Norwest & Western Sydney
Jumping Castle and Inflatable Hire Insurance in Norwest and Western Sydney
A child falls off a castle at a birthday party. A gust of wind lifts one at a school fair. A blower is stolen from the back of the ute. These are the calls a jumping castle operator dreads, and they are the reason the policy matters. We're a Norwest broker, and our job is to make sure your cover pays when one of them happens, and to tell you in writing where it wouldn't.
What insurance does a jumping castle hire business need in NSW?
Most operators need public liability insurance as the core cover, plus insurance for the equipment itself (castles, blowers, anchors, generators and mats), theft cover for stock and trailers, and cover for the vehicle that carries it all. If you employ staff or casuals, workers compensation is compulsory in NSW. Councils, schools, shopping centres and event organisers will usually ask to see your certificate of currency before they let you set up, and many specify a minimum public liability limit.
The risks operators worry about
These are the situations that keep jumping castle and inflatable hire operators awake — and the ones we go through when we build your cover.
Injury to a child or guest
Falls, collisions between children and overcrowding are the most common claims. These sit under public liability.
Wind and weather
A castle that lifts or collapses is the worst case. Insurers will ask what wind limits you use and whether you anchor every unit.
Damage to hired equipment
Tears, burst seams, burnt-out blowers and damage in transit or storage.
Theft
Castles and blowers are expensive and easy to steal from a ute, trailer, shed or storage unit.
Damage to the venue
A stake through a sprinkler line or irrigation pipe, or a mark on a hall floor, is a property damage claim against you.
Loss of income
If a trailer is stolen or stock is damaged in peak season, you can lose weeks of bookings.
What the cover looks like
Every operator is different, so we build the policy around how you actually work. A typical set-up includes:
- Public liability, with a limit that meets what councils and venues ask for
- Products and hirers liability for equipment you supply
- Equipment and stock cover, including blowers, generators and accessories
- Theft and damage while in storage, in transit or on a trailer
- Motor vehicle and trailer cover
- Business interruption for loss of income
- Workers compensation for employees and casuals
What insurers ask jumping castle operators
We help you put clear, honest answers together so the insurer can price the risk properly. It's worth getting right, because an inaccurate answer on an application can cause problems at claim time.
- How are units anchored, and what is your wind limit for setting up or deflating?
- Is there always a trained adult supervising, and who provides the supervision, you or the hirer?
- Do you keep records of safety checks and repairs on each unit?
- What are your age and number limits for each castle?
- Where do you set up: homes, schools, council parks, shopping centres or commercial events?
- What are your hire terms, and do they make the hirer responsible for supervision?
Case study: the school fair and the gust of wind
The business
A small hire operator in Western Sydney running ten castles and slides for birthday parties, school fairs and council events.
What happened
At a Saturday school fair, a sudden gust lifted a corner of a large castle with several children inside. A child fell and was taken to hospital. The school asked the operator for their insurance details the same afternoon.
The challenge
The operator had a public liability policy, but the limit was lower than the school's minimum, and the application had said every castle was staked at every site. In reality, units were sometimes ballasted with water barrels on hard surfaces.
What good cover and a good application would have done
The right limit meant the school was satisfied that the operator was properly insured. An accurate description of how units are secured meant the insurer could not later argue the risk had been misrepresented. The claim could be assessed on its facts.
The lesson
The cost of getting the limit and the answers right is small compared with a serious injury claim.
This is an illustration only. Cover depends on the policy wording, limits and your circumstances.
Who we work with
- Jumping castle, slide and inflatable obstacle course hire operators
- Party and event hire businesses that include inflatables
- Mobile children's entertainment businesses
- Businesses hiring inflatables to schools, councils and community groups
- New operators about to buy their first castle and trailer
Areas we cover
Jumping Castle Hire Cover Across Norwest & Beyond
We work with jumping castle and inflatable hire operators across Norwest and Greater Western Sydney. We also arrange cover Australia wide, so if you operate in another state or travel for events, we can still help.
Need cover Australia wide?
If you operate in another state or travel interstate for events, we can still arrange jumping castle and inflatable hire cover for you.
Contact us
Tell us about your business and we will come back to you with a quote and a plain-English summary of the cover. Prefer to talk? Call 02 8660 2305 or email admin@idealbrokers.com.au.
Ideal Insurance Brokers, Norwest NSW 2153. Ideal Brokers Pty Ltd (CAR No. 001262504) is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Metrix Connect Pty Ltd | AFSL No. 525491. This page contains general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying.
Jumping castle hire FAQs
It depends on how many units you own, where you set up, your hire volume, the limit you choose and your claims history. A weekend operator with two castles is a very different risk from a business running events across the week. We get quotes from several insurers and show you the premium alongside what each policy actually covers.
There is no single answer. Councils, schools and venues often set a minimum, so check the requirement for the places you work and choose a limit that meets it. We can talk you through the options based on your bookings.
Don't count on it. A home or contents policy often excludes or limits claims from hired amusement equipment. That is one reason venues and parents ask hire businesses to hold their own public liability insurance.
It depends on the policy wording. Many insurers expect you to follow wind limits and anchoring requirements, and a claim can be affected if you did not. Ask for the conditions in writing, and make sure your crew follows them on every job.
Only if theft cover is included and the policy conditions on security are met, such as locked storage or a locked trailer. We check this with you before you buy.
In NSW, workers compensation is compulsory once you employ staff, and that generally includes casuals who set up and supervise. Wages need to be declared correctly, or a claim can be reduced. Requirements can differ if you are a sole trader with no employees — ask us if you are unsure.
Usually yes. Councils, schools and shopping centres normally ask for one, often showing a minimum public liability limit. We can issue certificates quickly when you need them for a booking.
Yes. We arrange cover Australia wide, so you can still work with us if you are based in another state or travel interstate for events.
Yes. We can arrange cover for people buying their first castle and trailer, and we help you answer the insurer's questions so the application goes through smoothly.
Yes. Send us your schedule and wording and we will point out any gaps in public liability, equipment, theft and loss of income before your renewal.