Protect Your Practice

Covering the Risks

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Professional Indemnity Insurance

Do you have the right medical indemnity insurance structure for your practice?

As a key decision-maker in your practice, you need to be aware of the different types of insurance available and consider if they are in place. This is to protect both the business owner/medical practitioner and the practice entity as they are exposed to different risks.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Practice managers need to be aware that a registered medical practitioners in Australia undertaking any form of practice are required by Australian Law to have appropriate professional indemnity insurance that complies with the Medical Board of Australia’s Professional Indemnity Insurance arrangements registration standard.

Avant Mutual Group is one of a number of Australian Medical Defence Organisations that can provide professional indemnity insurance to individual medical practitioners.

Having a financial interest in a medical practice may also expose individual doctors to additional risks that are in many cases not covered by their personal medical indemnity insurance.

An Avant Practitioner Indemnity Insurance Policy* provides cover to practitioners/health professionals who may be exposed to claims that result from:

  • direct treatment of patients;
  • supervising others treating patients;
  • legal representation for Medical Board inquiries and other factors that affect ability to practice.

There are a number of reasons why a separate insurance policy for the practice entity may be needed:

Practitioner exposures Practice or owner exposures
  • Direct treatment of patients.
  • Supervising others treating patients.
  • Legal representation for when they act as a Visiting Medical Officer or during employment disputes.
  • Legal representation for Medical Board inquiries and other matters impacting the doctor’s ability to practice.
  • Claims against the practice entity, a past present or future principal, partner or director, an employee, volunteer or student.
  • Errors by practice staff, or where the patient sees multiple doctors.
  • Failure of practice protocols, including systemic failures that could result in multiple claims.
  • Breaches of patient privacy by staff.

Practices have separate risks and exposures that may not be covered by a medical practitioner’s individual insurance. If a business owner’s/medical practitioner’s insurance does not have adequate insurance for the practice entity they may run the risk of compromising their business and their own reputation that they have worked so hard to establish. You can find more information about Practice Medical Indemnity on the cover for your Practice page of this site.

Protection for you as a practice manager

As a practice manager, you may consider the option of holding your own professional indemnity insurance. This would be especially so if you are involved in providing consultancy services or are engaged in your own company or business. The level of liability cover would be determined by potential exposure.

Coverage is classified as ‘Practice Management’ and should include cover for –

  • Libel and slander
  • Contractual liability
  • Breaches of consumer protection legislation
  • Breaches of intellectual property rights
  • The liability of sub-contractors and consultants.

If your practice holds an Avant Practice Medical Indemnity Insurance policy you may already be protected through this policy†


Why Choose Avant’s Practice Medical Indemnity Policy?

As Avant is Australia’s Leading MDO, there are many good reasons to have your practice policy with us as you will gain access to:


To learn more about Avant’s Practitioner Indemnity Insurance policy or how you can manage your practice risk with an Avant Practice Medical Indemnity Insurance policy call 1800 128 268



* IMPORTANT: Professional indemnity insurance products are issued by Avant Insurance Limited, ABN 82 003 707 471, AFSL 238 765. The information provided here is general advice only. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs before deciding to purchase or continuing to hold a policy with us. For full details including the terms, conditions, and exclusions that apply, please read and consider the policy wording and PDS, which is available at www.avant.org.au or by contacting us on 1800 128 268.

† IMPORTANT: The Practice Medical Indemnity Policy is issued by Avant Insurance Limited, ABN 82 003 707 471, AFSL 238 765. This policy is available at www.avant.org.au or by contacting us on 1800 128 268. Practices need to consider other forms of insurance including directors’ and officers’ liability, public and products liability, property and business interruption insurance, and workers compensation and you should contact your insurance broker for more information.

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This publication is proudly brought to you by Avant Mutual Group. The content was authored by Brett McPherson, reviewed by Colleen Sullivan and Avant Mutual Group.

This publication is not comprehensive and does not constitute legal or medical advice. You should seek legal or other professional advice before relying on any content, and practice proper clinical decision making with regard to the individual circumstances. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in this publication must exercise their own independent skill or judgment or seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular practice. Compliance with any recommendations will not in any way guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients and others coming into contact with the health professional or practice. Avant is not responsible to you or anyone else for any loss suffered in connection with the use of this information. Information is only current at the date initially published. © Avant Mutual Group Limited 2014.

IMPORTANT: Professional indemnity insurance products and Avant’s Practice Medical Indemnity Policy are issued by Avant Insurance Limited, ABN 82 003 707 471, AFSL 238 765. The information provided here is general advice only. You should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs before deciding to purchase or continuing to hold a policy with us. For full details including the terms, conditions, and exclusions that apply, please read and consider the policy wording and PDS, which is available at www.avant.org.au or by contacting us on 1800 128 268. Practices need to consider other forms of insurance including directors’ and officers’ liability, public and products liability, property and business interruption insurance, and workers compensation and you should contact your insurance broker for more information. Cover is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy. Any advice here does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the product is appropriate for you before deciding to purchase or continuing to hold a policy with us.