01 Introduction

Introduction

This manual provides a number of recommendations for dojos to consider when looking for insurance. These include certification and insurance from external bodies. Also included are policies, procedures and forms that member dojos may consider adopting if they find them useful. These policies have been developed to encourage best practice and address risk management requirements to help meet the requirements of insurers and regulatory bodies. 

Requirements today that significantly reduce insurance premiums for most insurance products include documented risk management practices, first aid training, complying with child protection legislation, evidence of instructor training/qualification, and provision of an ABN or incorporation number.

It is a collation from a number of sources of information including the Williams Sensei Aikido Yuishinkai Australia guidelines, policies and procedures developed by Griffith Aikido informed by Caxton St. legal services manuals, State Child protection requirements, pro bono time from a city council community services employee, input from NSW adult community education employees and publically available Isshinkai documents (an AY UK member organisation). As a living document it is anticipated it will be reviewed periodically.

Whilst the document is stand alone in assisting members to operate in a safe environment and to assist in meeting regulatory requirements, other aspects referred to in the Williams sensei guidelines for accredited instructors may assist in clarification.

Group Insurance policy

Although Aikido Yuishinkai Australia (AYA) is an advisory body only, it also offers to member dojos a group insurance policy. Application for insurance on behalf of member dojos requires the association to undertake to report information and provide certain assurances to the insurer on member dojo activities. The adoption of the policies contained in this document together with the requirements set out in the appendix enable AYA to apply for competitive insurance that balances responsibility and risk to the group, individual dojos and the office bearers. 

The development of policies, while seemingly a difficult task, is quite straight forward. Once specific or general risks are identified, policies that are descriptive or procedural are developed to mitigate the risk. This document strives to ensure that policies are generally no longer than a page, deal with a specific issue or group of issues, and are in plain English. Should dojos wish to add their own policies, or suggest them to the association, they can be developed in a like manner. Incident and accident reporting allows repetitive or systemic issues to be developed as a response and so reporting of these events, even those quite minor can be useful in ‘closing the loop’ on risk management.