State and territory maritime regulators, the Boating Industry Association, Surf Lifesaving Australia and Australian Sailing collaborate to educate recreational boaters and work toward uniform safety regulation.

The body which enables state and maritime regulators, the Boating Industry Association (BIA), Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) and Australian Sailing to collaborate on education is the Australia New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group (ANZSBEG). ANZBEG has members from all over Australia and New Zealand, and the body’s objective is to collaborate in water safety education to help prevent recreational boating incidents, associated injuries and loss of life.

Australian Sailing is an active participant in ANZSBEG and shares the approach that communication and education increases safety awareness and influences a healthier safety culture. The most recent meeting held in Canberra looked at issues ranging from how the Bureau of Meteorology shares data across apps and websites, to PLB and EPIRB usage, and lifejacket usage and relevant standards.

A recent example of that collaboration is a communication piece by the Western Australia Department of Transport on annual yacht maintenance. The poster  explains how a well-maintained yacht could prevent a life threatening emergency on the water. Whilst a Department of Transport resource, Australian Sailing’s staff and volunteers helped behind the scenes to make sure the message is accurate and relevant.

Most importantly, ANZSBEG provides Australian Sailing and SLSA a direct opportunity to engage with government and industry via the BIA. The end goal is that government and the BIA understand sports’ views on what best practice in recreational boating and safety education is.

Information about ANZSBEG can be seen here.
The Western Australia Department of Transport poster on yacht maintenance is here .
Australian Sailing’s library of safety communications pieces is here.

By Glen Stanaway