1:30min

A renewed professional indemnity insurance policy with provider Avant now offers members nil claims excess and coverage for final year optometry students working on clinical placements with members.
Optometry Australia and professional indemnity insurance provider, Avant, have renewed their contract, continuing a 15-year professional relationship.
The current contract expired on 30 November 2014. The two organisations have been working on revised wording of the new policy.
Avant offers unparalleled optometry claims expertise and direct access to medico-legal advice from a large in-house legal team.
Members have been provided with continuity of cover in the form of a Certificate of Currency until the new policy is in place. The new policy will be uploaded to the website shortly.
Earlier this year, Optometry Australia worked with a strategic adviser to put out a selective tender to the insurance market. This was undertaken to ensure that members are receiving the most appropriate insurance cover.
A summary and recommendations were provided to the National Board. A decision was made to stay with current provider, Avant, with minor amendments to the existing policy.
Avant says it is committed to working with Optometry Australia to deliver risk management education and materials.