Maintaining Registration
Registered 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.

Maintaining Registration
To maintain registered status:
- Operators must remain active in the industry in the field related to their current registration.
- WIOA will require documentary evidence of the accumulation of 5 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for low complexity systems, or 15 CPD points for high complexity systems within the preceding five-year period.
- Pay the nominated renewal fee for the next five years.
Two potential pathways allow registered operators to ensure their competencies and capabilities identified during initial certification remain current. Re-registration pathways include:
1 Professional Development
Certified Operators choose to re-certify by participation in professional development activities. Professional development does not just include training programs or conferences.
2 Audit / Demonstration of Current Competence
The Drinking Water Supplier, or Wastewater Authority or Recycled Water Supplier, or the Registered Operator may elect to undertake a Registration audit within three (3) months of the expiry of their registration.
The Registration audit shall be performed by an operationally competent person, who is independent of the Drinking Water Supplier, Wastewater Authority or Recycled Water Supplier, and who is approved or nominated by the Registration Body. The Registration audit will be undertaken using an appropriate audit methodology/tool.

1 Application
Applicants for Re-Registration must complete the Application Form which includes personal information, water business information, the plants to be re-registered for, and any treatment processes added since the previous Registration/Re-Registration application.
To assist individuals to maintain their Registered status and to provide the greatest level of flexibility to employers, WIOA recognises a range of CPD opportunities allowing Registered operators and employers to choose those options that best suit their needs.
Continuing Professional Development opportunities are classified into the following categories:
- Accredited Training – formal Units of Competency from the National Water Training Package delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and where a formal Statement of Attainment is issued.
- Non-Accredited Training – completion of training courses, seminars, or workshops designed to directly update or refresh the technical skills of Registered operators.
- Other Activities – attendance or participation in conferences or industry events, along with activities designed to challenge technical competence and in doing so, keep the skills of Registered operators current.
- Significant Workplace Project – by definition, undertaking a significant workplace project where Registered operators are able to perform an in-depth investigation into a facet of their Registered field. This is an ideal opportunity to challenge the technical competence and thought processes and in doing so, keep the skills of Registered operators current.
- Exceptional Activities – activities that do not easily fall into any of the previous categories but which when completed, also challenge the technical competence and thought processes and in doing so keep the skills of Registered operators current.
Details of all the CPD activities undertaken by the individual in the previous period should be provided with the application
Applications should be accompanied by the payment of the Re-Registration application fee ($110 inc GST).
On completion of the Re-Registration process, an additional fee of $440 (inc GST) for the following 5 year Re-Registration period.
2 Accredited Training
Accredited Training
Australia’s Vocational Education Training (VET) system comprises nationally recognised training packages developed with comprehensive input from industry to ensure that training is relevant to the workplace. For our industry, the National Water Training Package (NWP) has been developed and contains common standards and assessment guidelines for a range of Units of Competency, covering a variety of water industry functions.
Undertaking training in accordance with the Water Training Package is referred to as Accredited training. Accredited training must be delivered by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) who issue Statements of Attainment for individual training units completed. These can eventually lead to the awarding of a formal qualification such as a Certificate, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma.
Re-Registration points can only be awarded for Accredited training if Statements of Attainment are provided, and on the condition that none of the Units of Competence claimed were required as part of the initial registration process.
Each individual application must be supported by evidence of completion of accredited training such as Certificates, Statements of Attainment or official student records (Academic Transcripts) from an approved RTO. All documentation supplied must be verified as an accurate copy by the water business and WIOA will undertake random audits of documentation supplied.
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
2.01 | Completion of additional approved units of competence at Certificate II level |
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3 points per unit completed |
2.02 | Completion of additional approved units of competence at Certificate III level | 4 points per unit completed | |
2.03 | Completion of additional approved units of competence at Certificate IV level | 5 points per unit completed |
3 Non-Accredited Training
Non Accredited Compulsory Training
There may be a requirement by a regulator for Registered operators to undertake either refresher training or a skills update/refresher course as part of the Re-Registration process. This training may be Accredited (delivered and assessed by an RTO) or non-accredited (delivered by a person or organisation approved by the individual regulator).
Re-Registration points can only be awarded if evidence of attendance and completion of the appropriate course is provided. WIOA will undertake random audits of documentation supplied.
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
3.01 | Attend a training session approved or conducted by a state/territory regulator or mandated as refresher training
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Such as:
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3 points |
Completion of one of these activities will credit 3 points towards maintaining Registered operator status.
Non-Accredited Training
There is a range of non-accredited training and CPD opportunities available to Registered operators. Completion of non-accredited training courses or seminars is designed to directly update or refresh the technical skills of Registered operators.
Re-Registration points can only be awarded if evidence of attendance and completion of the appropriate course or refresher is provided. Seminars or workshops provided directly by WIOA would not require formal documentation as WIOA retains a list of attendees. For all other courses, seminars or workshops, WIOA would require documentation outlining:
- The date, time, and duration of the course
- The provider/specific trainer that delivered the course
- The content/topics and description of the items covered
- Any assessment undertaken and the result of the assessment.
Provided it covers the above information, evidence of attendance from the training provider would be considered appropriate.
WIOA will undertake random audits of documentation supplied.
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
3.02 | Completion of additional vocationally relevant, process based, refresher training (generally conducted by an RTO) |
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4 points |
3.03 | Participation in WIOA specialist workshops/seminars |
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3 points |
3.04 | Participation in relevant water industry courses, seminars or workshops |
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Up to 2 points per day |
3.05 | Attend a treatment focused in-house training course | In-house training courses must be accompanied by details of duration, topics covered and assessment undertaken (if any). | 1 point per day, max 4 points for this category |
Other Activities
Conferences and Events
Points are awarded for attendance at a range of events on the understanding that the Registered operator will have the opportunity to be exposed to the latest in the information presented during the technical component of the event or through exposure to equipment, products and new technology as part of an industry exhibition. To encourage a broad range of development, a number of categories at this level have their points capped for each Re-Registration period.
Conferences or events provided directly by WIOA would not require formal documentation as WIOA retains a list of delegates and attendees. For all other events, WIOA would require detailed documentation outlining:
- The date, time, and duration of the event
- The provider of the event
- The nature of the event and the program.
- Some form of evidence that the Registered operator actually attended.
WIOA will undertake random audits of documentation supplied.
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
4.01 | Attendance at a WIOA operator’s conference | Where relevant technical or operations focussed papers are being presented. | 1 point per day attended |
4.02 | Attendance at an AWA annual conference | Where relevant technical or operations focussed papers are being presented. | 1 point per day attended |
4.03 | Attendance at a water industry conference, trade show, field day or meeting with published agenda | Professional associations or societies, universities, colleges or technical institutes, manufacturers or distributors or part of an in-house training program, may sponsor these events. | 1 point per day, max 4 points for this category |
4.04 | Attendance at a relevant WIOA specialty event |
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1 point per day attended, max 4 points for this category |
4.05 | Attendance at a relevant water industry specialty event |
Participate in a technical webinar, webcast, podcast, with a published agenda. For example:
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1 point per day attended, max 4 points for this category
For online events (e.g. webinars) 1 point for every 2 hours of webinar content, to a maximum of 4 points. |
4.06 | Undertake or attend a fact-finding tour or information exchange event focusing on water treatment |
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1 point per day attended, max 3 points for this category |
Technical Presentations
Points are awarded for formal participation and undertaking technical presentations at industry events. In recognition of the time, effort and technical understanding that must be developed and demonstrated, there are more points offered in these categories than for the previous category of purely “attending” and event.
Conferences or events provided directly by WIOA would not require formal documentation as WIOA retains a list of attendees. For all other events, WIOA would require detailed documentation outlining:
- The date, time, and duration of the event
- The provider of the event
- The nature of the event and the program.
- Some form of evidence that the Registered operator actually presented.
WIOA will undertake random audits of documentation supplied.
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
4.07 | Present a technical paper at a water industry conference, seminar or webinar | Presentation must be minimum 20 minutes. | 5 points |
4.08 | Write, submit and present a poster presentation at a WIOA or other conference | Poster presentation must contain a verbal presentation of minimum 5 minutes. | 3 points |
4.09 | Write and submit a poster paper at an event other than WIOA | Presentation | 2 points |
4.10 | Host, present, or undertake a practical demonstration at a relevant WIOA endorsed event |
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Up to 2 points per occasion, max 4 points for this category |
4.11 | Provide a public presentation in relation to the relevant area Registered |
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Up to 2 points per occasion, max 4 points for this category |
4.12 | Provision of technical information during a formal water treatment plant audit |
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Up to 2 points per occasion, max 4 points for this category |
Awards & Recognition
There is a range of awards available to Registered operators all with differing technical, participation and reporting requirements. WIOA will review any applications in this category on a case-by-case basis and award up to a maximum of 10 points.
For all awards, WIOA would require detailed documentation outlining:
- The details of the award
- The provider of the award
- The nature of the award and the outputs required
- Some form of evidence that the Registered operator satisfactorily met and delivered on all the award requirements.
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
4.13 | Industry development awards and prizes |
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Up to 10 points |
Publishing
There is a range of publications available to Registered operators all with differing technical, content and author requirements. WIOA will review any applications in this category on a case-by-case basis and award up to a maximum of 5 points.
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
4.14 | Submission of an article that is published in a water industry or relevant Technical journal |
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Up to 5 points |
4.15 | Submission of an article that is published in a WIOA publication (Operator newsletter, PASS) | To attain maximum points, article must be technical in nature | Up to 2 points |
Rotations, Exchanges or Secondments
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
4.16.1 | Participate in a rotation, exchange or secondment program at a water treatment plant | To be eligible, the activity must be:
An activity where the operator works as part of a team but under direct supervision or with similar treatment processes to where they normally work. |
1 point per week at the other plant, to a maximum of 3 points per Re-Registration period |
4.16.2 | Participate in a rotation, exchange or secondment program at a water treatment plant | 2 points per week at the other plant, to a maximum of 6 points from this category per Re-Registration period | |
4.16.3 | Participate in a rotation, exchange or secondment program at a water treatment plant | 3 points per week at the other plant, to a maximum of 9 points |
5 Significant Workplace Project
Significant Workplace Project
WIOA recognises that once an operator has been employed in the water industry for a significant period of time (minimum of 10 years), the scope to undertake additional relevant training courses and/or other relevant professional development opportunities in order to maintain Registered status reduces.
WIOA also recognises that the technical skills of many experienced operators are often utilised to undertake projects designed to deliver operational improvements or process optimisation outcomes.
In recognition of this important technical work, WIOA is prepared to consider and recognise a significant workplace project, provided adequate documentation supporting the extent of the project undertaken is supplied and that the scope of the project undertaken would be considered to be outside the scope of normal duties of the Registered operator.
In order to evaluate the extent of a Significant Workplace Project, and the number of points for which it may be eligible, WIOA would require detailed documentation outlining:
- The details of the project
- The need for the project
- A detailed project methodology outlining the steps taken in undertaking the project
- A project report outlining the outcomes of any investigations or works completed including but not limited to any time, cost savings or Workplace Health and Safety improvements delivered
- Project participants and nature of the contribution of each (time, expertise, skills)
- Endorsement of the project, outcomes and project report as predominantly the work of the Registered operator by the “suitably qualified person”.
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
5.01 | Completion of a significant workplace project |
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Points reviewed and determined on a case by case basis up to a maximum of 10 points for this category. |
5.02 | Participate in a collaborative industry project, committee, or specialist network – relevant to the Registration stream. | Active participation in a technical project team, water industry technical committee or network. Examples include:
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1 point for every 6 months of active participation, to a maximum of 4 points. |
6 Exceptional Activities
Exceptional Activities
WIOA recognises that once an operator has been employed in the water industry for a significant period of time (minimum of 10 years), the scope to undertake additional relevant training courses and/or other relevant Continuous Professional Development opportunities in order to maintain Registered status reduces.
WIOA also recognises that many experienced operators undertake internal training (either formal or informal), mentoring and/or staff development roles for new operators in their work teams. When determining the ongoing Registration status of an operator, WIOA will consider and recognise exceptional activities, provided adequate documentation supporting the extent of the activities undertaken is supplied. Just doing the job well, or without incident is not necessarily an activity that will qualify for exceptional activity points.
In order to evaluate the extent of an Exceptional Activity, and the number of points for which it may be eligible, WIOA would require detailed documentation outlining:
- The details of the activity
- The need for the activity
- A detailed activity methodology outlining the steps taken in undertaking the activity
- A report outlining the outcomes of the activity including but not limited to: any time, cost savings, or Workplace Health and Safety improvements delivered
- Activity participants and the nature of the involvement by the applicant, this should include information on the applicant’s contribution to the project (time, expertise, skills)
- Endorsement of the activity, outcomes, and activity report as predominantly the work of the Registered operator by the “suitably qualified person”.
ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | POINTS & EVIDENCE | |
6.01 | Exceptional activities | Activities that do not fall into any of the previous categories. WIOA will determine how many points will be awarded based on activities undertaken and the details provided in individual submissions. For example;
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Points reviewed and determined on a case by case basis up to a maximum of 10 points for this category. |
CONTACT WIOA
Address:
PO Box 6012, Shepparton Victoria Australia 3632
24 New Dookie Road, Shepparton Victoria Australia 3630
Telephone:
03 5821 6744
Email:
info@wioa.org.au
ABN: 83 123 468 422