Local Government Mutual Services

What Local Government Mutual Services does

Local Government Mutual Services (LGMS) is a member-owned mutual self-insurance organisation established in 1994 by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), which acts as trustee. It operates three interconnected schemes covering public liability (LGM Liability, est. 1994), workers' compensation (LGW Workcare, est. 1998), and council assets (LGM Assets, est. 2015). LGMS serves all Queensland local government councils — city, regional, and shire — providing liability, asset, and workers' compensation coverage alongside risk management services including WHS, claims management, safety audits, and enterprise risk management programs.

The technical platform rests on two proprietary capabilities: catastrophe modelling using geocoded location data that provides state- and industry-wide risk understanding, and a Risk Maturity Assessment Framework used to benchmark member council risk management capabilities. Operational scheme management — including claims handling, risk management, insurance placement, and fund administration — is delivered by JLT Public Sector, a division of Marsh & McLennan Companies. The mutual holds a group workers' compensation self-insurance licence under the Queensland Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act.

LGMS operates as a not-for-profit mutual. Member contributions are determined by individual risk profiles and coverage needs rather than commercial underwriting, and surpluses are returned to members. To date, returns exceed $35 million, with $4.45 million distributed in 2024. Marketing and member engagement are conducted via direct relationship management, WHS forums, content marketing through news and case studies, LinkedIn, and a dedicated member portal. The organisation has 11–50 employees and is headquartered in Newstead, Queensland.

Name

Local Government Mutual Services

Legal name

Local Government Mutual Services

Website

https://lgms.net.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Local Government Mutual Services operates member-owned self-insurance schemes — liability, workers' compensation, and assets — for Queensland local government councils, governed under trust with LGAQ and managed by JLT Public Sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Mutual Insurance

NAICS

Other Insurance Funds (52519), Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers (524126), Claims Adjusting (524291)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Self-Insured Workers’ Compensation Programs (FSAJAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Management Liability (D&O/EPL/Fiduciary) (FSAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Mutual self-insurance
• Public liability coverage
• Workers compensation insurance
• Council asset protection
• Risk management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Newstead

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Local Government Mutual Services (LGMS) operates member-owned mutual self-insurance schemes providing public liability, asset, and workers' compensation coverage exclusively for Queensland local government councils. The organization delivers three interconnected schemes: LGM Liability for legal liability exposures, LGM Assets for council property and asset protection, and LGW Workcare for workers' compensation, complemented by risk management, WHS, claims management, and safety audit services.

Product overview

LGMS operates as a member-owned mutual organization established by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) in 1994, offering three interconnected self-insurance schemes: LGM Liability (established 1994) covering legal liability exposures, LGM Assets (established 2015) covering council property and assets, and LGW Workcare (established 1998) covering workers' compensation. The organization provides member services including workplace health and safety, claims management, risk management systems and advisory services. These schemes collectively enable Queensland local governments to manage liability, asset, and workers' compensation risks through collective bargaining power and mutual ownership, returning over $35 million in surpluses to members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LGM Liability Mutual self-insurance scheme providing public liability, professional indemnity, councillor and officers liability, employment practices liability, cyber liability, and casual hirers liability coverage for Queensland local government members.
• LGM Assets Mutual self-insurance scheme providing property protection (Industrial Special Risks), motor vehicle, machinery breakdown, marine hull, personal accident (group and voluntary workers), and business travel coverage for council assets.
• LGW Workcare Workers' compensation self-insurance scheme for Queensland councils, providing statutory obligations compliance with 97% return to work rate and specialist claims management services.
• Member Services Comprehensive member services including workplace health and safety, injury management, claims management, risk management systems and advice, risk and safety audits, enterprise risk management programs, community group insurance programs, and asset surveys.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4.45 million in scheme surpluses distributed to LGM scheme members in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• JLT Public SectorcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJLT Public Sector, a division of JLT Risk Solutions Pty Ltd (business of Marsh and McLennan Companies), serves as the appointed Scheme Manager. They provide comprehensive services including claims management, risk management, insurance placement, fund management, and consulting services as part of membership.
• Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGAQ established LGMS and serves as Trustee on behalf of members. LGAQ appoints the Board and Committees, appoints the Scheme Manager, provides management oversight of schemes, and facilitates QAO audits, member engagement and license renewal processes.

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Statewide Mutual: Statewide Mutual is a member-owned mutual providing liability, property, and other insurance covers to NSW local government councils. Directly comparable to LGMS as a state-level local government mutual with similar scheme structure and member-owned governance.
• MAV Insurance: MAV Insurance is the insurance arm of the Municipal Association of Victoria, providing public sector insurance products to Victorian councils. Comparable as a state-association-governed mutual serving local government with similar schemes and council-membership model.
• LGIS (Local Government Insurance Services): LGIS is a WA-based mutual providing insurance and risk management services to Western Australian local governments. Directly comparable as a state-level mutual focused on local government risks with member-owned structure.
• CivicRisk Mutual: CivicRisk Mutual provides insurance and risk management services to NSW local government entities. Comparable as a state-level mutual serving local government with similar scheme-based coverage approach.

Broad incumbents

• Aon Australia: Aon is a global insurance brokerage with a public sector practice serving Australian local government and councils. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing in alternative insurance placement and risk advisory for the same council customer base.
• QBE Insurance Australia: QBE is a major Australian general insurer with local government and public sector product lines. Comparable as a broader commercial incumbent offering property, liability, and motor cover that competes with LGMS' mutual pools for council budgets.
• Allianz Australia: Allianz Australia is a major general insurer with public sector and local government offerings. Comparable as a broader commercial alternative to mutual schemes for property, motor, and liability coverage of council assets.
• Marsh (JLT Public Sector): Marsh, parent of JLT Public Sector, is LGMS' appointed Scheme Manager and a global insurance broker with deep public sector expertise. Comparable as the operational insurance partner and a broader incumbent providing insurance placement, claims, and risk management services to government clients.
• Arthur J. Gallagher Australia: Arthur J. Gallagher is a global insurance brokerage with an Australian public sector practice. Comparable as a broader incumbent broker providing insurance placement and risk advisory services to local government entities.

Others

• Honan Insurance Group: Honan is an Australian mid-market insurance brokerage with public sector and niche scheme expertise. Comparable as an enabling intermediary that could partner with or compete against LGMS for member council risk advisory and broking services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/localgovernmentmutualservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lgms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Local Government Mutual Services