On this page
Team of the Year Award
The WIOA Team of the Year award recognises teams of employees working in any part of the water industry that have made an outstanding contribution to their workplace or community.
The award focuses on those who have gone above and beyond their normal roles and recognise their dedication, initiative, talent, enthusiasm and contribution.
Criteria
The award focuses on those who have gone above and beyond their normal roles and recognise their dedication, initiative, talent, enthusiasm and contribution.
Teams may be recognised for a range of activities. Examples may include:
- implementation of new infrastructure and solutions
- maintaining services through difficult times such as weather events, fires, and the pandemic
- providing support to their communities, other employees, other businesses, or the water industry
- development of innovative programs or initiatives
Nomination Criteria
- Contribution/Initiative – The extent to which initiative or work of the team has been able to create a supportive workplace or supported the community they serve.
- Teamwork – The extent to which the team were able to work together to deliver the contribution or initiative.
- Impact – The extent to which the initiative or work of the team has benefited the business, co-workers, or members of the community.
- Innovation – The level of creativity, imagination, and innovation demonstrated by the team.
Prizes
- The WIOA Team of the Year Winner will receive copies of the WIOA Practical Guides for the use of the winning business, to the value of $2,000.
- The Runner up Team of the Year will receive copies of the WIOA Practical Guides for the use of the winning business, to the value of $1,000.
Past Winners
- 2025 – MidCoast Council Water Operations Team
- 2024 – Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
- 2023 – Narromine Shire Council
- 2022 – Rous County Council
- 2021 – Tweed Shire Council
Diversity & Inclusion (KWATYE) Award
In partnership with TRILITY, WIOA invites applications for the Kwatye – Cultural Recognition Award.
The award is open to WIOA individual members, to recognise an initiative involving cultural or diversity and inclusion-based activities within a project and/or community in which they serve.
The winner will have made an outstanding contribution to supporting diversity and fostering inclusion in the workplace or community. The award focuses on those who have gone above and beyond to further inclusion, connection and belonging for co-workers, members of the community and people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups.
Behind ‘Kwatye’
‘Kwatye’ means water to the aboriginal Arrernte people from the Northern Territory. For many people in Australia, water is a resource more precious than gold.
The painting shows a main water hole in the centre which can also represent a community or a country. The lines radiating from the centre represent rivers and creeks. The outer circles represent other water holes where rain water is collected and then travels back along the creeks and rivers to the centre circle, the main place.
‘Kwatye’
The Kwatye (Kwa-jah) story
The wet season time in the central desert brings with it a sign of relief and rebirth for the native animals, flowers and trees. The big waterholes fills up with rain water and releases down to the creeks and rivers. The water travels to provide for all living things upon the land. Plentiful of bush food for the indigenous people of the central region. The rain is also seen as a renewal sight for the desert environment. Kwatye (water) is seen more precious than gold, living in an arid country of Australia. Kwatye (water) means a new beginning, a rebirth for the native animals and desert flora and fauna.
Kwatye pure is Kwatye rich.
Kwatye sweet is Kwatye cycle.
Kwatye knowledge is Kwatye cultured.
Painting by Artist Marie Ellis
Eligibility
- Nominees should be employed in Australia and have initiated and/or implemented a successful cultural, diversity or inclusion-related activity and/or program in association with the community they serve.
- The award is open to individual Members of WIOA.
- Team members must be employed in an operational role in the water industry.
- Applicants must not be employed by a “product supplier” (can be from a company providing operational services to the industry).
- Applicants must have employer support and their endorsement to apply.
Assessment Criteria
Nominations will be assessed on the following criteria:
- About the Program/Initiative -The initiative involving cultural or diversity and inclusion-based activities within a project and/or community in which the applicant serves.
- Diversity and Inclusion goals – The extent to which the program or initiative has been designed to promote and support diversity and inclusion in the workplace or community they serve, such as access, participation and connection for co-workers, members of the community and people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups.
- Impact – The extent to which the program or initiative has benefited co-workers, members of the community and people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups.
- Innovation – The level of creativity, imagination, and innovation demonstrated within the program or initiative.
Conditions
- It is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the appropriate permission is sought in advance of nominating for this award.
- All or parts of the application (excluding the personal profile) may be used by WIOA to publicise the Award.
- If required short-listed Applicants must attend an interview with the judging panel at a mutually agreed time and place.
- The judging panel reserves the right not to award the Award in any given year if, in their opinion, the applications do meet an acceptable standard.
- The decision of the judging panel is final and cannot be contested.
- The Award winner will be required to present one written report and one oral presentation at a WIOA event within the following year.
Prize
Past Winners
- 2025 – Tom Jones & Reggie Gilmartin, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council
- 2024 – Steven Nash & Daniel Reid
- 2023 – Steven Nash & Ricky Bertoli
- 2022 – Nerilee Kerslake
- 2021 – Jason Van Der Heyden
- 2020 – Jessica Wilson, Jordin Payne
- 2019 – Paul Beard
- 2018 – Not Awarded
- 2017 – Max Gray
- 2016 – Rodney Priest
- 2015 – Frank Rinaldo
- 2014 – Michael Fawcett
- 2013 – Michael Clewes
- 2012 – Mark McConnon
- 2011 – Rod Curtis
- 2010 – Russell Evans
- 2009 – Bernd Vetter
- 2008 – Nick Bray, Paulus Des Anges
- 2007 – Graham Thomson
- 2006 – Anthony Evans
- 2005 – Eddie Ostarcevic
National Operator of the Year
The National Operator of the Year recognises an exceptional operator working in Australia’s water industry who demonstrates excellent performance, initiative, and all round attention to detail in day to day operations. It celebrates the frontline professionals who safeguard public health and the environment through outstanding operational decision making across networks and treatment facilities.
Eligibility
Open to all State Winners of the Operator of the Year Award in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, TAS, WA (all states except for NT).
Prize
The winner will receive:
- Professional Development opportunity to the value of $2,000
- Present a paper on their learnings at a WIOA event of their Choice.
Past Winners
New Award in 2026.
Partner with us
We’re offering an exclusive opportunity for sponsors to support our recognition program among operational employees across Australia’s water industry.
Packages start from just $4,400—secure your spot today and showcase your commitment to the industry!
Secure Your SponsorshipMentor of the Year
The National Mentor of the Year Award recognises an exceptional individual in Australia’s water industry who demonstrates outstanding commitment to developing operators, building capability and confidence, and fostering a culture of safety, inclusion, and continuous improvement across networks and treatment operations. It celebrates the people who lift others—sharing knowledge, coaching in the field, and enabling sustainable, high quality service for communities.
Eligibility
- Nominations are invited from Water Authorities, water companies and individuals nationwide for mentors who actively support operators in network systems and/or water, wastewater or recycled water treatment facilities (including industrial plants).
- This is an individual who consistently goes above and beyond behind the scenes to develop and support operational staff in all aspects of their role.
Assessment Criteria
TBC.
Prizes
TBC.
Past Winners
New Award in 2026.
Partner with us
We’re offering an exclusive opportunity for sponsors to support our recognition program among operational employees across Australia’s water industry.
Packages start from just $4,400—secure your spot today and showcase your commitment to the industry!
Secure Your SponsorshipTony Hourigan Leadership Development Award
WIOA is proud to announce a new award in recognition of Tony Hourigan. Tony was a gentleman, a fierce advocate for what WIOA stands for, an honest and considerate person and a mentor to many. His greatest satisfaction was seeing others achieving goals and being recognized. Tony quietly guided, coaxed, and encouraged many to believe in themselves in order to achieve higher goals at work and in life.
Eligibility
The award is open to all WIOA Members and is named after the late Tony Hourigan who discreetly encouraged personal growth and mentored many of us.
Assessment Criteria
TBC.
Prize
The application should include details of how the $4,000 Award would allow you to improve leadership skills and personal development. Items could include (but not limited to) the following:
- Advanced training
- Conference attendance
- Study tour
- Higher tertiary qualifications
- Industry training
- Management and business training
- Other
The award will be administered by WIOA. The successful applicant will be required to present a report to a future WIOA event detailing the development process and outcomes.
All Nominations will be reviewed by WIOA’s Nominations Committee. The award may be presented to a single winner or multiple winners depending on the applications received.
The value of the award shall be split accordingly if multiple winners are announced.
Past Winners
New Award in 2026.
Partner with us
We’re offering an exclusive opportunity for sponsors to support our recognition program among operational employees across Australia’s water industry.
Packages start from just $4,400—secure your spot today and showcase your commitment to the industry!
Secure Your SponsorshipThe Problem Accepted Solution Supplied (PASS) Award
The Problem Accepted Solution Supplied (PASS) award is supported by AquaSafeSkills and provides the opportunity for water industry operational staff to share their in the field innovations and fixes to problems so that others in the water industry can benefit.
Objective
- To create an opportunity that encourages water industry operational staff to share their “in the field innovations” and/or “fixes to problems” so that others in the water industry can benefit.
- To provide an application process that is easy to complete and utilises a standard template. This will give all water industry operational staff the same opportunity for presenting their innovation.
- To provide the opportunity for operational staff to receive recognition for their innovation and efforts.
- To encourage operational staff to become aware of and involved with the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA).
- To allow WIOA to share the good ideas and innovations with other Members through the Operator magazine and/or other publications.
Eligibility
Nominees must be WIOA members.
By submitting an application, PASS authors automatically grant WIOA permission to publish the application in the ‘Operator’ newsletter or another WIOA publication.
Assessment Criteria
PASS applications will be reviewed by an independent judging panel as nominated by WIOA and assessed on a number of criteria, including:
- Commonality of the problem
- Benefit to OH&S, Water Quality, and the Environment
- Financial and sustainability benefits
- Application to other industries
- Uniqueness, adaptability and simplicity
Prize
- The person who submits the PASS application deemed to be the best in that particular year will be announced as the winner of the PASS Award.
- Aqualift the PASS Award sponsor, will provide sponsorship for the winner to join the WIOA team on their annual operational tour of New Zealand including attendance at the Water Industry Operations Group of NZ annual conference. The tour and conference is normally held in early May annually.
- The value of the prize is to a maximum of $3,500. This sum will be paid to WIOA and WIOA will undertake all the necessary travel, accommodation and logistical arrangements on behalf of the PASS winner.
Past Winners
| Year | Award winner | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
2025 | Scott Easton | Water Corporation |
2024 | Wayne Neale | Barwon Water |
2023 | Sean Doyle | Barwon Water |
2022 | Matt Holz | TasWater |
2021 | Craig Woodhouse | TasWater |
2020 | Scott Kitwood | Gippsland Water |
2019 | Toby Spark | Gippsland Water |
2018 | Michael Cartmer, Quinton Caird, Martin Zardins, Stephen Casey & Michael Dixon | Power & Water |
2017 | Marcus Boyd | Toowoomba Regional Council |
2016 | Daren Lord | Scott Kitwood |
2015 | Frank Rinaldo | North East Water |
2014 | Lester Little | TasWater |
IXOM National Best Tasting Tap Water
The IXOM National Best Tasting Tap Water is a fun and exciting way to raise awareness of the quality of Australia’s drinking water and to recognise the efforts of local water service providers in delivering valuable water services to their communities.
Eligibility
Open to all State Winners of the IXOM Best Tasting Tap Water Competition in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, TAS, WA (all states except for NT).
Prize
TBC
Past Winners
- 2025 – NT Power and Water Corporation Katherine WTP
- 2024 – QLD Isaac Regional Council & Fraser Coast Regional Council
- 2023 – TAS TasWater Ferntree WTP
- 2022 – VIC Melbourne Water Creswell WTP
- 2021 – NSW Richmond Valley Council Casino WTP
- 2020 – TAS TasWater TRILITY Rossarden WTP
- 2019 – QLD Mackay Regional Council Marian WTP
- 2018 – VIC Wannon Water Hamilton WTP
- 2017 –
- 2016 – TAS TasWater Barrington WTP
- 2015 – VIC Goulburn Valley Water Marysville WTP
National Main Tapping Competition
The Water Main Tapping Competition originated in the Australian water industry in the late 1980’s. WIOA in conjunction with Reece Civil & Viadux is thrilled to deliver our National Main Tapping Competition at the end of the year.
The intent of this competition is to raise water industry awareness, acknowledge the work of network operators, and the broader water industry operations sector that provides customer service 24hrs/7 days a week.
Eligibility
Winners of state comps invited to compete at the end of the year.
Prize
TBC.
Past Winners
TBC.
