Children and lifejackets

Approved lifejackets

It's strongly recommended that children wear a lifejacket at all times on the water.

Lifejackets must be an approved type that meets Australian standards:

• Level 50S or above on enclosed waters
• Level 100 or above on open waters.

The rules about when children must wear a lifejacket depend on their age.

Children aged under 12 years

Children aged under 12 years must wear a lifejacket:

• on all vessels up to 4.8m long at all times
• in open areas of all vessels up to 8m long when the vessel is underway.

When choosing a lifejacket, make sure it fits well and the child cannot slip out of it. A lifejacket with a crotch strap is recommended.

Some sports and department stores sell 'swim vests' designed for children learning to swim under supervision. These vests are not an approved type of lifejacket as they do not offer the same level of protection.

Inflatable lifejackets are not recommended for children aged under 12 years. If a child is wearing an auto-inflating lifejacket when playing, the lifejacket may inflate if it gets wet. If they're wearing a manual inflating lifejacket, they may forget how to activate it in an emergency.

Infants

Infants must wear an approved lifejacket suitable for their weight. It must fit snugly and securely so the infant cannot slip out of it. The smallest lifejackets meeting the Australian Standard start from 5kg and are available as Level 100 with crotch strap.  

Some babies may be too small to wear a lifejacket. In this case, it is strongly recommended that the parent wears a lifejacket and holds the infant at all times.

Before heading out on the water with infants, especially those weighing less than 5kg, parents should assess the risks including vessel suitability and the weather conditions. If in doubt, don’t go out. 

Children aged 12 years or over

Children aged 12 years or over must follow the same rules for wearing a lifejacket as adults, although it's strongly recommended that they wear one at all times.