landlord insurance. This covers the building structure, landlord's contents (common area furnishings, HVAC systems), public liability for common areas, loss of rental income if the building is uninhabitable after an insured event, and plate glass. Your tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents, stock and fit-out.

Loss of rental income (also called business interruption for landlords) provides replacement income if your commercial property becomes uninhabitable after an insured event such as fire, storm or flood. It covers the rental income you would have received during the repair or rebuild period, typically for up to 12 or 24 months. This is essential for property investors who rely on rental returns.

Plate glass cover is usually an optional add-on, not included in the base building policy. It covers the cost of replacing glass shop fronts, windows, doors, display cases and signage glass that is accidentally broken or vandalised. For retail properties with large glass frontages, this is an important cover to include.

Generally, the landlord insures the building structure, common areas and landlord's fixtures. Tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents, stock, fit-out, trade fixtures and their own public liability. Most commercial leases clearly define these responsibilities. As a landlord, ensure your lease requires tenants to hold adequate insurance and provide certificates of currency.

Contact us at Shielded Insurance on 1800 97 98 99 or reach out to your insurer directly. We recommend notifying us as soon as possible after damage occurs, documenting everything with photos, securing the premises to prevent further damage, and keeping records of all emergency repair costs.

We compare quotes from leading Australian commercial property insurers including CGU, QBE, Zurich, Vero, Hollard, Allianz, AIG and others. The best insurer depends on your property type, construction, tenant occupation and risk profile. As brokers, we do the comparison work to find competitive and suitable cover for your property.

Review your policy annually at renewal, or whenever there are significant changes such as new tenants, renovations, extensions, changes in building use, or updated valuations. Building replacement costs increase over time – if your sum insured does not keep pace with construction cost inflation, you risk being underinsured at claim time. We recommend a professional building valuation every 3 to 5 years.