Here is some information about the VAA's insurance program for individual beekeepers. Please note that this insurance is only available for VAA members. You must maintain an active membership during the term of insurance cover. If your VAA membership lapses during the insurance period, your insurance will no longer be valid. 

Insurance package Insurance for individual beekeepers and bee clubs.

• The policy brokers are AON. The insurer is SLE Worldwide. Supporting insurers: Lloyd’s Underwriters.
• The policy is valid from the date of purchase until 10 April 2026. The excess is $1000 for each claim.

Activities Covered:

Public liability of $20,000,000

The following activities are covered for individual recreational beekeepers with up to 200 hives.

• Maintenance of one or more apiary sites with beehives. Includes viewing and inspecting hives.
• Assembling & building beekeeping equipment. Working on beehives, moving beehives
• Collecting bee swarms and established colonies. (The collection of swarms and established colonies (e.g. feral hive cut-outs) must be a community service and not a commercial undertaking and incidental to the member’s usual beekeeping activities. You may recover the costs for transport, equipment used and costs related to relocating the colony. The beekeeping, swarm collection or feral hive collection/cut-outs cannot be your primary source of income.)
• Extracting, bottling or packing honey and honey products.
• Selling honey and honey products
• Collect, process and use beeswax.
• Selling beekeeping equipment.
• Attending markets and shows.

NOTE: Activities for individual members do not include:

Liabilities arising from any damage made/caused by the beekeeper to gain access to the bees, such as in swarm collection and feral hive collection (e.g. cut-outs) provided the swarm collection and feral hive collection is done on a voluntary basis. You may recover the costs for transport, equipment used and costs related to relocating the colony. The beekeeping, swarm collection or feral hive collection/cut-outs cannot be your primary source of income.

Product Liability: $20,000,000                  

Products Covered:

The following products are covered for individual beekeepers:

Apiarian/ bee products including the production, distribution and sale of:

• Honey: Liquid, Creamed, Candied, Honeycomb and Chunk Honey
• Creamed or liquid honey with up to 8% natural fruit/plant flavouring
• Pollen
• Queen bees
• Bee colonies
• Bees wax and candles
• Bees wax furniture polish

Third-party insurance cover for 12 months for an individual beekeeper, including public and product liability. See the VAA Shop for price.

• Click here to view policy details (pdf file).
• Click here to view the SLE Worldwide Insurance Policy document.

Buy Insurance

Notes:

1. This insurance is only available to current VAA members who are recreational beekeepers. 
2. You are covered by the insurance policy from the time of payment.
3. If you require a certificate of currency, contact the VAA Secretary and it will be emailed out to you. 
4. To make a claim, contact the VAA Secretary at vaa@vicbeekeepers.com.au​​ for further instructions.