# Victoria lifejackets 2028: AS 4758, child fit and re-arm kits

Published by Muchita Shopping · Updated 2026-10-09 · Canonical: https://shopping.muchita.ai/guides/victoria-lifejackets-2028/

From 1 July 2028, Victoria will accept only lifejackets meeting AS 4758. [Safe Transport Victoria’s current guidance](https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/safety-equipment/) and the [2023 Gazette notice](https://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/gazette/Gazettes2023/GG2023S264.pdf) set out the change. Read the standard on your existing jacket first: a serviceable AS 4758 jacket does not need replacing simply because the date arrives.

## In short

- The standard and the buoyancy level answer different questions. The level you need also depends on the vessel, water and activity.
- Children under 12 must wear a lifejacket in open areas of a vessel underway. STV specifies Level 100 for children in enclosed waters, including Port Phillip Bay.
- A child’s weight band is not a fit guarantee. An inflatable’s 33 g cylinder and water-sensing cartridge are different components.

> Muchita Shopping checked the linked sources on 9 October 2026. Product examples explain identity and compatibility; they are not independently tested recommendations or live offers. We receive no affiliate commission.

## What changes on 1 July 2028?

[Gazette S264 of 26 May 2023](https://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/gazette/Gazettes2023/GG2023S264.pdf) preserves specified older standards only until the transition date. [STV’s equipment guidance](https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/safety-equipment/) says AS 4758 is the accepted standard from July 2028. Look for the actual label; colour, age or the word “PFD” cannot identify it.

Keep the distinction between carriage and wearing rules. Select the appropriate level using STV’s requirements for your craft and waters, then confirm fit, condition and service requirements. This page does not calculate every vessel’s legal equipment inventory.

## Check the jacket before buying

[Build my checklist](https://shopping.muchita.ai/guides/victoria-lifejackets-2028/#tool)

This checklist does not certify a jacket, child fit or vessel compliance. Use STV’s craft/water rules and the exact manufacturer’s fit and service instructions.

- **Standard printed on the jacket** AS 4758; AS 1512 / 1499 / 2260; Unreadable or unknown
- **Who will wear it?** Child under 12; Age 12 or above
- **Jacket construction** Inherently buoyant / foam; Inflatable

- **Check condition rather than buying by date** The AS 4758 label meets the standard category STV requires after the transition. Still confirm buoyancy level, fit, condition and servicing. [Read the source](https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/safety-equipment/)
- **Plan replacement before 1 July 2028** STV says only AS 4758 jackets will be accepted from July 2028. Match the replacement level to your craft, waters and wearer; do not buy the same shape without reading its standard. [Read the source](https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/safety-equipment/)
- **Do not infer the standard** Find a readable label or ask the manufacturer to identify the exact jacket. An unknown standard is not an AS 4758 pass. [Read the source](https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/safety-equipment/)
- **Check child fit and wearing rules** For children under 12, STV requires wearing in open areas while the vessel is underway. In enclosed waters STV specifies Level 100. Weigh the child, measure the chest and use the maker’s fitting instructions and crotch strap. [Read the source](https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/safety-equipment/)
- **Keep inflatable parts separate** Identify the jacket, cylinder size and firing head. Burke IB2433 is a 33 g CO2 kit with clips; IB2524 is a water-sensing cartridge for UML Pro-Sensor Elite. Neither code is a universal complete re-arm kit. [Read the source](https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/uml-water-sensing-auto-cartridge-recharge-kit-pro-sensor-elite)
- **Inspect straps and buoyancy material** Check the maker’s instructions for tears, damage, fasteners and fit. A foam jacket has no CO2 re-arm kit to buy. [Read the source](https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/child-front-entry-level-100-pfd)

## Child size: weight and chest together

The [Burke Child Front Entry Level 100 PFD](https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/child-front-entry-level-100-pfd) is an AS 4758.1 foam example with a crotch strap and lifting strap. The maker lists these sizes. They are not universal sizes and we have not independently fitted or tested the jacket.

| Burke size | Weight shown by maker | Maximum chest shown | Before buying |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3XS | 10-15 kg | 55 cm | Use both limits and the fitting instructions. |
| 2XS | 15-25 kg | 60 cm | At 15 kg, ask the maker about the overlapping weight boundary. |
| XS | 25-40 kg | 85 cm | At 25 kg, weight alone does not settle which size fits. |

Measure over the clothes the child will wear. Follow the maker’s fit checks; a jacket should not be selected solely by age or a “toddler” title. Recheck when the child grows. A Level 100 example does not determine suitability for all waters.

## 33 g cylinder is not the firing-head cartridge

| Exact Burke example | What the maker identifies | What it does not establish |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [IB2433](https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/pfd-recharge-kit) | 33 g CO2 cylinder plus three retaining clips | Not proof of the correct water-sensing cartridge for every firing head. |
| [IB2524](https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/uml-water-sensing-auto-cartridge-recharge-kit-pro-sensor-elite) | Replacement water-sensing cartridge for UML Pro-Sensor Elite | Not a cylinder and not universal across UML mechanisms. |
| [Burke Standard Inflatable PFD](https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/burke-standard-inflatable-pfd) | Level 150, AS 4758.1; 33 g cylinder; wearer 40 kg+, chest 70-140 cm | Not proof that your older Burke jacket has the same head, or that it fits a child. |

The part codes were checked against Burke’s product data. Read the actual jacket and firing-head labels before ordering. After inflation or failed service checks, follow the model’s re-arming instructions; an apparently full cylinder is not a substitute for inspection.

## Three checks before a bargain

- **Standard versus level.** AS 4758 is the standard. Level 100 or 150 is the buoyancy category. One does not replace the other.
- **“Adult” versus fit.** Use actual weight and chest limits. The inflatable example above starts at 40 kg; it is not a child recommendation.
- **One kit versus several components.** Ask whether the required cylinder, clips and exact automatic cartridge are included. Do not compare a cartridge-only price with a complete kit.
- **Old stock versus usable life.** Check manufacture and service dates and the maker’s replacement instructions. A new-looking jacket can still require service.
- **Servicing versus legal selection.** Servicing cannot turn a jacket with an older standard into an AS 4758 jacket.

## Take this checklist to the shop

- **Ready to compare the exact jacket?** Use Muchita in desktop Chrome after suitability checks. On your phone, save and share checked offers in the worksheet. [Compare my offers](https://shopping.muchita.ai/tools/price-comparison/#c=AUD|A,,1,pcs,|B,,1,pcs,)

1. **Record the boat and water category.** Use STV’s official equipment guidance to identify the required level and wearing rules.
2. **Read the jacket label.** Record AS standard, level, model and wearer limits. For a child, bring current weight and chest measurements.
3. **Check condition and servicing.** Use the exact manufacturer’s inspection schedule. For inflatables, photograph the firing-head and cylinder labels and identify each replacement component.
4. **Compare the same eligible item.** Match standard, level, size, model, included parts, condition, tax and membership conditions. Rank verified item prices with shipping disclosed separately. An unsuitable size is not a cheaper equivalent.

## Questions and answers

### Must I replace every jacket in 2028?

No. A jacket already meeting AS 4758 still needs the right level, fit, condition and service checks, but the transition date alone does not require a new one.

### Is Level 150 always required?

This guide makes no universal Level 150 claim. Check STV for your vessel, waters and activity.

### Does “under 12” include a 12-year-old?

No. The child rule cited here concerns children younger than 12. Other wearing rules can still apply.

### Which Burke size should I choose at exactly 15 kg?

The maker’s listed bands meet at 15 kg. Use chest measurement and fitting instructions and ask the maker to resolve the boundary; we do not select one automatically.

### Is IB2524 a complete 33 g re-arm kit?

No. Burke identifies it as the UML Pro-Sensor Elite water-sensing cartridge. The 33 g cylinder kit is a different item, IB2433.

### Can I use a similar-looking cartridge?

Do not infer compatibility from appearance. Match the firing-head identification and manufacturer instructions.

## Sources

- Safe Transport Victoria: safety equipment - https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/on-the-water/recreational-boating/safety-equipment/ (AS 4758 transition, child wearing rules and Level 100 in enclosed waters. Checked 2026-10-09.)
- Victoria Gazette S264, 26 May 2023 - https://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/gazette/Gazettes2023/GG2023S264.pdf (Transition notice for the older prescribed lifejacket standards. Checked 2026-10-09.)
- Burke: Child Front Entry Level 100 PFD - https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/child-front-entry-level-100-pfd (Exact standard, size/weight/chest bands and straps. Checked 2026-10-09.)
- Burke: Standard Inflatable PFD - https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/burke-standard-inflatable-pfd (Exact Level 150 example and 33 g / wearer limits. Checked 2026-10-09.)
- Burke: PFD Recharge 33g CO2 kit - https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/pfd-recharge-kit (Product JSON confirms SKU IB2433 and cylinder plus clips. Checked 2026-10-09.)
- Burke: UML Pro-Sensor Elite cartridge - https://www.burkemarine.com.au/products/uml-water-sensing-auto-cartridge-recharge-kit-pro-sensor-elite (Product JSON confirms SKU IB2524 and specific head compatibility. Checked 2026-10-09.)
- Burke: register and maintain a lifejacket - https://www.burkemarine.com.au/pages/register-your-lifejacket (Manufacturer service guidance; not generalised to every brand. Checked 2026-10-09.)

Future announcements, model revisions and seller conditions can change. Follow the linked authority or manufacturer before relying on a date or buying an exact model. No retailer item prices, shipping amounts or stock positions are asserted here.