Owner Builders and Insurance

I have just had a student tell me how much they enjoyed the Owner Builder Course, but was surprised that it did not cover several important areas of consideration for NSW Owner Builders.

One of the ares she mentioned was Insurance.

It is an interesting observation, and one that I felt required some clarification.

Up until two years ago, the NSW Department of Fair Trading, required in the learning content, a section on insurance, including the relevance of Public Liability, Workers Compensation. Builders All Risk and Home Warranty Insurance in respect to owner builder works.

Despite enormous protestation from myself, they have dropped this and other important areas such as contracts and legislation from the required learning.

Queensland through the QBCC have shown a better appreciation of the required skills and knowledge and retained these areas of study in their course.

Abacus Training recognises the need to provide this education and cover these topics. That is why we include this in your reference materials, supporting documentation, resources and Owner Builder manual.

You will not be assessed on this knowledge, but all the information is there.

Remember, we are not just about ticking a box to get your Statement of Attainment, we want to provide you the best opportunity to be successful as an owner builder.

That requires us to provide information and support over and above what the Department of Fair Trading mandates as the course materials.

And imagine, there are companies out there who still tell you that you can complete the educational requirements of an owner builder course in three hours!

I would not like to be committing my hard earned to a project like building or renovating without being adequately informed and prepared, would you?

Happy Building,

Rick