Congratulations to Chris Blake on winning the 2025 Diversity and Inclusion KWATYE Award for strengthening culturally informed water management across Far North Queensland.
Chris Blake, Team Leader of the Safe and Healthy Drinking Water Program at Tropical Public Health Services, has been awarded the 2025 Diversity & Inclusion KWATYE Award for his outstanding leadership in supporting cultural inclusion, capability building and community wellbeing across Far North Queensland. Presented in partnership with TRILITY and WIOA, the award recognises individuals who advance diversity, connection and belonging within the communities they serve.
In a gesture reflecting his deep commitment to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Chris donated his prize to the Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council water operations team. The gift acknowledges the long‑standing dedication of the Hope Vale operators and will help enhance the workspace where they carry out their essential work to keep the community’s drinking water safe.
Chris leads the Safe and Healthy Drinking Water Program, a nationally recognised model for culturally informed engagement and workforce development in Indigenous councils. He has been instrumental in improving drinking water safety through strong partnerships with local governments, operational staff and government agencies, ensuring communities have the skills, support and systems needed to manage water quality effectively.
His leadership has helped bring forward infrastructure concerns, drive improvements in training and operations, and strengthen local capability. The program’s success is now being considered for wider adoption across Queensland and other states.
Strengthening Safe Drinking Water in Far North Queensland Indigenous Communities
Under Chris’s leadership, the Safe and Healthy Drinking Water Program delivers certified training to build the confidence and technical capability of Indigenous water operators. Developed in partnership with Queensland Health and local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils, the program blends industry standards with culturally appropriate learning, including hands‑on training on Country, storytelling, case studies and visual learning tools.
The first cohort of operators completing the Certificate III in Water Industry Operations in 2025 is already seeing improved skills, stronger public health outcomes and greater operator empowerment. This approach is helping to strengthen local water management, enhance regulatory compliance and support long‑term progress toward Closing the Gap.
Chris’s dedication, both on the ground and behind the scenes, continues to shape safer, sustainable water services and stronger community–regulator relationships across Far North Queensland.