Organisations wishing to achieve lower premiums will need to demonstrate that they have properly considered and assessed their risks and can provide evidence of such to their insurer.

The thought of having to put in place a risk management process overwhelms many organisations. Risk management, however, is really quite a simple process and does not require an organisation to produce reams of documents or engage highly qualified consultants.

It is simply a matter of asking the following questions:

• What is our business?
• What can go wrong (what risks do we face)?
• What are the potential consequences if something does go wrong?
• What can we do to address our risks and prevent things going wrong?

Undertaking a formal risk management process allows an organisation to manage risk in a systematic way. It also allows you to demonstrate to your insurer that you are fully aware of the risks your organisation faces and you have put in place systems to address/prevent those risks.

The attached sample pro forma is an example only of the way you need to list your risks and how you have addressed them. There is also a blank form that can be used to carry out your risk assessment. Your own risk assessment form will need to take into account all of the different activities that your organisation undertakes i.e. if your organisation manages a building or oval, for example, you will need to list the types of risks associated with such a facility.

If you run events, you will need to list what will take place during that event, what risks you may face and how you intend to address or minimise those risks.

Once you have listed the risks that your organisation is exposed to you then need to assess those risks (as per the attached Risk Management Matrix). Those risks that are 'low' probably do not need to be addressed in great detail. The 'high' and 'moderate' risks are obviously those you need to address and ensure you have control procedures in place to stop them occurring.

The Risk Matrix and Risk Assessment Form can also be used to assess the risks to volunteers. Instead of listing the activities you undertake, just list the tasks the volunteers undertake and apply the same risk assessment process.