Amusement Industry & Jumping Castles
We can assist with Jumping Castles, Inflatables, Slides, Mechanical Amusements and more – new ventures or established businesses.
Call Us: 1300 900 207
Comprehensive Support for the Amusement Industry
Every jumping castle, inflatable, or amusement device you operate falls under the AS 3533 series of Australian Standards, and non-compliant equipment is often uninsurable. Councils, schools, and venues increasingly ask for proof of both AS 3533 compliance and adequate Public Liability cover before approving a booking, not after.
We cover:
- Jumping castles and inflatables
- Mechanical amusements and rides
- Indoor play and climbing centres
- Laser tag and skill-based activities
- Soft play hire and general party hire
- Food stalls and trailers
- Other amusement and entertainment risks, considered case-by-case
Exclusive Access and Risk Management Expertise
Coverscope is proud to be part of Coversure’s exclusive broker panel, granting access to coverage for a broader range of amusement operations than most brokers can source. We also work with a risk management specialist to support operators in developing wind procedures, anchoring protocols, and other risk plans specific to inflatable and amusement equipment.
What does insurance for amusement businesses cover?
A properly structured amusement industry policy is a package, not a single product, because the risks span physical injury and business interruption at the same time.
| Cover type | What it responds to |
|---|---|
| Public Liability | Injury to a customer or member of the public, such as a child injured on an inadequately anchored device |
| Products Liability | Injury or damage caused by a defect in the device itself, distinct from an operational or anchoring failure |
| Business Interruption | Lost income if a claim or incident stops you from trading |
| Commercial Motor | The vehicle or trailer used to transport equipment to and from a job |
Most operators need several of these together, since a single incident, a device blown over in wind, for example, can trigger a liability claim and a loss of trading income at once. Talk to us about whether equipment or transit cover for your own inflatables can be arranged alongside your liability policy, since this depends on the specific insurer and facility.
Amusements We Cover
- Jumping castles
- Inflatables
- Obstacle courses
- Slides
- Soft play hire
- Giant games
- Food stalls and trailers (popcorn, slushie, fairy floss)
- Mechanical amusements
- Mechanical bull
- General party hire
- Indoor play centres and climbing centres
- Laser tag and skill-based participation activities
- And many more, including other amusement and entertainment risks considered on a case-by-case basis
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Our team continues to work remotely but you are welcome to arrange an appointment with one of our consultants.
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What Australian Standard applies to jumping castles and inflatables?
Every land-borne inflatable device in Australia, jumping castles, slides, obstacle courses, and similar equipment, is governed by AS 3533.4.1 (Amusement rides and devices, Part 4.1: Land-borne inflatable devices), which sits alongside the broader AS 3533 series covering design, operation, and inspection.
| Standard | Covers |
|---|---|
| AS 3533.1 | Design and construction, including the classification system used to determine a device’s risk category |
| AS 3533.2 | Operation and maintenance |
| AS 3533.3 | In-service inspection requirements |
| AS 3533.4.1 | Land-borne inflatable devices specifically (jumping castles, slides, obstacle courses) |
| AS 3533.4.5 | Waterborne inflatables |
Compliance isn’t optional if you want to be insurable. Our amusement industry facility requires AS 3533 compliance certification as a condition of Public Liability cover, since a non-compliant device that causes an injury is treated as a foreseeable, avoidable risk rather than an accident.
Does my jumping castle need to be registered as plant?
Not always, it depends on platform height. Under the model WHS Regulation, only inflatable devices that are continuously blown and have a platform height of 3 metres or more need to be registered as plant with the state WHS regulator. Standard backyard-style jumping castles typically sit under this threshold and are exempt from registration, though AS 3533 compliance and Public Liability cover still apply regardless of size.
For devices that do meet the 3m threshold, or any amusement device classified Class 2 or higher under AS 3533.1, plant design registration is required before the device can legally operate at a workplace or public event.
What ongoing compliance applies once I'm operating?
Registration is only the starting point. Every state requires ongoing inspection, and Queensland runs the most detailed regime nationally.
- Queensland: a detailed inspection by a competent person is required at least every 12 months, under the Amusement Devices Code of Practice 2023, which took effect on 1 February 2024. For inflatable devices under 9 metres platform height, the inspector doesn’t need to be a Registered Professional Engineer (RPEQ), but must have relevant training, qualification, or experience.
- NSW: councils commonly require a Section 68 approval before an inflatable or amusement device can be set up on public land, in addition to standard WHS registration requirements for devices meeting the 3m threshold.
- Victoria: amusement structures are classed as “plant” under the OHS Regulations, and WorkSafe Victoria’s own published guidance is direct about the risk: death or serious injury has occurred from inadequately anchored jumping castles swept up by wind gusts. Operators are expected to monitor wind speed on-site and deflate the device if the manufacturer’s maximum rated wind speed is likely to be exceeded.
Across every state, anchoring is a specific, checkable requirement, not a general “make it safe” instruction. AS 3533.4.1 sets out defined anchor point requirements based on the manufacturer’s specifications, which is why councils and venues typically ask for evidence of compliant anchoring, not just a Certificate of Currency, before approving a booking.
How much Public Liability cover do you need?
Councils, schools, and event organisers commonly require $20 million in Public Liability cover before approving a booking, higher than the $10 million baseline common in most other small business contexts, reflecting the higher consequence profile of amusement and inflatable claims. Venues and corporate clients will typically ask to see your Certificate of Currency alongside proof that your equipment meets AS 3533 before confirming a booking, not after.
Frequently asked questions
What does insurance for amusement businesses cover?
A typical amusement industry policy combines Public Liability (injury or property damage to customers or the public) with Products Liability (defects in the device itself). Depending on the insurer, this can extend to Business Interruption and Commercial Motor for transport. Cover can be tailored to specific equipment types, including inflatables, mechanical rides, and food stalls.
Do I need insurance if my amusement business is a new venture?
Yes. Liability exposure exists from your first booking, regardless of how established the business is. Many councils, schools, and venues also require proof of current insurance and AS 3533 compliance before they’ll approve a booking at all, so cover is often a precondition of trading, not just a risk-management choice.
Can insurance cover damage to my own inflatables or mechanical rides?
This depends on the specific insurer and policy, equipment or transit cover for your own gear isn’t automatically bundled with amusement Public Liability cover, and needs to be confirmed separately. Speak to your broker about what can be arranged alongside your liability policy for your specific equipment.
Does my jumping castle need to comply with AS 3533 to be insured?
Yes, for cover placed through our amusement facility. AS 3533.4.1 compliance certification is a condition of that Public Liability cover, and a non-compliant device is treated as a foreseeable, avoidable risk rather than an accident if it causes an injury. Venues will also ask for compliance evidence before allowing you to operate on their site.
Does my jumping castle need to be registered with WorkSafe or SafeWork?
Only if it’s continuously blown and has a platform height of 3 metres or more, or is otherwise classified Class 2 or higher under AS 3533.1. Most standard backyard-style jumping castles fall under this threshold and don’t require plant registration, though AS 3533 compliance and insurance are still required regardless of size.
Can you insure indoor play centres, climbing centres, or laser tag venues?
Yes, these sit alongside our inflatable and amusement device cover as a distinct category, with Public Liability and Products Liability structured around fixed-venue risk rather than mobile hire. Other skill-based participation activities can often be included too. Higher-risk equipment such as dodgem cars, high-structure rides, or VR/simulator attractions are considered on a case-by-case basis rather than as standard appetite, so it’s worth a conversation even if your setup isn’t listed here.
Get in Touch
Simply fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch shortly, or feel free to call and tell us about your specific requirements.
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Suite 10B, Level 10, 2 Corporate Court, Bundall QLD 4217
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PO Box 7005, Mount Crosby QLD 4306
Our team continues to work remotely but you are welcome to arrange an appointment with one of our consultants.
Please complete the form to submit an enquiry.
