Becoming a BoatSafe training provider
In Queensland, all candidates for a recreational boat licence or personal watercraft licence must satisfactorily complete either an approved BoatSafe competency-based training and assessment program or a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment with an approved BoatSafe training provider. Candidates in remote areas must complete a competency-based assessment with an approved BoatSafe assessor.
The BoatSafe scheme, modelled on national guidelines for the safe operation of recreational boats, is designed to increase the rigour of training and assessment processes and is aimed at improving the safety awareness, attitudes and competence of all future licence holders.
Maritime Safety Queensland will only approve BoatSafe training organisations capable of delivering both the recreational marine driver licence and personal watercraft competency units.
To provide training under the BoatSafe scheme you must:
- make application for approval as a BoatSafe Training Organisation in accordance with the requirement outlined in the BoatSafe Information Kit (PDF**, 152KB)
- qualify for approval under both Part 2 (Examining approvals) and Part 3 (Training program approvals) of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety - Examining and Training Program Approvals (Recreational Ships and Personal Watercraft) Standard 2005 (PDF**, 219KB)
- submit a BoatSafe Training Provider Nomination form (PDF**, 53KB) and supporting information for each person who will be conducting BoatSafe training for your organisation
- provide proposed course documentation, including assessment tools
- engage one or more suitably qualified and endorsed BoatSafe training providers.
BoatSafe Training Organisations
Applicants for approval as a BoatSafe Training Organisation may be a corporation or an individual.
Corporate applicants must:
- complete a BoatSafe Training Organisation application form (PDF**, 64KB). Section 2 of the form must be completed for each director or principal of the business or organisation
- provide a current company search document that includes a list of current directors - available through the Australian Securities and Investments Commission*
- provide a Certificate of Incorporation (where applicable) and Australian Company Number(ACN)
- provide evidence of identity documents for all directors
- if trading under a different name to the corporation name, provide a Business Name Certificate showing a list of current proprietors of the trading name
- possess insurance appropriate to their training organisation responsibilities for workcover and public liability insurance
- nominate at least one suitable person as a BoatSafe training provider to undertake BoatSafe training and assessment on the organisation's behalf
- pay an application fee - currently A$385.35.
- complete a BoatSafe Training Organisation application form (PDF**, 64KB)
- nominate at least one suitable person as a BoatSafe training provider to undertake BoatSafe training and assessment on the organisation's behalf (may be the applicant)
- satisfy the BoatSafe training provider qualifications and associated pre-requisites
- provide evidence of identity documents
- if trading under a business name, include a Business Name Certificate showing a list of current proprietors of the business and Australian Business Number (ABN)
- pay the application fee - currently A$385.35.
- Applications (including lesson plans and assessment instruments) are assessed for suitability through a desktop audit. This will be followed by a site audit.
- A BoatSafe agreement must then be signed by the applicant and Maritime Safety Queensland.
- The BoatSafe approval will be granted and an authority issued.
- Only Maritime Safety Queensland approved materials are to be used for training and assessment.
BoatSafe training provider nominations
For each person the applicant nominates as a BoatSafe training provider, the applicant must:
- complete a BoatSafe Training Provider Nomination form (PDF**, 53KB)
- provide evidence of identity documents for the nominated training provider
- if trading under a business name, include a Business Name Certificate showing a list of current proprietors of the business and Australian Business Number (ABN)
- provide a copy of the nominated person's commercial marine licence document including any endorsements on the licence
- provide a copy of the nominated person's training and assessment qualifications
- provide a statement of the nominated person's recent and relevant industry experience
- copy of the nominated person's Positive Notice Blue Card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. For more information about obtaining a Blue Card, see www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au
- give details of proposed training/assessment vessel(s) and training locations.
BoatSafe training providers who intend to deliver personal watercraft training and assessment will need to possess a personal watercraft licence in addition to their other qualifications and will need to be specifically endorsed by Maritime Safety Queensland for the delivery of this service.
What happens next- A site audit may be conducted by Maritime Safety Queensland officers.
- Maritime Safety Queensland will notify BoatSafe Training Organisations in writing of nominated training providers who have been endorsed to provide BoatSafe training and assessment.
- Nominated training providers endorsed by Maritime Safety Queensland will be notified of their endorsement to their BoatSafe Training Organisation.
- Only Maritime Safety Queensland approved materials are to be used for training and assessment.
- Activity statements must be completed and forwarded to Maritime Safety Queensland via the BoatSafe Training Organisation in accordance with the conditions of approval.
- Contact details are posted on the BoatSafe approved training providers (PDF**, 269KB).
- A copy of the agreement and standard conditions under which a BoatSafe Training Organisation is expected to operate is available from Maritime Safety Queensland on request.
Course documentation
The following course documents must be provided by BoatSafe Training Organisation applicants:
- lesson plans in accordance with the BoatSafe Competency Standard (PDF**, 124KB) for the Operation of a Powered Recreational Vessel and Personal Watercraft in Queensland.
- assessment tools in accordance with the BoatSafe Competency Standard (PDF**, 124KB) including evidence guides and answer sheets. Maritime Safety Queensland has developed a standard set of assessment tools for personal watercraft licensing purposes for use by BoatSafe Training Organisations and Remote Area Assessors.
- course feedback sheet as prescribed in the BoatSafe Management Standard (PDF**, 104KB).
The following information regarding training facilities and equipment must be provided by BoatSafe Training Organisation applicants. All facilities must comply with current Queensland Workplace Health and Safety requirements:
- access to a suitable Queensland commercially registered vessel of at least Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) class 2E, capable of performing all of the operational requirements specified in the BoatSafe competency standard with a minimum of two adults onboard
- well lit classroom
- overhead projector and screen or similar equipment
- video cassette recorder or similar instructional equipment
- charts and plotters
- ropes
- lifejackets
- anchors.
- BoatSafe Information Kit (PDF**, 152KB)
- BoatSafe Training Organisation Application Summary (PDF**, 31KB)
- BoatSafe Nomination Summary Sheet (PDF**, 34KB)
- BoatSafe Audit Framework (PDF**, 54KB)
- BoatSafe Management Standard (PDF**, 104KB)
BoatSafe Assessors
Until BoatSafe Training Organisations have been approved to cover all areas of Queensland, Maritime Safety Queensland may approve BoatSafe Assessors to assess candidates for licences without providing training. BoatSafe Assessors must qualify under Part 2 of the Standard, but need not qualify under Part 3. Under the BoatSafe scheme it is MSQ's policy to only approve BoatSafe Assessors for areas not serviced by BoatSafe Training Organisations providing competency based training and assessment.
**While this department has taken every possible precaution with the creation of these files, they are downloaded and used at your own risk. Adobe Reader is required to open and print Portable Document Format (PDF) files and is free to download from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Various tools to enable access to these files for people using a screen reader can be found at http://access.adobe.com. Further information is available from our "Help with downloading, reading and printing PDF" web page.
*The content found by using this link is not created, controlled or approved by this department. No responsibility is taken for the consequences of viewing content on this site. This link will load into a new window.
Last updated 03 July 2008
Other languages