Feedback and data collected about the education process was so successful the positions will now be made permanent.

A roving Boating Education Officer (BEO) position will also be permanently created to provide extra support in raising boating safety awareness and safety information to the public from the shore.

Research has shown increasing education for the boating public is one of the most effective ways of reducing boating fatalities.

BEOs provide key support to Roads and Maritime Boating Safety Officers who traditionally have been tasked with the majority of the frontline boating and safety education role.

From July last year to the end of last month, BEOs interacted with 39,963 members of the boating public and visited 206 schools to talk about boating safety.

This has increased the number of school visits by 10 times than the previous year, a valuable increase in our ability to reach entry level boaters to provide them with the skills and knowledge to enable them to be safe and responsible boaters from an early age.

BEOs also made 3,070 visits to boat ramps, engaged 1,248 retail outlets and 563 sailing, boating clubs and marinas to provide information and key safety messages, and represented Roads and Maritime at 211 boat shows or community field days.

BEOs will be on hand for the duration of the Sydney International Boat Show which starts later this month, providing advice to attendees as official boating safety representatives of the NSW Government

Attached are some images of our BEOs at work during the past year.