The East Australian Current (EAC); an ocean warming hotspot, flows along SE Australia, where 80% of the Australian population lives, impacting the weather, climate and ocean productivity. This project combines cutting edge ocean sensing and advanced numerical modelling to provide an open access high resolution ocean forecast system for SE Australian coastal waters and the EAC. These services are essential for enhancing operational efficiencies, sustainable growth, and risk mitigation in coastal industries, including commercial shipping and fishing, supporting coastal community prosperity and protecting environmental health and biosecurity. We will integrate high resolution operational ocean observing and modelling programmes with forecasting capabilities to make meaningful predictions about the state of our coastal oceans. This programme will create a new, dynamic and more integrated knowledge base – reducing uncertainty, maximising opportunity, and preparing for future ocean changes.