The collapse of Catholic Church Insurance last month has shone a light on the challenges religious institutions in Australia face in securing adequate cover. One specialist broker outlines the liability risks they need to consider.

Brokers specialising in securing insurance for religious and faith-based organisations are operating in “an extraordinarily small market with extraordinarily big hurdles”, says Greg Thomas, managing director of GJ Insurance Consulting.

“I read a story recently where a lawyer said cover is readily available for religious organisations and churches, etc,” says Thomas, whose Melbourne brokerage has expertise in church insurance as well as more general household and business policies.

“She [the lawyer] said you’ve just got to shop around for it. Unfortunately, that was a naïve point of view.”

The folding of CCI

In May 2023, one of Australia’s oldest insurers, Catholic Church Insurance (CCI), announced it would cease writing new insurance business, further reducing the pool of insurers willing to underwrite the unique risks facing churches and other religious or faith-based organisations.

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