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  • See Also
  • International Office
    https://intranet.ecu.edu.au/staff/centres/international-office/overview
  • International Office
  • Exchange Students Preparing for Departure
    https://intranet.ecu.edu.au/student/my-studies/study-opportunities/study-overseas/exchange/preparing-for-departure
  • Exchange Students Preparing for Departure

Travel Insurance

*Travel Updates*

Effective 4pm 31 October 2025, ECU has changed its travel insurance provider.  Accident & Health International (AHI), supported by AHI Assist, are now the University's travel insurance provider.  Any travel commenced prior to 4pm on 31 October 2025 would still be covered by AIG.

ECU travelers have recently been impacted by situations outside of their control.  As part of your travel planning, note or consider the following:

  • Travelers have been impacted by bed bugs in accommodation in Fiji - but these may occur anywhere in the world.  Before using the bedding, or putting your luggage on the bedding, consider checking the bedding for signs of infestation.
  • When traveling, be sure of the security at your accommodation. If you are traveling alone, avoid accommodation where entrances are on back streets or in isolated locations.  If you can't tell from a map, check online reviews from other travelers.
  • If you have to make any report to local police, ensure you obtain a police report as this will help support any potential travel insurance claim you may make.  You do not have to get the report translated if it is not in English.
  • Carry a change of clothes and small amount of toiletries when traveling by air, in case your luggage is delayed.  Be sure to adhere to airline requirements for traveling with liquids.

If you have any queries about this, please contact ECU Insurance

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ECU maintains comprehensive travel insurance cover for Students and Staff traveling on authorised University travel.

Certain requirements must be met before students and staff are able to undertake authorised travel on behalf of the University.  Staff must submit a Pre-Trip Approval (PTA), and Students must complete a Student Travel Approval Form, for approval prior to traveling.

Please refer to the Finance & Business Services Centre (FBSC) website before finalising any domestic or international travel arrangements. If travel is not authorised by the University, travel insurance will not apply to the trip.

The travel insurance is an annual Corporate Travel policy cover which is limited to a period of 180 days of continuous travel. If you are traveling for longer that the 180 day limit, contact Enterprise Risk for further advice.

Note: Student Travelers participating in Dual Degree programs with the University of Portsmouth (only) are covered by ECU's travel insurance for both semesters. Please discuss with ECU Insurance about any leisure travel plans between semesters.

ECU also allows for up to 7 days of personal travel, outside of approved travel dates.  This can be taken before or after the approved dates (or a combination of both) but cannot exceed 7 days of personal travel.  Access to personal travel insurance cover through the University does not take into consideration any Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) obligations.  Please seek specialist tax advice if you wish to know more.

ECU's travel insurance does provide certain cover for Covid-19 (and its variants) related to cancellation, additional or medical expenses cover and some restrictions to cover do apply.

If you have any further queries about travel insurance cover, please contact insurance@ecu.edu.au for clarification on the cover applicable.

The Enterprise Risk Team has an assistance guide for any person traveling, with helpful travel hints, which can be downloaded from this page.

ECU Students and Staff are covered for most leisure activities that may be undertaken during travel. However, the following activities may not be covered by the travel insurance policy for staff or students:

  • Snow skiing – if inexperienced and no training has been provided.
  • Helicopter or Deep Snow Skiing.
  • Parachuting or Skydiving.
  • Rock climbing requiring the use of ropes or guides.
  • White water rafting (Grade 4 rapids or higher).
  • BASE jumping.
  • Professional Sports Activities (where payment is received).
  • Racing (unless on foot).
  • Open water diving (unless you have an open water diving ticket or are using an accredited diving company).
  • Any other dangerous or hazardous activities – if you are unsure, please contact insurance@ecu.edu.au for advice.

Policy numbers

Travel insurance policy numbers are as follows:

  • Students 5616314
  • Staff 5616311

Assistance Information

Travel assistance is provided by AHI Assist.  Their contact information is:

Phone: +61 2 8330 1222 (24 hours per day, 7 days per week, Reverse Charge)

Email: help@AHIAssist.com.au

SMS: +61 428 829 755

Quote the policy number applicable to your travel circumstance.

Students

ECU Students are covered through the ECU Student travel insurance policy when travelling as part of an ECU organised study tour, study abroad or exchange (for one semester only).

If you are travelling on an exchange program and will be overseas for more than 180 days, you will need to arrange your own travel insurance for the entire duration of your trip. All students (except for students participating in a dual degree program with the University of Portsmouth) undertaking two semester exchange must arrange their own insurance for the entire duration of the trip.

If you are a student travelling as part of a study tour or study abroad program and you are taking more than seven (7) days of private travel, you will need to purchase your own travel insurance for your private travel.

Staff

All staff members are covered under the ECU travel insurance policy if travel has been approved through the FCM Pre-Trip Approval System. If travel has not been booked and arranged through FCM then cover under the ECU staff travel insurance policy does not apply. Associated private travel is included for staff up to a maximum of seven (7) days.  Note that there may be Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) implications for private travel taken in addition to business travel.  Please refer to the Finance and Business Services Centre website for more information.

AHI Assistance

AHI provide worldwide assistance services to ECU students and staff through AHI Assistance.  When traveling on behalf of ECU, you can access the AHI Assistance website which provide up-to-date information on any country to which you are traveling, including email alerts.

AHI Assist Services include:

  • Travel Logistics – travel disruptions, lost/stolen travel documents, translaters/interpreters etc
  • Telehealth – can provide support and assistance to all travellers whilst overseas.  Medical advice/online consultations, Medical Reports, Electronic Prescriptions etc.
  • Medical – support for Medical emergencies, Patient monitoring, Evacuation/Repatriation
  • Security – Risk Assessments, Location-specific alerts, Crisis response

Policy numbers are:

  • Student: 5616314
  • Staff: 5616311

Download the AHI Assist – Contact Information above

If you have any queries, please contact insurance@ecu.edu.au for further information.

Study abroad / Exchange students

Students who are participating in study abroad programs should visit the Smartraveller website.

Smartraveller is a function of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and provides students with important details to consider as part of accepting an exchange offering.  These tips include:

  • Checking host institution insurance requirements – including: Exemption requests
  • Whether host institution health insurance provides cover for any activities you participate in “away” from campus
  • Arranging “power of attorney” whilst away

You may also be interested in the Smartraveller Facebook page.

Resources

Minimum travel insurance requirements

If you are taking private travel in excess of seven (7) days or if you are travelling for more than 180 days and need to purchase your own travel insurance cover, check the most suitable limits of cover you would need to purchase on our Preparing for departure web page.

Note

Any insurance information provided is of a general nature and does not take into consideration an individual’s personal financial circumstances. Please contact your personal financial planner for specific financial advice.

Hiring vehicles overseas

Staff and students may be able to hire a vehicle overseas provided they have an international driving license and a valid Australian license.

ECU's travel insurance policy does not provide cover for any vehicle hired during authorised travel. If you hire a vehicle whilst travelling on behalf of ECU, you are responsible to obtain the appropriate insurance cover through the hire car company.

Travel insurance cover only applies for the excess you would be charged if you damage the vehicle hired.

Please contact insurance@ecu.edu.au if you have any queries about this cover.

Claims

For travel insurance claims, see our Claims web page.

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