The large-scale role of ocean currents in balancing global sea level, heat and carbon distribution is relatively well understood, but the variability and change of the dynamics of the ocean boundary currents and their influence on regional shelf-coastal processes and feedbacks to extreme weather and seasonal climate are not. Lack of understanding is due to the paucity of long time-series observations and systemic biases in coupled and climate models. This is particularly true for the East Australian Current (EAC). The East Australian Current has been haphazardly observed over the modern observational period, resulting in it being one of the more poorly observed western boundary currents in the global ocean.

 The Australian shelf and boundary current circulation impacts a diverse range of human activities including maritime industry, recreation,  and it plays a vital role in climate, environmental health and productivity that deliver important ecosystem services. The EAC is a critical controller of this environment. The need for the continuous observation of the EAC, to build the required long time-series, is readily apparent. The eastern Australian coastal regions are warming, experiencing rising sea levels, and becoming more acidic, and experiencing changes in cross-shelf exchanges and coastal upwelling. 

 If we are to understand, better predict, mitigate, and successfully adapt we absolutely must understand changes in EAC systems and its broader impacts on the physical, chemical, and biological environments and infrastructure along the Australian eastern seaboard. Maintaining observing infrastructure, advancing cutting-edge technologies, and finding new opportunities to collect data on the ocean will be critical to our ability to proactively make the right decisions.