This week, insurers will be in Clifton to meet with residents whose properties were affected by the severe hailstorm and weather event earlier in November. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) is organising a series of insurance hubs, where customers can speak directly with insurer representatives about their claims and the recovery process.
The insurance hubs will be held at the Senior Citizens Centre on Nov. 20 and 21, from 10am to 4pm. Attendees do not need to book in advance and can visit at any time during opening hours. General information will be available on topics including the claims process, dispute resolution, and other insurance matters related to recovery.
Liam Walter, ICA director of mitigation and extreme weather response, said: “We know that the recovery process can be a challenging time for those impacted by severe weather, and insurers are committed to making the claims process as smooth as possible to help those impacted in Clifton and surrounding areas get back on their feet. Having access to in-person information and access to insurer representatives can make the claims process simpler for impacted customers and we encourage anyone with queries to come along.”
A severe storm system forecasted by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) last Friday moved across large parts of Australia over the weekend, bringing significant weather-related challenges for businesses and residents. The system, driven by low-pressure troughs and tropical moisture, resulted in heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and large hail across multiple states.
BOM had warned of flash flooding, power outages, and disruptions to travel and business operations as the system approached. “Storms could bring damaging wind gusts, large hail, and locally heavy falls that could lead to flash flooding,” BOM stated in a news release.
These recent weather events have underscored broader issues around disaster readiness in Australia. Recent research from AAMI shows that many Australians remain underprepared for extreme weather, despite recent experiences with major natural disasters. A survey conducted by Pure Profile in October 2025, involving more than 2,000 adults nationwide, found that most respondents could not correctly identify the official start of storm season, with only 9% naming Sept. 1. Two-thirds of those surveyed were unable to specify the date, and a quarter believed there was no official start.
The survey also revealed that 78% of Australians did not know storm-proofing should be done four times a year. Queenslanders were most likely to be aware of the recommended frequency (26%), followed by Western Australians (23%), Victorians (21%), and New South Wales residents (20%).
With the official cyclone season underway, insurance industry leaders have issued statements on risk reduction for households and businesses. The Cyclone Reinsurance Pool, managed by the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC), has released guidance for property owners on measures to reduce potential damage from severe weather. Dr Christopher Wallace, ARPC chief executive, cited last season’s Tropical Cyclone Alfred as an example of how quickly conditions can deteriorate, resulting in property damage and service interruptions in areas such as South-East Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
