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Windsurfing (sailboarding)

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​​​​Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in windsurfing (also known as sailboarding) in smooth and partially smooth waters during daylight hours as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

Note: This activity does not include participation in windsurfing competitions, the windsurfing discipline of wave sailing and any windsurfing activities in open waters (e.g. exposed, deep, unfriendly conditions; ocean swells, exposed trade winds). These activities are not recommended as a curriculum activity.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

Activities that pose an unacceptable risk to students are not recommended as part of an education program. These activities include, but are not limited to, unstructured free-swim activities and breath-holding/underwater games.

Depending on the scope of this activity, other risk assessments may be required when planning. Curriculum activities encompassing more than one CARA guideline (e.g. swimming in locations other than pools while power boating) must comply with the requirements of all CARA guidelines appropriate to the activity.

Schools should consider conducting this activity at a Department of Education Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre (O&EEC), consult with O&EEC centre staff for risk assessment requirements.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

Risk level

High risk
Teaching and/or practicing of windsurfing skills in smooth and partially smooth waters.

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. marine park managers, lifeguard) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

Compliance with Australian sailing operating standards and guidelines is required when planning this activity.

Permits and permissions are required to be obtained as necessary (e.g. Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation).

Ensure the operator of the recreational vessel conforms to the general safety obligations for personal watercraft prescribed by Maritime Safety Queensland.

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Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). At no time should students be relied upon to recover a person in difficulty. The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Prepare a supervision plan to prevent drowning that considers the advice provided in this CARA guideline. Consider Australian sailing operating standards and guidelines for support when supervision planning.

Where a lifeguard service is available, schools are to collaborate with the lifeguard on the contents of the CARA record prior to the activity for advice and to address any queries they may have. Note: The presence of a lifeguard service does not absolve the school of any supervision requirements unless secured for the sole purpose of the activity.

Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by the local lifeguard service, facility operator/owner and any safety signage at the facility/location.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

  • must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

  • must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
  • must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
  • must not allow this activity to occur outside daylight hours.

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. poor visibility, extreme temperatures, thunderstorms).

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider Australian sailing operating standards and guidelines, the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

To support decisions about the number of qualified adults required for the activity, confirmation of student water safety and swimming ability is required prior to participation.

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

The process is determined by the school and must consider the specific aquatic environments in which the activity will take place. Consult the sequence of competency water safety and swimming education program for support in determining age-appropriate suitability and consider student self-rescue skills in the specific aquatic environment.

One adult supervisor is required to either windsurf with the learners or travel in a powered vessel in close proximity to the learners under instruction.

Maximum participant to instructor ratio is 6:1. Refer to the Australian sailing operating standards and guidelines (page 9) for participant to instructor ratios.

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See FAQs for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

Adults at the venue, including registered teachers, engaged for recovery/emergency are to have current knowledge, judgement, technique and physical ability to carry out safe water rescues and enact an emergency procedure.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:

An adult with concussion management knowledge or training is recommended. Consult concussion in sport resources.

High risk activities

At least 1 adult supervisor is either:

  • a registered teacher with appropriate instructor level qualification with Australian Sailing (or equivalent demonstrated capability) and with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching windsurfing
  • an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with appropriate club coach qualification or current accreditation with Australian Sailing (or equivalent) and with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching windsurfing.

For power boating (if a power boat is being used), the adult supervisor is required to conform to the general safety obligations for personal watercraft prescribed by Maritime Safety Queensland and the power boating guideline and have:

Maritime-related enquiries should be directed to the nearest Maritime Safety Queensland regional office.

See FAQs for further support.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

A working emergency signal (e.g. whistle, air horn) must be readily available.

Personal protective equipment as relevant (e.g. enclosed shoes, wetsuit or stinger protective swimwear).

Level 50 life jackets as outlined by Maritime Safety Queensland must be worn when participating in windsurfing (sailboarding) activities.

Ensure access to waterways is available for emergency vehicles or vessels.

Equipment must be sized to match the ability and strength of students.

All equipment must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

A process for checking for damage for all equipment used in the activity must be established and employed (e.g life jackets, securely fixed deck plate and effective non-slip surface).

A retirement schedule must be developed to replace plant and equipment by manufacturers' nominated expiry date or when significant wear causes a hazard.

Ensure a suitably powered rescue vessel is available and ready to perform a rescue.

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards Control measures
Dangerous marine life
(e.g. crocodiles, sharks, stonefish, marine stingers, sea snakes, blue-ringed octopus, cone shells, cyanobacteria, coral—scrapes)

Check with the local authority (e.g. local government) for the presence of known water contaminants (e.g. blue-green algae) or other marine hazards (e.g. stonefish) at the location.

Look for and obey warnings and/or safety signs.

Follow Queensland Government dangerous marine life and Surf Life Saving Queensland marine stinger safety advice.

Marine organisms are not to be handled and contact is to be avoided.

Continually assess threat of dangerous marine life. Immediately move the participants to a safe location if dangerous marine life is detected or suspected.

Ensure stinger suits and/or footwear is worn in the water when appropriate (e.g. enclosed footwear with thick soles when swimming in creeks or estuaries where dangers such as stonefish may be present).

Adhere to established practices regarding the use of insect repellent outlined in insect viruses and allergies

Environmental conditions
Weather, surrounds

Assess weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers.

Follow the school’s sun safety policy, including appropriate swimwear (e.g. swim shirts), sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside.

school's sun safety strategy must be followed.

Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions.

Monitor participants for cold related illness (e.g. hypothermia) in cold weather conditions.

Ensure shade, food and water are available during the activity

Water temperature Manage cooler water temperatures with additional control measures (e.g. shorter in-water time, wetsuits, etc.). Note: Sudden temperature changes may trigger seizures
Facilities and equipment hazards Control measures

Activity location

Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used locations to ascertain suitability. Consider underwater vegetation (e.g. coral, weed), marine life (e.g. crocodiles, sharks, eels), debris and protection from other watercraft when selecting location. Assess suitability of surrounds and reach of water (e.g. local water conditions and hazards, marine vessel patterns)

Vehicles/vessels Continually assess threat of vehicles and vessels if appropriate to location
Student considerations Control measures

Injury

Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment

Manual handling
Lifting equipment

Use correct manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying

Physical exertion
Exhaustion and fatigue

Continually monitor students for signs of fear, hesitancy, loss of balance, fatigue, disorientation, hunger and/or exhaustion

Student issues
Student numbers, special needs, high risk behaviours, medical conditions, separation from the group

Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating.

Ensure fingernails, hair and clothing do not pose a hazard.

Implement procedures (e.g roll marking mechanisms) to account for all participants before, during and after the activity.

Ensure that all participants work far enough apart that they are not struck by falling masts.

Swimming attire
Visibility, fabrics

All supervisors are to be readily identifiable and be appropriately dressed to perform an immediate rescue at all times.

Students wear fit-for-purpose swimming attire that is highly visible in water and does not cause a hazard (i.e. not too loose or heavy).

Each student must provide their own towel

Visibility

Ensure staff can easily recognise those students with health support needs (in and out of the water) and are familiar with their needs

Additional links

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

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Last updated 24 September 2025