Boat Wise Sydney Pty Ltd
ABN 83 644 502 116
Last updated: 23 August 2026
Effective from: 23 August 2026
1. About this policy
Boat Wise understands that plans sometimes change. This policy explains what happens when:
- A customer cancels or reschedules a booking
- A participant arrives late or cannot attend
- Boat Wise changes or cancels a session
- A refund or course credit may be available
This policy applies to Boat Wise courses and training services, including Private Boat Training and Powerboat Handling Courses. It also applies when someone purchases training for another participant, such as a family member.
Nothing in this policy excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies you may have under the Australian Consumer Law.
2. Customer cancellations
Cancellation notice is measured from the scheduled starting time of the course or training session. Customer cancellations are handled as course credits rather than change-of-mind refunds:
- More than 7 days before the scheduled session: a full credit toward one rescheduled session.
- Between 3 and 7 days before the scheduled session: a credit equal to 50% of the amount paid; the remaining 50% is forfeited.
- Less than 3 days before the scheduled session, or non-attendance without notice: no credit; 100% of the amount paid is forfeited.
Credits and rescheduled sessions are subject to availability and the conditions in Section 5. No change-of-mind refund is available under this cancellation schedule.
Nothing in this section excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies you may have under the Australian Consumer Law.
3. Late-cancelled bookings
Boat Wise may try to fill a late-cancelled session or course place, but whether the position is filled does not create an entitlement to a refund, credit or rescheduling beyond Section 2, except where required by law or agreed by Boat Wise in writing.
4. Illness, emergencies and exceptional circumstances
If illness, injury, bereavement or another serious unforeseen emergency affects your booking, contact Boat Wise as soon as possible. The cancellation schedule in Section 2 still applies unless Boat Wise agrees otherwise in writing or the law requires another remedy.
Nothing in this section excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies you may have under the Australian Consumer Law.
5. Rescheduling and course credits
Unless otherwise stated, a course credit:
- Is valid for 12 months from the original session date
- May be used once to transfer the booking
- Is subject to availability
- Is not redeemable for cash
- Cannot normally be transferred to another person without written approval
- May require payment of any increase in the price of the replacement service
If the rescheduled booking is subsequently cancelled, this policy applies based on the new session date.
A refund for a booking purchased for another participant will be returned to the original purchaser and payment method.
6. Late arrival
Sessions begin and finish at their scheduled times.
A late arrival does not automatically:
- Extend the session
- Change the scheduled finishing time
- Reduce the course fee
- Entitle the customer to another session
Some courses have mandatory attendance requirements. If a participant arrives too late to safely or lawfully participate, the booking may be treated as a late cancellation or non-attendance.
7. Participant requirements
Participants must satisfy all identification, eligibility, fitness, clothing, footwear, safety and course prerequisites communicated before the booking.
If a participant cannot take part because they failed to meet a requirement clearly disclosed before payment or attendance, the booking may be treated as a late cancellation or non-attendance.
A participant is not automatically entitled to a refund because they do not pass an assessment, provided the training and assessment were properly delivered and were consistent with their advertised description.
8. Training on a customer’s vessel
For training conducted aboard a customer’s vessel, the customer must ensure the vessel is:
- Safe and seaworthy
- Properly registered where required
- Appropriately insured
- Adequately fuelled
- Equipped with the required safety equipment
- Mechanically operational and ready for training
If training cannot proceed because the customer’s vessel does not meet requirements disclosed before the booking, the cancellation conditions for less than 3 days’ notice may apply.
Boat Wise will not conduct or continue training where doing so would create an unacceptable safety risk.
9. Unsafe or inappropriate conduct
Boat Wise may refuse or stop participation where a participant:
- Appears affected by alcohol or drugs
- Behaves dangerously, abusively or disruptively
- Refuses to follow reasonable instructions
- Creates an unacceptable risk to themselves or another person
A change-of-mind refund or course credit will not normally be provided when training is refused or stopped for these reasons.
10. Changes or cancellations by Boat Wise
Boat Wise may need to postpone, relocate or cancel training because of:
- Unsafe weather or water conditions
- Instructor illness
- Vessel or equipment problems
- Government restrictions
- Safety concerns
- Other significant operational circumstances
If Boat Wise cancels a session or makes a material change that the customer cannot reasonably accept, the customer may choose:
- A transfer to another available session
- A course credit for the full amount paid
- A refund for the affected service that has not been supplied
Where part of the service has already been properly delivered, any refund may be limited to the undelivered portion.
Boat Wise is not responsible for indirect costs such as travel, accommodation or lost income except where compensation is required by law.
11. Third-party training providers
Some Boat Wise courses may include training, assessment or other services delivered with an accredited training provider or another third party.
Any third-party conditions or genuinely non-refundable third-party charges will be identified before payment.
Boat Wise will assist customers with refund enquiries relating to bookings and payments made directly through Boat Wise.
Third-party arrangements do not remove any rights available under the Australian Consumer Law.
12. Packages and multiple-session bookings
Sessions already completed are not refundable where they were properly supplied and delivered as described.
For unused sessions:
- Scheduled sessions are subject to the cancellation periods in this policy
- Unscheduled sessions may be refunded proportionally where a package is cancelled before expiry
- Any calculation will use the original package price per session
- Completed sessions will not be retrospectively repriced at a higher individual-session rate
Package and course-credit expiry dates will be disclosed when purchased.
13. Australian Consumer Law
Boat Wise services come with consumer guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.
If a service has a major problem, the customer may be entitled to cancel the service contract and receive a refund for the unused portion, or receive compensation for its reduced value.
If a problem is not major, Boat Wise must be given a reasonable opportunity to correct it. If the problem is not corrected within a reasonable time, further remedies may be available.
These rights apply independently of the change-of-mind arrangements in this policy.
More information is available from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
14. Requesting a cancellation, refund or credit
Requests must be made in writing using:
- The email address contained in the booking confirmation; or
- The Boat Wise contact form
Please include:
- The purchaser’s name
- The participant’s name, if different
- The booking reference
- The scheduled course or session date
- The requested outcome
- A brief explanation of the circumstances
The time Boat Wise receives the written request determines the applicable notice period.
Customers can call 0481 877 912 for assistance, but the cancellation must still be confirmed in writing.
15. Processing refunds
Approved refunds will:
- Be returned to the original payment method wherever practical
- Normally be processed by Boat Wise within 10 business days
- Be subject to any additional processing time imposed by the customer’s bank or payment provider
Boat Wise will not substitute a course credit where a customer is legally entitled to a refund and has not agreed to accept a credit.
16. Changes to this policy
This policy applies to bookings made from 23 August 2026.
Bookings made before 23 August 2026 remain subject to the policy and terms presented when the booking was accepted, unless the customer agrees otherwise or the law requires a different outcome.
Any future changes will apply to bookings made after the revised policy takes effect.
17. Questions or concerns
Boat Wise encourages customers to contact us first so concerns can be resolved promptly and fairly.
If a matter cannot be resolved, customers may seek assistance from NSW Fair Trading or another appropriate consumer-protection body.
