[Music starts]

[Animation of a spiral bound notebook with the title "Do you need WorkSafe insurance?"]

Do you need WorkSafe insurance?

[Hand enters frame to open the notebook. Animation zooms in to a blank page in the notebook.]

As a fellow business owner, I'm here to tell you why you need WorkSafe insurance.

[A hand holding a marker starts drawing on the blank page.]

You might be thinking:

'Why would I need WorkSafe insurance? We've already got public liability insurance.'

Well, they're actually completely different types of insurance.

[Animation continues.]

If one of your workers gets injured at work, you need WorkSafe insurance.

Public liability insurance won't cover it. It's not just big businesses that need to have WorkSafe insurance.

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All businesses, like cafes, shops, or newly started businesses, may also need WorkSafe insurance.

If you think you don't need WorkSafe insurance, think again. It is actually compulsory if:

1. You employ apprentices or trainees, and/or

2. You expect to pay over $7,500 in wages and benefits in the next financial year.

[Animation continues.]

I found out the hard way when Joe, a long-standing worker of mine, hurt his back at work.

Under Victoria's accident compensation law, Joe was entitled to compensation for things like

income replacement, medical appointments and rehabilitation costs.

After Joe's accident, I discovered that I needed WorkSafe insurance.

[Animation continues.]

I have been running my business for 2 years without it.

This meant that I had to pay the premiums for every missed year,

so, I had to pay for 2 years of missed premiums, plus the current year, in one hit.

[Animation continues.]

so, by not having WorkSafe insurance, you're putting your workers at risk

and could end up facing a huge bill, just like I did.

Nothing is more important than a safe and healthy workplace, but if you talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk,

so taking out WorkSafe insurance was the first step to keeping me and my workers safe, and covered, in the case of an accident.

[Animation continues.]

Getting WorkSafe insurance is a breeze, it's easier than getting car insurance.

Just apply online at worksafe dot vic dot gov dot au slash insurance.

And if you want to learn more, theres heaps of info and guidance you can read before or after you apply.

[Animation continues.]

Your WorkSafe insurance will be managed by one of WorkSafe's authorised insurance agents - they are called WorkSafe agents.

They handle premium collection, claims management and provide advice to help injured workers return to work.

My agent has really helped take the worry out of WorkSafe insurance,

[Animation continues.]

so make sure you get as much value out of them as you can.

You can find out more about the WorkSafe agents on the website.

As a business owner, I know that every dollar counts, which is why you don't want to pay any more insurance premium than you have to.

So don't forget to tell your agent if any of your details change,

like your main business activities or the location of your workplace, because it can effect what you pay.

[Animation continues.]

It's really easy - you can doi it online, or just give your agent a call.

So play it safe, and make sure your business has WorkSafe insurance.

Visit WorkSafe dot vic dot gov dot au slash insurance today.

[Music fades out]