On a day-to-day basis, it is the water treatment operator who carries the responsibility for ensuring that raw water is treated to the required standard, that incidents that may compromise quality are detected and addressed, and that identified risks are adequately managed. The actions taken, or not taken, by a water treatment operator can have a direct impact on the health and well being of the communities for which they undertake water treatment services.

By becoming a Certified Operator your commitment to excellence by participating in a process to assess and update your knowledge will be demonstrated.  You can be confident that you are performing your job in accordance with best practice and this can bring advancement and recognition.

How do l become certified?

Your application cannot be processed unless all of the relevant information and supporting documentation is provided.

1 Apply

Complete the Application Form which includes personal information and Drinking Water Supplier (employer) information.

Payment of the Application Fee ($110 inc GST)*.

2 Training

Provide evidence of the satisfactory completion of accredited training under the nationally recognised Water Training Package (NWP).  Training completed must cover the fit for purpose units of competencies as identified in the System Complexity Rating completed by the Drinking Water Supplier.  Registered Training Organisations (RTO) are the only training providers that can supply the necessary documentation (called Statements of Attainment) that verify an applicant has met the training requirement to all certification.

The system complexity rating outlines the training requirements and Statement of Attainment would be required covering:

• NWP units matching ALL plant processes operated
• Mandatory NWP units as specified at the system complexity rating level

Each individual application must be supported by evidence of completion of accredited training such as Certificates, Statements of Attainment or official student records from an RTO.  All documentation supplied will be verified as an accurate copy by the Drinking Water Supplier and WIOA will undertake random audits of documentation supplied.

In accordance with the Framework, WIOA will only recognise accredited training completed in accordance with the National Water Training Package (NWP07) or any subsequent version of the Training Package. Applicants with qualifications obtained from studies associated with training packages prior to NWP07 will be required to upgrade their qualification to meet the requirements of the current Water Training Package.

3 Workplace Evidence Report

Complete the Workplace Evidence Report that documents the applicants competence and experience (capability). The Workplace Evidence Report is signed off by the Drinking Water Supplier and must meet the requirements of the system as identified in the System Complexity Rating

4 WIOA Code of Conduct

Complete the WIOA code of conduct.

5 Application Processed

WIOA will process the application and may if necessary request more information or clarification. Once your application has been initially evaluated, you will be notified of the decision in writing within 21 days.

6 Certification Fee

When all the requirements of the WIOA Australian Water Industry Operator Certification Scheme are met, WIOA will notify both the applicant and the Drinking Water Supplier.

Payment of certification fee ($440 inc GST)*

7 Certification Awarded

Certification is valid for 5 years from the date of approval.

* Fees are non-refundable.
* Fees current at January 2016

Applications can be lodged by Email : info@wioa.org.au
WIOA Certification Team
P.O. Box 6012
Shepparton, Victoria 3630

Certified Operator

A Certified Operator has operational responsibility for water treatment processes or facilities. Duties performed will range from basic monitoring, sampling, testing and reporting, through to chemical dosing, control and optimisation of Treatment Processes.

The Certified Operator may have responsibility for more than one Drinking Water Treatment System at any one time, so long as it is reasonable to expect that drinking water quality and safety will be assured across all systems and the Certified Operator’s current competencies cover all treatment processes for which they are responsible.

Operator in Training

An Operator who is gaining experience under the guidance of a Certified Operator performing routine tasks and undertaking relevant competency development which culminates in attainment of relevant competencies (from NWP07), as required by the Certification Framework.

The Operator in Training is not certified under the Framework, but the Drinking Water Supplier is to ensure that opportunities are afforded to the person to develop all necessary competencies to achieve certified status.

Independent Contractors 

For the purposes of the Framework, an independent contractor may provide expertise and services to other Drinking Water Suppliers.

Independent Contractors are not considered to be Drinking Water Suppliers.  They are individuals (Certified Operators) who work within a Drinking Water System and must meet the minimum conditions stated in the Certification Framework

Certified operators must attain and maintain competencies to ensure their skills remain relevant and keep pace with changes to treatment processes, technology and consumer / regulatory expectations.  The Framework has identified two potential pathways to allow certified operators to ensure their competencies and capabilities identified during initial certification remain current.

Recertification pathways include:

Professional Development

Certified Operators choose to recertify by participation in professional development activities.  Professional development does not just include training programs or conferences. Refer to Appendix A in the Framework for the list of approved professional development activities.

 WIOA CPD Activities for Re-Certification (PDF)

Professional Development Categories for Maintaining Certification

• Accredited Training
• Non-Accredited Training
• Other Activities
• Significant Workplace Project
• Exceptional Activities

Audit / Demonstration of Current Competence

The Drinking Water Supplier or the Certified Operator may elect to undertake a certification audit which shall be performed by an operationally competent person, who is independent and approved or nominated by the certifying body using an appropriate audit methodology/tool.  The certification audit will provide evidence that the competence of the Certified Operator is current and relevant to the tasks performed at a particular treatment facility.

Certification is valid for 5 years from the date of approval.

The Certification Framework for Operators within Drinking Water Treatment Systems 2017, (the Framework) is underpinned by the need to ensure consumers are provided with safe drinking water on a continual basis.

It provides an assurance to regulators, communities and consumers that operators are competent to manage drinking water quality, as well as being capable of identifying and responding to water quality risks and incidents.

The implementation of the Framework nationally will introduce a minimum level of competency for Certified Operators across all states and territories by aligning skills, knowledge and competency requirements to national Vocational Education and Training (VET) standards.  Further, the Certification Framework ensures there is a requirement for ongoing maintenance and development of skills and knowledge.

The WIOA Water Industry Operator Certification Scheme is an independent confirmation of the training, skills and competence of water treatment operators employed by Drinking Water Suppliers.

Drinking Water Suppliers can be satisfied that their certified staff members have the skills and qualifications required for the job and are committed to excellence in their role.

Drinking Water Suppliers – Workplace Evidence Report

In accordance with the Framework, the WIOA Australian Water Industry Operator Certification Scheme requires the Competence and Experience (Capability) of an applicant to be signed off by the Drinking Water Supplier.

It is recommended that the Workplace Evidence Report be completed by the most senior technical person responsible for water.

The Workplace Evidence Report documents:

• Verification of Operator Experience with current employer
• Name of System(s) to be certified for
• Operator Experience and Competence Declaration that includes experience and competence, appropriate to the System Complexity Rating

 Workplace Evidence Report (Word – A03)

 Workplace Evidence Report (PDF – A03)

Drinking Water Treatment Systems – Suitably Qualified Persons

Water businesses are required to nominate one or more individuals to undertake the role of a “suitably qualified person”, this must be completed prior to any individual applications being submitted.

It is for the Drinking Water Supplier’s Chief Executive to determine an appropriate delegate, however as a guide it should be the most senior technical officer within the organisation with responsibility for drinking water treatment.

A suitably qualified person is someone who has sufficient relevant theoretical experience and/or at least three years operational experience in the unit process such that they are able to assess the competency of others, and is required to:

• Provide information on the Drinking Water Supplier’s processes
• Act as the contact person for WIOA on Certification
• Verify the applicants operating experience within their water business, including dates of employment
• Endorse that the operator seeking certification is suitably competent for certification

All individuals must be signed off as being competent by a suitably qualified person and WIOA will maintain a register of all suitably qualified persons, that will be updated on an annual basis.

Application Form to be a Suitably Qualified Person to be completed by the Water Businesses Operations Manager or equivalent.

 Application Form to be a Suitably Qualified Person (Word – A06)

 Application Form to be a Suitably Qualified Person (PDF – A06)