Operator Programs

This page is for water, wastewater, and network operators, maintenance technicians, and operations personnel. It’s your gateway to professional development and networking in the water industry. We offer various programs designed to enhance your skills and career growth. 

Operator Placement Program

The Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) in partnership with the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), are collaborating with a new initiative being the first Australian Water Industry Operator Placement Program.

The aim of the Operator Placement Program is to provide selected operators with an opportunity for development outside of their direct employment.  This is to be achieved by spending time at another organisation’s water treatment plant, or wastewater treatment plant, or field services depot.

The participating operator can share experiences with processes, monitoring, technologies, equipment used and then take those learnings back to their organization for consideration and discussion.

The placement does not have to be reciprocal and can be an operator from one organisation visiting another organisation’s facility for an agreed period of time, eg. one week.  Participating organisations will need to support the program and their employee’s expenses i.e. accommodation, travel and any out of pocket expenses.

WIOA will provide a coordination role, and the opportunity to share employee learnings and development with the broader water industry and other participating organisations.  WIOA will arrange an introduction between the participant and the participating organisation prior to the placement taking place.

WSAA will promote the program and assist with facilitating collaboration and identification of leading practice.

The first step in the process is for your organisation to complete an Expression of Interest of your intent to participate in the Program.

Please complete the web form below to nominate your organisation and/or an individual, and to provide the details (name, title, phone, and email address) of a high-level contact for further development of the Program and communication with your organisation.

Once we have received your Expressions of Interest, we will enter your details into a database of organisations and individuals who are willing to participate in the Program.

When we have found a match for your organisation or individual, we will contact you to arrange an introduction to the other party and to initiate the placement.

The benefits that we have seen from one person attending this program has been far greater than we expected so imagine after 10 years of other operators attending this same program, the amount of knowledge and drive that we would be brought into our organisation would be phenomenal.
Brenten Hogan,
GWMWater

Network Operator Development Program

(Victoria Only)

The Network Operator Development Program, established in 2017, aims to identify, mentor, and develop future leaders in Victorian water network operations. It enhances operators’ knowledge, skills, and networks by exposing them to strategic thinking and best practices in technology, business management, and leadership. Graduates gain tools to implement best practices, increase productivity, and foster a professional culture, ultimately improving customer focus in their network activities. The program runs annually.  

Graduates will be provided tools enabling them to learn how to identify and implement best practice approaches, increase productivity and enhance a professional culture within their respective organisations, to deliver an improved customer focus in their network related activities.

Applicants for this program must primarily work within the potable water reticulation network and/or wastewater collection systems.

Network reticulation is defined as the pipelines and associated infrastructure from the Water Corporation’s water treatment plant to the point where the customer’s responsibilities begin. Works normally undertaken can include isolation, repairs, maintenance and cleaning of potable water systems.

Wastewater collection is defined as the pipelines and associated infrastructure from the point where customer’s responsibilities cease to the point where the wastewater treatment plant responsibilities begin.  Works normally undertaken can include sewer system repairs, clearing blockages, CCTV review of assets and odour control.

Network and wastewater infrastructure can include pipelines of varying size, pump stations, access pits, valves etc.

Water Corporations will use their own internal process to determine who and how many individuals should apply.

The Network Operator Development Program has been established to identify, mentor and develop future leaders in the Network Operations field across the Victorian Water Industry.

The Program Advisory Committee will select one participant each year to be awarded the WIOA Network Operator of the Year. The winner will be announced at the WIOA Conference Awards Dinner.

The winner will receive sponsorship to the value of $3,000 provided by Water Training Australia, which must be used on an appropriate development opportunity for the winner. Participants will be encouraged to, and given the opportunity to, attend the annual WIOA conference and be involved in a technical paper or poster presentation at that conference.

It is expected that Water Corporations will take a proactive role in supporting the participation of their nominated and selected employees in the Program.

Corporations will provide reasonable time for participants to attend the monthly Workshop sessions as well as time to undertake any assessment or presentation activities in the period between the Workshop days.

Employing Corporations will meet any travel, accommodation, session fees and reasonable out of pocket expenses that participants may incur through their involvement in the program. It is expected that the employing Corporations will also proactively support their nominated program participants in attending the annual WIOA Victorian conference.

  • 2023 – To be announced Thursday 29 February 2024
  • 2022 – Gavin Overy – East Gippsland Water
  • 2021 – Not Held
  • 2020 – Matthew Boyle – Wannon Water
  • 2019 – Benjamin Paul – North East Water
  • 2018 – Tim Kiddle – Barwon Water
  • 2017 – Russell Sunderland – Goulburn Valley Water

Water Industry Operator Registration (ACUARIO)

Registration provides an assurance to regulators, communities and the users of drinking water and recycled water that Operators are competent to manage drinking water, wastewater and/or recycled water quality, as well as being capable of identifying and responding to drinking water, wastewater and/or recycled water quality risks and incidents.

Registration indicates that an individual operator has a specific set of knowledge, skills, competence and experience which is recognised by the employer and the registration body.

Stay up to date with our latest events, programs, news and industry insights.