- Allianz has partnered with the Sydney Phobia Clinic, becoming the first general insurer to use Virtual Reality (VR) technology to support those with a driving phobia.
- The pilot scheme has treated over 100 patients, with the exposure therapy now rolling out across Fear Less phobia clinics in New South Wales and as a self-guided program through oVRcome.
Allianz has partnered with the Sydney Phobia Clinic, Australia’s premier psychology clinic for the treatment of specific phobia, to offer a new exposure therapy program to help participants overcome psychological injury after a car accident.
This support is urgently required, as data from Allianz’s Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance division reveals that over a third (38%) of claims in 20241 have involved some form of psychological injury after a motor accident. This figure is up from 24% in 20202, a 61% growth over a four-year period. Of all Allianz CTP psychological injury related claims reported over the past four years3, the most common injuries are anxiety/depression-related (41%), followed in order by acute stress (23%), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (22%) and nervous shock (7%).
The new program uses Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy to get customers who have a fear of driving following a car crash to feel comfortable and confident to get back behind the wheel. It has just completed its pilot phase, with a total of over 100 eligible CTP claimants4 engaging in the therapy as of November 2024. Allianz is the first general insurer to use VR technology to treat driving phobia in Australia.
A participant in the pilot program, 62-year-old Kim from Newcastle said: “I was recommended the Virtual Reality therapy program by my case manager at Allianz after a nasty car accident where I was rear ended, causing my vehicle to roll and collide with a tree. The therapy sessions helped me tremendously with the PTSD I was suffering following the accident, and the psychologists at Sydney Phobia Clinic were incredibly supportive, with positive encouragement rather than pressure. After just a few sessions I made great progress and I’ve since managed to get back behind the wheel and back to doing the things I love.”
Thea Hobbins, General Manager Strategic Delivery and Innovation at Allianz, said: “When someone has a car accident, the physical injuries are more obvious straight away. But sometimes the real obstacle isn’t physical, it’s mental. Our new program is about offering support to our customers to overcome the biggest barrier of all – mental health.”
Dr. Corrie Ackland, Principal Psychologist at the Sydney Phobia Clinic, added: “We’re thrilled to partner with Allianz to assist more people to overcome their fear of driving and get back on the road. The innovative therapy immerses patients in realistic driving scenarios in a controlled, safe environment, allowing them to confront and gradually overcome their fears. By simulating various driving conditions, we help patients rebuild their driving skills and reduce anxiety, ultimately empowering them to return to everyday life with renewed assurance.”
An independent assessment by the University of New South Wales found that the pilot program had a significant positive effect on psychological recovery. Participants of the program reported great improvements in their independence and ability to return to pre-accident life activities, including driving.
As a result, Allianz is now extending the service to rural and regional customers via a smartphone-based subscription therapy service and headset called oVRcome, providing equitable access to these tech-enabled exposure-based therapies. The service is now being extended by Allianz in partnership with the Fear Less phobia clinics in Sydney and Wollongong, and pilot programs are being ran across Queensland and South Australia.
For more information on Allianz’s work using Virtual Reality Therapy to help support drivers who’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident, view Helping Customers Overcome Vehicle PTSD article.
References:
- Open and current claims in Allianz’s CTP division, as analysed on 30 June 2024.
- Open and current claims in Allianz’s CTP division, as analysed on 30 June 2020.
- Based on CTP claims reported from FY2019/2020 to FY2023/24, up to 30 June 2024.
- As nominated by Allianz case managers.
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About Allianz Australia
Allianz Australia has been securing the future of our customers in Australia since 1914. We deliver a wide range of personal and commercial insurance products and services to more than 4 million policyholders. We also provide support for workers' compensation insurance to around 25% of the top 200 ASX companies, making us one of the leading workers' compensation insurers in Australia.
Allianz Australia Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the worldwide Allianz Group. The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers with corporate customers in more than 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life, and health insurance to assistance services, credit insurance and global business insurance. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Allianz Australia Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the worldwide Allianz Group. The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers with corporate customers in more than 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life, and health insurance to assistance services, credit insurance and global business insurance. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
About Sydney Phobia Clinic
Sydney Phobia Clinic is Australia’s first and leading private clinic dedicated to the treatment of specific phobias and related disorders. Opening its doors in 2016, Sydney Phobia Clinic was the first phobia clinic in Australia and the first to routinely use VR in psychological therapy, pioneering the use of VR in treatment. Now, having treated over a 1000 phobia clients, Sydney Phobia Clinic has become the trusted name in phobias, providing expert comment to the media, participating in research, and extending its services by training other treatment providers nationally.
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