Ancient Chinese general, military strategist and author of The Art of War, Sun Tzu, is often attributed to this quote, “Invincibility is a matter of defence, vulnerability is a matter of attack”. Churches are commonly perceived as places of openness, refuge and safety in times of need. Lately, however,

One of the things we’ve noticed over the years is the volume of detailed information and documentation that seems part and parcel of Work Health and Safety. It certainly overwhelms us, our research shows that it overwhelms you too, and that’s the last thing we want. Feeling like a

Technology is not something we can hide from, so part of our strategic plan is how we can use technology to improve our work so we can help you better. Now an integral part of our lives, technology, while frustrating at times can make processes a lot simpler and

There is a saying that is usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin that says “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. This saying dates back to 1789 and unfortunately both death and taxes are still certainties in our world today. I’d like to

You said some serious stuff about us, that’s okay, we’ll grow from it. Avondale Business School conducted research on our behalf, specifically regarding Work Health Safety (WHS) and what their findings show us is that we can do better in four key areas, but also we’re doing some things

Have you been wondering how you can get your hands on some WHS templates? Many of our Work Health and Safety (WHS) resources have only been available through our ‘Member Only’ area of this website. Thanks to your feedback we have developed four new template documents for WHS activities

Launched in November the Risk and Safety Funding program is already helping Church organisations solve risk and safety problems. What is it? RMS is so deeply committed to helping Church organisations get their risk and safety in order that we’re putting our money where our mouths are. RMS is

We know it comes around every year. Without fail. We’re across the shopping hassles, the parking dramas, the “whose-turn-is-it-to-host” politics… so what else is there we could possibly need to know about our favourite time of the year? Read on and store this info for some post-Christmas lunch small

In case you’ve been too busy beavering away at your work to notice, sit-to-stand desks are the cult office product du jour. Presented with the alarming results of research (conducted by Sanitarium’s Vitality Works) into the health and wellbeing of Adventist workers, the RMS team decided to take a

Our new Risk Coordinator, Rob Kalinowski, is a keen cyclist, avid reader and a fascinating story-teller with a strong interest in history, people, religion and culture. Currently residing in Lisarow on the New South Wales Central Coast, Rob doesn’t mind the 40 minute commute to work which takes him

Chuck stuff out. Don’t organize it. Don’t buy pretty boxes from Ikea. Don’t look at storage solutions on Pinterest. Just bin it. Chuck it. Throw it. Donate it. Discard it. Delete it. If you don’t really need it, you don’t have to keep it. Here’s how that relates to

Back in June we told you that Cash in Safe and Cash in Transit cover would cease to exist as separate cover lines but would become part of contents cover. While the cover has been “moved” so to speak, there are still the same expectations as before about how

Business Interruption or “BI” for short is the risk of interruption to business operations and can result from different scenarios including: Traditional property damage Cyber weaknesses or attacks Non-damage BI Supply chain Acts of Terrorism Environmental causes Product recall Marine transit We’re Hosting a Business Interruption Information Seminar.  

Certain types of property cannot enjoy protection under either building or contents cover – these must be specified. Unlike moveable equipment there are a number of site improvements that aren’t considered building or contents. As an example, a shade sail is not easily moved but they can be damaged

It’s official. As of July 1, 2015 Cash in Safe and Cash in Transit cover lines will no longer exist the way they used to. We brought the change to your attention a few months ago while the exact details were being refined. We are happy to share that

Pursuing his personal interests and passions is what Ken Marsh is looking forward to when he retires from his role as Senior Advisor – Safety Management next month. Ken started his career in 1967 with the Royal Australian Air Force as an engine fitter and “musterer” which saw him

A valued RMS team member since 2003, Jocelyn McMahon brought her special brand of warmth coupled with efficiency to the role of Workers Compensation Coordinator. The RMS team will miss her service with a smile and can-do approach to any problem. “What you give, you receive,” reflects Jocelyn when

All treasurers and CFO’s should have their church organisation’s property renewals on their to-do lists for May/June. For some entities, renewal time can be a little daunting but it need not be.   Here are 2 easy steps to a happy renewal: Step 1 – No Change. No Pain.

Our Short Term Travel Online Request form has a new field and it’s all about protecting you!   The form field is called “Email address of person at that organisation responsible for authorising your application & accepting the cost”. Ok, so we won’t be winning any literary awards for

Changes to Extra Risks cover will take effect from 1 July 2015. Several updates were made to the Extra Risks cover which will take effect from 1 July 2015. Here are the noteworthy highlights: 1. Broader coverage. The Type of Equipment that can be covered has been extended to

The use of drones may be beneficial to the Church work, but there are concerns which we should take seriously. A drone, as described by the Queensland Office of the Information Commissioner, is an “unmanned aerial vehicle, which can be outfitted with sophisticated camera surveillance equipment. UAVs are controlled

Seeing the blackened, charred remains of your beloved church or school might seem like Judgement Day has arrived, but trust us, while it is heartbreaking it’s not the end of the world either. Here are 4 reasons why… 1. You’re covered. But first, the bad news…property damaged by fire

Almost 12-months ago (to the day), we said a temporary good-bye to Linzi as she and her husband, Brett expectantly awaited the arrival of their second child.  Later this month little James Aitken will celebrate his first birthday.  One year sure passes by quickly and we are excited to

During any calendar year RMS will receive a number of phone calls or emails from churches and schools asking if they can use their property as accommodation for an individual or a group (such as pathfinders). Perhaps unsurprisingly, the number of enquiries increased in the lead up to the

Have you ever been tempted to stand on your office or classroom chair or desk to get something from the top cupboard?  Or maybe it was to hang some Christmas decorations or change a light bulb. Why are we tempted to stand on our chair or desk – or

We have previously brought you the Top 10 (Most Frequent) Property Losses Affecting Church Organisations which sparked a high level of interest from our InfoRMS readers. This time the events are arranged by the total financial cost, which tells an entirely different story. These figures encompass loss events from

From 1 July 2015 RMS is planning to discontinue the Cash in Safe and Cash in Transit cover lines.  We say “planning” because we are still working through some of the finer details and there is a chance that closing the lines may be delayed. Even though the 1

We are privileged to introduce our new full-time Administrative Assistant, Minerva Hermosilla-Garcia. Originally from Spain, Minerva has previously worked for our sister organisation Adventist Risk Management in the UK for seven years. Some of you may recognise Minerva from her most recent position as a sales assistant at the

It was a sombre mood in the RMS office with the recent departure of our friend and colleague Lorraine Atchia, who had been serving as our Administrative Assistant for the past two years.  Lorraine brought various skills with her which added value to RMS, the most obvious being her

If your Church is considering renting their premises to another organisation or person, it’s important that you familiarise yourself with the best way to proceed. Hiring out a church’s facilities for various functions such as weddings, meetings, presentations etc. can bring in additional income to help the local church.

December marks the commencement of moving season and with it comes the need to complete the Employee Relocation Request for Cover. Seventh-day Adventist Church employers can use Employee Relocation Cover to protect the household goods of their employees when they are relocated under denominational transfer within the territory of

What do you think about when you hear the phrase “Road Trip”? Is it a holiday, a movie, or something else? For me, it’s the 30+ times that I have driven across the famous yet barren Nullarbor Plain between Perth and Sydney.  “Why 30 times?” is usually the first

It’s suggested that the most recent SONY hacking scandal will end up costing the organisation a whopping $100 million. Whilst the cyber liability of Churches isn’t expected to carry such large financial ramifications, there is still potential to cause a great deal of harm. Please don’t think that it

Now is as good a time as ever for you to ‘spring clean’ your property risk management plan. To help highlight some potential risk factors, we have delved into the depths of the RMS records to bring you the ‘Top 10 property losses’ – the 10 most common property

The recent unfolding of the flu has left many Australians confined to their beds in an attempt to recover and restrict the illness from spreading to others.  Luckily for us, influenza has a relatively low impact and we know how to treat it. Unfortunately this is not the case

Everyone knows that it can be very embarrassing to slip, trip or fall over but did you know that it is also one of the most common causes of injury? Injuries from slips, trips or falls can occur at any time; however we see more incidents occurring during times

You might have heard someone jokingly claim that they do – suggesting that you don’t need to care for a rental car in the same way that you would care for your own car. But you need to be careful when you rent vehicles because the rental contract will

On 1 September 2014 RMS made two important changes to the application process for Short-term Travel Cover (STT). The first change is that RMS will only accept and process applications for STT if the cost is being invoiced to a Seventh-day Adventist Church organisation through that organisation’s current account.

PATHFINDERS ON THE MOVE Key Message: Every person travelling from another country to Australia for the iThirst Pathfinder Camporee must have travel insurance before they commence their journey. Pathfinders is a fantastic ministry of our youth department and in January 2015 some 9,000 pathfinders are going to find their

“Fever, chills, coughing, sore throat, runny and stuffy nose, aches and pains, headaches and fatigue, even nausea, vomiting and diahorrea.”   Welcome to the joys of the flu. Whilst not all of us will fall prey to the virus this year, it is important to know how to prevent

With the annual winter chill taking hold and more cooler months ahead, selecting the right form of heating becomes a priority. However with the myriad of different types and models to choose from, the efficiency and safe operation of each device needs to be considered – from portable electric

Extra Risks Rate Reduction – Lower rates means more money for mission RMS is pleased to announce that the cost of Extra Risks cover is being reduced on 1 July 2014.  Cover for specific items will cost 6.6% less, while the cost of the blanket cover will be 5%

“Metal theft is a ”lucrative and attractive venture for thieves” according to the Australian Institute of Criminology, while the federal government has estimated the annual cost of the crime at $100 million”.  Read more. With copper prices rising more than 300% since 2008 and copper recyclers paying around $5

A study funded by WorkCover NSW and the ACCC will recommend that children under the age of 16 not be permitted to ride quad bikes and that it be an offence to allow them to do so. Some of our campgrounds and youth departments do operate quad bikes and

Did you know that regular Contents cover does not protect your SDA Church organisation against two common risks for portable equipment? Do you know what those two risks are and if your Church organisation is protected? The good news is that there is a special cover available, called Extra

Have you ever experienced muscle pain or discomfort during your work day? A slight adjustment to your workspace could be the solution. Better office ergonomics can help workers avoid or reduce injury and discomfort. Ergonomics involves designing the working environment – including tasks, equipment and tools – in such

Stepping in as our Communications / Admin Assistant (Maternity Relief) is Avondale College graduate, Danelle Morton. Danelle graduated last year receiving a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Visual Communication and a minor in Communication. As part of her course she worked on numerous design projects, most

In various parts of the South Pacific and particularly Australia, it is important to plan ahead to reduce the likelihood and consequences of bushfire damaging church owned properties. Our Senior Risk Officer, Andrew Mowbray, suggests there are some simple things our leaders and local members can do before the

A Fairfax Media article reports on a recent study which found that ocean rips kill more people in Australia on average each year than tropical cyclones, bushfires, floods and shark attacks combined. On average, 21 people drown in rips around Australia each year, compared with eight killed in cyclones

It is a great time of year to pass on good news and RMS is pleased to announce that the contribution rates for Employee Relocation cover were officially reduced on 1 December 2013 – just in time for the busiest moving season of the year. Rates have been reduced