PASS Award

The 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.

About this award

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.

Process

The PASS application Template can be downloaded from the WIOA website or can be obtained from the WIOA office. Applicants complete the Template and return it to the WIOA office either electronically or by mail after obtaining management permission to submit the PASS application. All PASS applications received in the 12 month period ending 1 March annually, will be judged by an independent judging panel as nominated by WIOA.

By submitting an application, PASS authors automatically grant WIOA permission to publish the application in the ‘Operator’ newsletter or another WIOA publication.

Evaluation

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

Reward

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 $2000. 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.

The winner will be responsible for obtaining the permission of their employer to attend the tour, will need to secure appropriate time off work, and will need a passport.