Not all hobbies are treated equally
From cycling and footy to bushwalking and rally driving, what you do in your spare time can directly influence the kind of insurance cover you get, and how a future claim might play out.
“Pastimes can be anything that’s not work. It can range from being a hobby or something that you like to do, playing a game, getting outdoors, anything outside your nine-to-five.”
—Kellie Pearce, Skye Wealth Adviser
Insurers assess every application for risk. While most everyday activities are fine, certain pastimes can lead to exclusions, longer waiting periods, or additional checks before approval.
A pastime isn’t something you did years ago; it’s something you’re doing now or plan to do soon.
If you’ve booked lessons or paid for a course, say scuba diving, skydiving, or flying, that’s considered an intention and it needs to be disclosed.
But a casual “one day I might” thought doesn’t count until you’ve made real plans.
Kellie knows firsthand how insurers treat high-risk pastimes.
That exclusion means that if she’s injured during a rally event, her income protection wouldn’t cover that incident.
Understanding when exclusions apply is key. It’s not about limiting your lifestyle, but about clarity on when your policy does and doesn’t respond.
Phil once worked as an acrobat and shared how past activities are viewed.
Insurers look at current or ongoing activities. So if you’ve left behind a risky pastime, like acrobatics, contact sport, or motorsport years ago, it won’t affect your new application.
Australia’s most common pastimes
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW, 2024) found that 8 in 10 adults participate in some kind of sport or physical activity.
Here’s what the numbers show:
Sport and movement are part of everyday life for most Australians, which is why insurers pay close attention to injury statistics.
Most pastimes, like tennis, skiing, indoor cricket, and bushwalking, are no issue. But certain sports with higher injury rates or competition levels can lead to exclusions or longer wait times, especially for income protection.
Why? Because insurers consider how likely injuries might cause time off work.
The data behind insurer decisions
AIHW’s 2023–24 figures recorded 62,100 sports-related injuries that led to hospital admissions:
Cycling and AFL both appear frequently in injury data due to falls, breaks, and concussions. These patterns influence how insurers structure their risk rules.
When cycling gets complicated
Kellie recalled a client who wanted to start cycling again.
It seemed counterintuitive, but statistics showed more injuries on gravel than sealed roads.
In this case, the client’s adviser found another insurer that was comfortable with her intended cycling style, an outcome made possible by comparing providers.
E-bikes are rising in popularity, and insurers are paying attention.
While there’s no standardised view yet, insurers may start distinguishing between recreational and competitive e-bike use as data grows.
Kellie also rides a motorbike in northern New South Wales and noted that her policy has NO EXCLUSIONS, even though the statistics are striking:
Motorbikes make up about 4.5% of registered vehicles but around 21% of road fatalities.
Even though fatalities are high, insurers look at total claims. If it’s a tiny percentage overall, they may not restrict all motorbike riders.
That’s data-based underwriting. Insurers rely on claim trends, not assumptions.
It might surprise some people that not all sports are treated equally, even when they sound similar. Insurance outcomes can vary widely between activities that appear equally physical or risky on the surface.
In other words, while both involve fast-paced action and physical contact, the type of risk matters more than the intensity of the sport itself. Horse polo involves high-speed riding, powerful animals, and the potential for serious injury from falls or collisions. Those elements make it statistically riskier, which is why insurers often apply exclusions or limit certain types of cover.
Water polo, on the other hand, may look chaotic. Players grab, kick, and wrestle in deep water, but the overall injury severity and claim frequency are much lower. From an insurer’s standpoint, that difference in data and outcomes drives their decisions.
So, it’s not about which sport appears more dangerous. It’s about the evidence behind it. Insurance companies rely on injury records, hospitalisation rates, and claim history when deciding where exclusions apply.
It’s really important to declare what you intend to do, but also to work with someone who can make sure you’re covered, or know exactly when you’re not.
Your adviser can help review exclusions, remove them when they no longer apply, or match you with an insurer that better suits your lifestyle.
Not everything is black and white. One insurer might say no, another might say yes. That’s why comparing options matters.
Key takeaway
Your lifestyle and your insurance are connected.
Whether you love a casual weekend ride or live for competition, understanding how your pastimes are assessed ensures you’re protected for the life you actually lead.
Resources
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024): Participation in sport and physical recreation in Australia
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024): Injury in Australia: Sports Injuries
- Department of Infrastructure (2024): Motorcycle Safety Statistics