Under s.129 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, every practising nurse and midwife in Australia must hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements. This is not optional. Practising without it is a breach of NMBA registration requirements and can result in disciplinary action by AHPRA.

TL;DR

NMBA makes professional indemnity insurance mandatory for all practising nurses and midwives.Employer cover does not always meet the NMBA standard. Verify before you rely on it.Agency and locum nurses are typically not covered by employer or union policies.From 1 January 2027, the midwife homebirth professional indemnity insurance exemption ends permanently.upcover arranges nurse insurance online with instant Certificate of Currency.

What the NMBA Actually Requires

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) requires every practising nurse and midwife to hold professional indemnity insurance arrangements appropriate to their full scope of practice. This covers registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives. You must declare compliance at every annual registration renewal.

The NMBA does not specify a minimum dollar amount, but the cover must be appropriate to your scope, area of practice, and the risks involved. For context, most professional body group policies sit at $10 million per claim. Nurse practitioners and those in higher-risk specialties may need higher limits.

NMBA can audit you

The NMBA can request evidence of your professional indemnity insurance arrangements at any time. If you cannot produce it, or your cover does not meet the registration standard, AHPRA can take disciplinary action. Practising without appropriate professional indemnity insurance is unprofessional conduct under the National Law.

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Does Your Employer's Policy Actually Cover You?

This is where most nurses are exposed without realising it.

Employer insurance typically provides vicarious liability cover, meaning the employer is protected if an employee acts within their scope of employment. This is not the same as professional indemnity insurance for you as an individual practitioner. The ANMF has explicitly warned that nurses should not be misled about employer cover.

An employer policy that requires you to have acted "conscientiously and diligently" does not cover a negligence claim by definition. The NMBA places the obligation on the individual nurse to verify that any employer cover meets the registration standard. If it does not, disciplinary action falls on you, not the employer.

How to verify your employer cover

• Ask your employer to provide written confirmation that their policy meets the NMBA professional indemnity insurance registration standard.
• If they cannot confirm this in writing, arrange your own cover independently.
• If you are an agency or locum nurse, do not assume you are covered. Most union and professional body policies explicitly exclude independent contractors.

Related: What most allied health practitioners get wrong about their insurance

Which Nurses Need Their Own Insurance Policy

• Agency and locum nurses. You are an independent contractor. Most employer and union group policies explicitly exclude independent contractors. If you work through an agency across multiple sites, you need your own professional indemnity insurance.
• Private practice and home care nurses. If you deliver nursing services independently outside a hospital or clinic setting, you need your own professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Your scope of practice is your responsibility to insure.
• Nurse practitioners. The expanded scope of practice for NPs creates higher risk exposure. Cover appropriate to NP-level practice is required and is typically higher than standard RN cover.
• Nurses providing telehealth. If you conduct consultations remotely, confirm that your professional indemnity insurance explicitly covers telehealth services. Some policies require this to be noted on the policy.
• Enrolled nurses. The NMBA requirement applies equally to enrolled nurses. EN registration carries the same professional indemnity insurance obligation as RN registration.

2026 Update: Midwife Homebirth Professional Indemnity Insurance Exemption Ends

From 31 December 2026, the professional indemnity insurance exemption for privately practising midwives providing intrapartum care outside hospital settings, including homebirths, ends permanently under s.284 of the National Law. From 1 January 2027, all privately practising midwives must hold professional indemnity insurance for all aspects of their practice including homebirth intrapartum care.

A professional indemnity insurance product specifically for this purpose became available from 1 July 2025. If you are a privately practising midwife who provides or plans to provide homebirth care, you need a policy in place before 31 December 2026. Leaving it until January 2027 means you cannot legally practise in that setting until cover is confirmed.

Insurance Nurses Should Consider

• Professional indemnity insurance: Mandatory under the NMBA. May include cover for claims arising from alleged negligence, treatment errors, and breach of duty, subject to policy terms.
• Public liability insurance: May include cover for third-party injury or property damage claims arising from your nursing practice, subject to policy terms. Important for private practice nurses working in clients' homes.
• Personal accident insurance: For sole traders and independent contractors who cannot access workers compensation, personal accident insurance may help provide income support if injury prevents you from working, subject to policy terms.

upcover arranges nurse professional indemnity insurance, public liability insurance, and personal accident insurance for registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives across Australia. Instant Certificate of Currency on policy confirmation.

Related: Insurance for disability support workers

About upcover

upcover is a digital-first insurance broker helping Australian nurses and healthcare professionals arrange the right insurance instantly online. upcover arranges professional indemnity, public liability, and personal accident insurance for registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives.

• 70,000+ businesses covered across Australia.
• 4.9/5 customer rating.
• Instant Certificate of Currency on policy confirmation.

upcover is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 1299211) of Experience Insurance Services Pty Ltd ABN 41 657 596 506, AFSL 539078.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is professional indemnity insurance mandatory for nurses in Australia?

Yes. Under s.129 of the National Law, all practising nurses and midwives must hold professional indemnity insurance appropriate to their scope of practice. This applies to registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives. Practising without it is a breach of NMBA registration requirements.

Does my employer's insurance cover me as a nurse?

Not necessarily. Employer vicarious liability cover is not the same as individual professional indemnity insurance. The NMBA places the obligation on the individual nurse to verify that employer cover meets the registration standard. Agency and locum nurses are typically not covered by employer or union group policies at all.

Do agency and locum nurses need their own insurance?

Yes. Most professional body and union group professional indemnity insurance policies explicitly exclude independent contractors. If you work as an agency or locum nurse, you need your own professional indemnity policy in place before you start work on any shift.

What is the midwife homebirth insurance change in 2026?

The professional indemnity insurance exemption for privately practising midwives providing homebirth intrapartum care ends on 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027, all privately practising midwives must hold professional indemnity insurance for all aspects of their practice. A suitable professional indemnity insurance product has been available since 1 July 2025.

What insurance do enrolled nurses need?

The NMBA professional indemnity insurance requirement applies equally to enrolled nurses. EN registration carries the same mandatory professional indemnity insurance obligation as RN registration. Enrolled nurses should verify that any employer cover meets the NMBA standard, or arrange their own policy independently.

How much does nurse insurance cost in Australia?

Professional indemnity insurance for nurses in Australia typically starts from around $200 per year for basic cover, depending on scope of practice, employment type, and coverage limits. upcover arranges instant online quotes for registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives.

_{The information in this article is general in nature and provided for informational purposes only. Regulatory requirements and NMBA registration standards are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the NMBA, AHPRA, or your professional body before arranging or changing your insurance. The insurance information has been prepared without taking into account your individual needs, objectives or financial situation. It should not be relied upon as personal advice. All insurance products arranged through upcover are subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions contained in the relevant policy wording and Product Disclosure Statement. Before deciding whether a particular insurance product is right for you, please read the relevant PDS and consider your personal circumstances. upcover Pty Ltd ABN 17 628 197 437 is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 1299211) of Experience Insurance Services Pty Ltd ABN 41 657 596 506, AFSL 539078. upcover arranges insurance products with selected insurers and underwriters and does not compare all general insurers or insurance products available in the market.}