Why do you need insurance?
In medicine, there is a degree of inherent risk, and your reputation can be critical to a successful career. You can help protect your career by having a professional indemnity policy in place.
Membership with Avant means you will be backed by the largest in-house specialist medico-legal team of any medical defence organisation in Australia. This is important because your university may not cover you in every medico-legal circumstance.
While medical indemnity insurance is not legally required for students in Australia, it is strongly recommended before starting any clinical placements. Incidents can happen during an elective, placement, or even when assisting someone in an emergency. A claim might be made against you by a patient, or you could face a disciplinary investigation for something you’ve done.
Your university may provide some cover, but it might not protect you in all circumstances. Having your own indemnity insurance helps to ensure you are covered for medico-legal issues and complaints, or professional misconduct claims. A medical defence organisation (MDO) like Avant can provide guidance, legal assistance, and support if these situations arise.
Medical indemnity insurance covers you for compensation claims as well as legal fees for disciplinary, coronial and criminal proceedings and investigations.
Avant has been providing medical indemnity insurance for doctors in Australia for over 133 years, offering free membership for students with extensive cover. Our medical student indemnity insurance includes legal protection, support for Good Samaritan acts, and expert medico-legal advice.
Most universities provide some level of cover for students during clinical placements. Avant’s medical indemnity insurance offers additional protection, including:
- legal representation if you face a complaint, investigation, or disciplinary action
- Good Samaritan acts cover, protecting you when providing emergency medical assistance
- cover for civil liability claims, in case of allegations related to your training
- medico-legal advice, available 24/7 in emergencies, so you can get expert guidance if you need it.
Having your own indemnity insurance helps to ensure you are personally protected beyond what your university provides.
The cost of clinical placement insurance for students varies by provider, but at Avant, it is included in our free student membership and medical indemnity insurance. This means you can undertake your clinical placements with peace of mind, knowing you’re protected at no cost. Our cover includes professional indemnity, medico-legal advice, and support throughout your studies.
- medical indemnity insurance to cover students for professional liability issues
- medico-legal support in case of complaints or investigations
Avant provides student clinical placement protection through our free membership and indemnity insurance, helping to ensure students have the cover and support they need.
As a member-owned organisation by doctors for doctors, and Australia's leading medical indemnity insurer, we have more insights and more expertise to support you with your studies and throughout your career:
Medico-legal Advisory Service
Specialist medico-legal advisers available 24/7, in emergencies, to offer advice and support.
Insights and resources
Educational resources for your specialty
Advocacy
Avant uses its position to advocate on issues affecting doctors, providing a respected voice in an increasingly complex environment.
What is a medical defence organisation?
A medical defence organisation (MDO) protects its members' ability to practise medicine by providing indemnity cover and medico-legal support. Medical indemnity insurance covers you for compensation claims as well as legal fees for disciplinary, coronial and criminal proceedings and investigations.
Avant's vision is to be a trusted protector and adviser for our members, professionally and personally, so you can practise good medicine and achieve your goals.
Medical student life and wellbeing
Medical student life and wellbeing
Finding balance, prioritising your health, making smart choices and practising mindfulness are all critical skills to develop while you’re at university. Fine-tune these and the benefits will extend well beyond the stressors of study and exams.
Hand-n-hand
Hand-n-Hand is a peer support program created by and especially for healthcare professionals in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is currently seeking peer support facilitators, with training provided in collaboration with the Black Dog Institute. Alternatively, any healthcare professional or student can take advantage of this free, confidential support service.
^Cover is subject to approval and to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy.
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 Product Disclosure Statement, which is available here or by contacting us on 1800 128 268.
