Insurance and Injury Claims

The FQ insurance policy applies when a registered player is participating in sanctioned FQ activities. This includes official matches and competitions sanctioned by Football Queensland, official club training sessions conducted under the auspices of Football Queensland, travel directly to and from sanctioned matches and training, representative tours and activities officially organised through Football Queensland, and administrative and social activities conducted under the auspices of Football Queensland.

Coverage provides Personal Accident (injury) benefits and Public Liability protection. The club also holds Management Liability, Public Liability, and Professional Indemnity cover at an organisational level through Gow-Gates.

There are important exclusions you should be aware of.

Medicare-eligible medical expenses cannot be claimed under this policy. This is a requirement of the Health Insurance Act 1973, which prohibits personal accident policies from covering costs recoverable through Medicare. Standard GP visits, specialist consultations, and most medical treatment covered by Medicare are not claimable.

Spectators are not covered under the sports personal accident policy.

Physiotherapy benefits cease once the injured player resumes training or playing.

Club programs not sanctioned by Football Queensland, including Squirts, Reds Elite Training Centre, She Scores, and Holiday Camps, are conducted outside the FQ insurance framework and are not covered by FQ's policy. Participants in these programs are encouraged to hold their own private health insurance.

Non-Medicare expenses that may be claimable include ambulance transport, private hospital accommodation, physiotherapy (while the player has not yet returned to play), and dental treatment arising directly from injury.

All standard claims are submitted online through the Gow-Gates claims portal at football.claimsgateway.com. You will need the registered player's details, a description of the injury and how it occurred, and any supporting documentation such as medical invoices.

If you have questions about the claims process, contact Gow-Gates Sports directly:

Phone: 02 8267 9999
Email: info@gowgates.com.au
Website: football-qld

A separate reporting requirement applies in the event of a serious injury. If a player is admitted to hospital, or a fatality occurs during or within 6 hours of a match or training session, a Serious Injury Report must be submitted to Gow-Gates within 48 hours. This is a notification form, not a claim form.

Injury Report Form

Download the VUFC Serious Injury Report form from this page and email the completed form to football@gowgates.com.au. Also notify the Club General Manager at gm@vufc.com.au.

Printed copies of the form are kept in the first aid room at our club facility.

The standard FQ policy provides a base level of cover only. Members who want additional weekly injury benefit payments can purchase optional top-up cover independently at football-top-up.rfgateway.com.au. Top-up options provide $500 or $750 per week while you are unable to work due to a football-related injury.

We recommend members consider whether their existing private health insurance, income protection, and life insurance policies provide adequate coverage for their circumstances.

If you have a concern about your insurance cover or a claim decision, contact Gow-Gates on 02 8267 9999 or info@gowgates.com.au. If your complaint is not resolved within 21 days, you can escalate to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) at afca.org.au.