Boat Wise Sydney Pty Ltd
ABN 83 644 502 116
Last updated: 20 August 2026
Effective from: 20 August 2026
1. About this policy
Boat Wise Sydney Pty Ltd, trading as Boat Wise (“Boat Wise”, “we”, “us” or “our”), respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and disclose personal information when you visit our website or customer portal, contact us, create an account, make a booking, purchase a product or service, participate in a course or private tuition session, subscribe to our communications or otherwise interact with Boat Wise.
We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles to the extent they apply to us. Nothing in this policy limits any rights available under applicable Australian law.
2. What is personal information?
Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who can reasonably be identified.
Sensitive information is a type of personal information that may include health information and certain other information given additional protection under Australian law.
3. Personal information we may collect
The personal information we collect depends on how you interact with Boat Wise and the services you use.
Identity and contact information
- Name, date of birth or age where relevant
- Residential, postal or billing address
- Email address and telephone number
- Emergency contact details
- Parent, guardian or purchaser details when a booking is made for another participant
Booking and training information
- The course, lesson or service being booked
- Booking dates, locations and attendance information
- Training, competency and assessment records
- Boat licence eligibility, identification or application information where required
- Results, completion records and certificates
- Information needed to arrange, reschedule or cancel a booking
- Notes reasonably required to deliver training safely and effectively
Vessel and location information
- The location of a vessel, marina, berth or launching area
- Vessel type, size and relevant operating details
- Information about equipment or condition relevant to the training
- Your boating experience and training goals
Payment and transaction information
- Billing details, purchase amounts and transaction dates
- Payment status and transaction references
- Refund, credit and rescheduling information
- Limited payment confirmation information supplied by our payment providers
Full payment card details entered through an online checkout are generally processed by our payment providers and are not stored directly by Boat Wise.
Account, communication and marketing information
- Customer account and login information
- Enquiries, emails, telephone enquiries, text messages, chat messages and social media communications
- Feedback, reviews, surveys, complaints and refund requests
- How you heard about Boat Wise
- Your communication and marketing preferences
- Your interaction with our emails, advertisements and social media pages
Health, accessibility and safety information
Where reasonably necessary to provide training safely, we may ask about relevant health conditions, injuries, mobility requirements, accessibility needs or other matters that could affect safe participation. We only collect sensitive information when reasonably necessary and with your consent, unless collection is otherwise permitted or required by law.
Website and technical information
- Internet Protocol address, browser, device and operating system
- Pages viewed, actions taken and referring source
- Approximate location based on device or IP address
- Cookie, analytics and advertising identifiers
- Website performance, security and error information
4. Photographs, video and vessel footage
Boat Wise may photograph or record its training vessels, customer vessels, waterways, equipment and course activities for training, educational, safety or promotional purposes.
Where a customer or participant can reasonably be identified, we will seek their express permission before using their image, voice or recording for advertising, social media, website content or other promotional purposes, unless the use is otherwise authorised by law. Media permission is optional and is separate from accepting this Privacy Policy or making a booking.
For participants under 18, we will seek permission from a parent or guardian and, where appropriate, agreement from the participant.
When filming a vessel, we will take reasonable steps to avoid or obscure faces, voices, reflections, boat names, registration numbers, precise berth or home locations and other information that could identify the vessel owner or a participant, unless permission has been provided.
A person may withdraw media permission by contacting Boat Wise. We will stop new promotional use and take reasonable steps to remove the material from channels under our control. It may not be possible to recall printed material already distributed or copies previously shared by other people.
Where an external photographer or videographer creates the material, Boat Wise will also obtain any permission or copyright licence required for our use.
5. How we collect personal information
We may collect personal information directly from you; from a parent, guardian or person booking on your behalf; through our website, customer portal, booking system and online forms; during communications, courses, assessments and training sessions; from instructors, contractors, training or licensing partners; from payment and technology providers; through cookies and analytics; or from publicly available sources where reasonable and lawful.
If you provide personal information about another person, you must have their authority to do so and, where appropriate, make them aware of this Privacy Policy.
6. Why we collect and use personal information
- Respond to enquiries and provide course information or quotations
- Process bookings, payments, refunds, credits and rescheduling requests
- Deliver private tuition, powerboat handling courses, boat licence courses and related services
- Confirm identity, age and course eligibility
- Arrange training locations and vessel access
- Conduct training, testing and assessments
- Maintain attendance, completion and assessment records
- Issue or support applications for certificates and licences
- Manage customer accounts and provide customer service
- Send booking instructions, reminders and important updates
- Protect participant, instructor and public safety
- Improve our courses, website and customer experience
- Measure website use and advertising performance
- Send marketing communications where permitted
- Prevent fraud, misuse and security incidents
- Manage complaints, disputes, insurance matters and legal claims
- Comply with legal, regulatory, taxation and record-keeping obligations
We may also use information for a related purpose you would reasonably expect, or as otherwise permitted by law.
7. Remaining anonymous or using a pseudonym
You may contact us anonymously or use a pseudonym where lawful and practical. However, we generally need accurate identifying information to manage a booking, payment or refund, provide training, verify eligibility, conduct an assessment, maintain required records or respond to a safety concern. If required information is not provided, we may be unable to provide the requested service.
8. When we disclose personal information
We may disclose personal information to organisations and individuals that help us operate Boat Wise and deliver our services, including:
- Boat Wise employees, instructors and authorised contractors
- Training and licensing partners, including MTS where relevant
- Government, maritime and regulatory authorities, including Transport for NSW where required or authorised
- Booking, account, course-management and communications providers
- Payment providers, including Stripe and SureCart
- Website hosting, cloud storage, information technology, email, telephone and support providers
- Analytics, advertising and social media providers
- Professional advisers, including accountants, lawyers and insurers
- Emergency services or safety personnel where necessary
- Government agencies, courts, regulators or law-enforcement bodies where required or authorised by law
- A purchaser, adviser or successor in connection with a proposed sale or restructuring, subject to appropriate confidentiality protections
We may also disclose information with your consent, when reasonably necessary to protect a person’s safety or legal rights, to investigate suspected fraud or a security incident, or for another purpose permitted or required by law. Boat Wise does not sell or rent personal information.
9. Training and licensing partners
Some courses may be delivered with or supported by an external training or licensing provider. We may provide that partner with information reasonably required to confirm enrolment and eligibility, deliver training or assessment, record attendance and results, issue certificates, support a licence application and meet auditing, regulatory or record-keeping obligations.
The partner may also collect information directly from you and handle it under its own privacy policy and legal obligations.
10. Payments
Online payments may be processed by external providers such as Stripe and SureCart. When you enter payment card information, it is generally provided directly to the payment provider. Boat Wise may receive confirmation of the transaction, payment status, transaction reference and limited card information such as the card type or last four digits. Payment providers handle information under their own privacy policies and security practices.
11. Overseas processing and disclosure
Some of our technology, payment, analytics, communications and cloud service providers operate overseas or use international infrastructure. Personal information may therefore be processed or stored in Australia, the United States and other countries in which those providers or their subcontractors operate.
Where Australian privacy law requires it, we will take reasonable steps to ensure an overseas recipient handles personal information consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles. Privacy protections in another country may differ from those available in Australia.
12. Cookies, analytics and advertising technologies
Boat Wise and our providers use cookies and similar technologies to operate, secure and improve our website, remember preferences, support booking and account features, prevent spam and fraud, understand website use, diagnose errors, measure enquiries and advertising performance and, where enabled and permitted, present relevant advertising.
Providers used on our website may include Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Google reCAPTCHA, Microsoft Clarity, Meta and Facebook technologies, Stripe, SureCart, LeadConnector or HighLevel, Cloudflare and other website, booking or analytics providers.
Information collected through these tools may include IP address, device information, browsing activity, page interactions and advertising identifiers. You can restrict or delete cookies through your browser settings, although some essential website, booking, account or security features may not work correctly if cookies are blocked.
13. Direct marketing
Where permitted, Boat Wise may use your contact information to send course information, boating tips and resources, service updates, offers, follow-up communications, feedback requests and information about related Boat Wise services. Communications may be sent by email, text message, telephone, online advertising or social media.
You can opt out at any time by using the unsubscribe option in an email, following the opt-out instructions in a text message, emailing [email protected] or calling 0481 877 912. We will action opt-out requests within a reasonable period and will not charge you for making a request.
Even if you opt out of marketing, we may still send important operational messages about an existing booking, payment, course, safety issue or customer account.
14. Children and younger participants
Some Boat Wise services may be available to participants under 18, including participants aged 12 and over where permitted by NSW licensing and course requirements.
For a participant under 18, we may require a parent or guardian to make or approve the booking, collect parent or guardian contact details, seek consent for particular activities, communicate with both the participant and guardian and collect information reasonably required for training, assessment, eligibility and safety.
We aim to collect only the information reasonably necessary to provide the service safely and meet applicable requirements. We do not intentionally use a younger participant’s health information, identity documents, assessment results or licence information for unrelated marketing.
A parent or guardian may contact us about a younger participant’s information. We will consider the participant’s age, maturity, capacity, safety and legal rights when responding.
15. Security of personal information
Boat Wise takes reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Safeguards may include access controls, password protection, secure connections, reputable service providers, staff and contractor controls, system monitoring and appropriate backup practices.
No website, communication method or storage system is completely secure. You should avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information through unsecured channels and keep customer account credentials confidential.
16. Data breaches
If we become aware of a suspected data breach, we will take reasonable steps to contain and investigate it, assess the potential effect, reduce further harm and improve safeguards where appropriate. Where required by the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme or another applicable law, we will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
17. How long we retain information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or as required by law. The period may depend on training, assessment and licensing requirements; taxation and financial obligations; insurance and safety records; complaint and dispute periods; legal claims; customer account activity; and marketing preferences.
When information is no longer reasonably required, we will take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it, subject to legal, operational and backup-system requirements.
18. Accessing or correcting your information
You may request access to personal information we hold about you or ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date, irrelevant or misleading. Contact us using the details below. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
There is no charge for making a request. Where permitted by law, we may charge reasonable costs associated with providing access and will tell you about any proposed cost first. We aim to respond within 30 days. If we cannot provide access or make a requested correction, we will explain the reason where required and identify available complaint options.
19. Privacy complaints
If you have a concern or complaint about how Boat Wise has handled your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer in writing. Include your name and contact details, a description of the issue, relevant dates or communications and how you would like the matter resolved.
We will acknowledge and investigate your complaint fairly and aim to respond within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may be able to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
20. Automated decisions
Boat Wise does not currently use personal information to make solely automated decisions that could reasonably be expected to significantly affect a participant’s access to training, assessment outcome or legal rights. Some providers may use automated tools for payment fraud detection, spam prevention, website security or account protection. If our practices change materially, we will update this policy and provide any notice required by law.
21. External websites and services
Our website may link to third-party websites, social media platforms, payment services, booking systems or government services. Boat Wise is not responsible for the privacy practices of an external website or service. We encourage you to review the relevant provider’s privacy policy before supplying personal information.
22. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, business practices, technology, providers or legal obligations change, or when an update is otherwise necessary to improve transparency. The current version will be published on the Boat Wise website with its updated date. Material changes may also be communicated through our website, customer portal or direct communications where appropriate.
23. Contact us
For privacy enquiries, access or correction requests, marketing opt-outs or complaints, contact:
Privacy Officer
Boat Wise Sydney Pty Ltd
ABN 83 644 502 116
Postal address: P.O. Box 220, Rozelle NSW 2039, Australia
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0481 877 912
Website: www.boatwise.com.au
