NIBA Launches Internship Toolkit to Help the Profession Develop Future Talent

The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) has today launched the Insurance Broking Internship Toolkit, a free resource that gives small and medium-sized brokerages a ready-to-use structure for recruiting, onboarding and developing new talent.

Developed through NIBA's Insure Your Future initiative, the toolkit responds to a challenge brokerages across Australia continue to raise, which is attracting new people into the profession as the workforce ages and skills gaps widen.

NIBA's Ready or Reacting? Shaping the Future of the Insurance Broking Profession research identified workforce changes as one of eight forces expected to reshape the profession by 2035. While 67% of brokers expect workforce changes to affect the profession, only 58% believe their business is prepared or very prepared to meet them.

The toolkit is designed for firms that may not have dedicated HR infrastructure or training frameworks. It sets out a complete three-month internship, from advertising the role through to a final review and employment decision, and can be adapted for longer placements or permanent roles.

It contains 12 templates and guidance documents, including:

• an internship summary and position description
• an interview guide with a question set and scoring criteria
• a candidate application form, written offer letter and unsuccessful candidate letter
• an induction checklist and a two-to-three-week induction schedule
• a three-month learning plan covering induction, practical exposure and supervised independent tasks
• mid-point and final review forms
• guidance on employer obligations, including pay, privacy and workplace standards.

NIBA CEO Richard Klipin said the Toolkit gives brokerages a practical way to act on the workforce challenge the research identified.

"Our research shows brokers know the workforce is changing, and many are still working out how to respond. This toolkit gives firms of any size a clear, structured way to bring new people into broking and give them a proper start. Every intern who has a positive first experience is a potential broker for the decade ahead," Mr Klipin said.

Insure Your Future Co-Chair Steven Hill said the toolkit removes much of the administrative work that holds smaller firms back from offering internships.

"Many brokerages want to bring in new talent but don't have the time or HR resources to build a program from scratch. The toolkit gives them everything they need, from the position description to the final review, so they can focus on mentoring the intern," Mr Hill said.

Insure Your Future Co-Chair Athanasia Corso said the toolkit also sets a consistent standard for how new entrants experience the profession.

"For students, graduates and career changers, an internship is often their first real look at broking. A structured program means they learn how the profession works, receive regular feedback, and can see what a long-term career could look like from day one," Ms Corso said.

The Insurance Broking Internship Toolkit is available to download here.