Aboriginal maritime safety
Discover boating safety strategies, educational videos, and resources for Aboriginal communities to ensure safe and informed waterway use.
Aboriginal Maritime Safety Plan
Transport for NSW launched the Aboriginal Maritime Safety Plan in November 2020.
NSW waterways are vital for family connections, transport, and cultural events. Boating safety is linked to cultural, physical, and economic well-being. The plan, developed with the community, delivered a boating safety strategy which aimed to improve waterway access, lifejacket awareness and safe and responsible boating among Aboriginal people.
The plan supports Transport for NSW’s Reconciliation Action Plan, and Maritime Safety Plan, which sets the long-term maritime safety vision of working towards zero fatalities and serious injuries on navigable waterways in NSW by 2056.
View the full Aboriginal Maritime Safety Plan (PDF 2.17MB)
Safety videos
A main action of the Aboriginal Maritime Safety Plan was to create Aboriginal Boating Safety Champions. They promote safe boating, reduce unlicensed driving, and encourage lifejacket use.
The video shows our first Aboriginal Boating Safety Champions:
- Shane Phillips, CEO of Tribal Warrior
- Jessica Slow and Tullarah Simpson from Transport for NSW.
They talk about how NSW waterways are important to Aboriginal people and how to stay safe on the water.
Aboriginal boating safety champions
We also made an animation about Aboriginal maritime safety. It covers:
- checking the weather
- wearing lifejackets
- safe speeds
- alcohol limits
- keeping a proper lookout.
Aboriginal maritime safety animation
'Are You Boat Ready?' colouring book
The 'Are You Boat Ready?' colouring book teaches safe boating for all ages. It helps boaters get ready and predict risks before going on the water. The book is part of the 'Are You Boat Ready? Plan. Prepare. Predict' safety campaign and includes First Nation's designs.
Download the Are You Boat Ready? colouring book (PDF 1.67MB)
Transport for NSW would like to acknowledge the dedication, commitment and passion of the late Ross McKenny in his work with Aboriginal communities to improve boating safety, including his contributions to the Aboriginal Maritime Safety Plan.