6 Things Every Australian Must Do to Protect Themselves Against the Tomorrow That Is Not Promised
If there is one universal truth, it is this:
Life can change in minutes.
Most of us move through our days assuming tomorrow will look like today.
We plan holidays, juggle work, manage school drop-offs, think about renovations and worry about things that feel important — until something bigger happens.
As a lawyer, I see it every day.
As someone who lost my home in a fire, I’ve lived it personally.
The unexpected doesn’t send a polite calendar invite.
It simply arrives — and when it does, your level of preparation can make an enormous difference to your financial security, your family’s wellbeing, and your peace of mind.
Here are six essential steps every Australian should take today, to protect themselves against the tomorrow that isn’t promised.
1. Review Your Insurance — Properly, Not Casually
Most Australians are unintentionally underinsured.
Many assume their policy “should be enough” without ever checking the details.
But when disaster strikes — fire, flood, storm damage, theft, illness, accident — assumptions fall apart.
You should review:
Your home building insurance (rebuild value, not market value)
Contents insurance (most people are massively underinsured)
Demolition, debris removal and engineering costs
Liability coverage (if your home damages a neighbour’s property)
Income protection and trauma cover
Vehicle insurance
Speak to an insurance broker if you don’t know where to start.
I learnt the consequences the hard way.
Please don’t wait for your own disaster to learn yours.
2. Put Your Estate Planning in Place
Estate planning is not morbid.
It’s responsible.
It’s protective.
It’s one of the greatest acts of love you can give your family.
Every adult needs:
A valid Will
A Power of Attorney
An Enduring Guardianship
Clear instructions
A safe place to store their documents
Without these, the people you love most may face:
delays
stress
legal costs
conflict
uncertainty at the worst possible time
Estate planning isn’t about preparing for death — it’s about preparing for life.
3. Store Your Important Documents Safely
When our house burnt down, one of the most painful lessons was losing all our essential documents — birth certificates, passports, IDs, insurance papers.
Replacing them was exhausting.
This is why we now give our clients fire-resistant A4 folders for their estate planning and key documents.
Wherever you store yours, make sure they are:
protected
organised
easy for someone you trust to locate
stored in fire-resistant or flood-safe packaging
A little organisation today saves immense stress tomorrow.
4. Avoid Cash Jobs and Informal Agreements
Australians love a “good deal” — but cash jobs can cost you far more later.
Never pay cash to:
builders
trades
contractors
suppliers
Cash = no paper trail = no protection.
If something goes wrong — damage, defects, poor workmanship, injury — you may have:
no proof of payment
no right to claim
no insurance coverage
no enforceable contract
Always insist on:
a written contract
a scope of works
a progress payment schedule
insurance certificates
Protection is paperwork.
5. Understand Your Financial Vulnerabilities
Most families don’t know:
what would happen if they lost their income tomorrow
whether their super actually includes insurance
how their mortgage is structured
whether their bank could take their insurance payout (mine did)
how much debt would fall back on their partner or family
Speak to:
your bank
a financial adviser
your insurer
Knowledge is safety.
6. Tell Someone You Trust Where Everything Is
This is the simplest, most overlooked protection of all.
Make sure someone knows:
where your legal documents are
who your lawyer is
who your accountant or adviser is
what policies you have
what to do if something happens to you
A conversation today can save months of confusion tomorrow.
The Tomorrow That Isn’t Promised Doesn’t Need to Scare You
It simply needs to prepare you.
You don’t need to build walls around your life — just a foundation strong enough to support you when life shifts unexpectedly.
Take these six steps seriously.
They are simple, practical, and life-changing.
And if you need help with your estate planning, reviewing your protection, or understanding your risks — we are here to guide you with compassion and clarity.
Your future deserves protection.
Your family deserves certainty.
And tomorrow deserves preparation — starting today.
