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eFlash #509

eFlash #509

eFlash #509
Date: 27-Oct-2021

In this edition: Farewell Carlie| New Exemplar Global Training Provider for Auditors| NPR Indicator Review – Update| Cyber Security Funding Opportunity – Water Sector| qCRAC-SWEAP Contaminants Source Control Workshop – Recording Now Available| Webinar – Unitywater's Automated Metering Journey

1. Farewell Carlie

Our Skills Manager, Carlie Sargent is leaving us in a few weeks to take up an opportunity with the Australian Water Association. Carlie joined us a few years ago, having previously worked for our parent body, IPWEAQ.

She has done an exceptional job of managing a diverse range of projects in her role, and been a passionate advocate for skilling needs in our industry, both in raising our profile relative to other industries in Queensland, and in championing Queensland’s needs in a national context.

We will be aiming to recruit in the new year, in the short term please direct skills partnership queries to Dave (dcameron@qldwater.com.au).

We are devastated to be losing you Carlie, but congratulations on the new gig which we’re sure you’ll relish.

2. New Exemplar Global Training Provider for Auditors

Exemplar Global has recently appointed Risk Edge Pty Ltd as its new provider delivering the Framework for Management of Recycled Water and Drinking Water courses necessary to become a DWQMP auditor. Thanks to Raquel Esteban from DRDMW for providing the advice.

For those interested the process is:

  • Complete a ISO 19011:2018 auditor or lead auditor course and complete the Framework for Management of Recycled Water and or Drinking Water course through Risk Edge Pty Ltd
  • Register your details via the below link: https://exemplarlink.org/
  • Submit your application and pay the below fees for Auditor grade:
    • Application fee - $187.00
    • Work Style Assessment - $86.90
    • Certification Fee - $387.09
  • Submit your auditor training certificate
  • Complete the work style assessment

Once the above has been completed your application will then be approved.

3. NPR Indicator Review - Update

A ‘Proposed Indicator Suite Discussion Paper’ has been the finalised by the NPR Indicator review team. The paper contains the full suite of proposed NPR indicators. It sets out the indicators in terms of what is to be kept, retired, or adapted, and presents the new indicators that are being proposed in response to identified gaps.

The discussion paper will be circulated to registered users, and published on the HARC website (https://www.npr.harc.com.au/draft-npr-indicators/) on 29 October.

There will be an industry briefing, online at 1.30 pm (AEDT) 3 November 2021. Invitations to be circulated via the registered users list and website noticeboard. The briefing aims to trigger the consideration of the indicators by industry and other stakeholders, with comments open until 30 November 2021.

The draft indicator set will then be reviewed in the context of these comments, and the final suite and handbook will be published for one last round of public comment, which will be open until the end-January 2022, with the final handbook being scheduled for publication, by the end of February 2022.

4. Cyber Security Funding Opportunity – Water Sector

The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources is accepting applications for the second round of the Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund.

An information session is being held on Tuesday 9 November 8am - 9am (AWST)via Webex (approx. 45min presentation with Q&A)

A total of $60 million is available to support innovative projects to increase the quantity, quality and diversify the cyber security workforce. Successful applicants will receive grants from $250,000 to $3 million. The Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund forms part of the Cyber Security National Workforce Growth Program, a key component of Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy 2020. The government committed an additional $43.8 million to the program in the 2021–22 Budget. The government’s investment in the cyber security workforce will boost cyber defences and protect Australia’s growing digital economy.

The fund’s main objective is to increase the quality and quantity of cyber security professionals in Australia. For Round 2, we are particularly interested in projects that will boost the participation of:

  • women
  • Indigenous Australians
  • people based in regional and remote areas
  • people with neurodiverse backgrounds.

Target Audience: This information session provides an overview of Round 2 of the Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund and a detailed walk-through of the grant opportunity guidelines including the eligibility requirements and assessment criteria.

For more information click here.

RSVP/Registration for the information session: Please register here

5. qCRAC-SWEAP Contaminants Source Control Workshop – Recording Now Available

The qCRAC-SWEAP Contaminants Source Control Workshop was held on 21 October, with nearly 100 participants from across Australia and New Zealand.

The presentations covered topics from the PFAS NEMP 3.0 to trade waste, and included some robust discussions on approaches to emerging contaminants in our industry. A video of the presentations and discussion is available for viewing at

https://qldwater.com.au/source-control-workshop-2021.

The workshop was summarised by our facilitator Dr Rob Fearon into the following, which fits into the portfolio approach to emerging contaminants SAFETI framework:

Source Control

  • Can’t be banned but lifecycle cost needs to be ‘baked in’ (block chain approach?)
  • Residential vs Trade - variable but needs to be incorporated into risk assessments and responses including regulation
  • Update and use ‘old powers’

Assessment

  • Methodologies and tools are continuously growing but so is the number and diversity of contaminants of (emerging) concern
  • We are unlikely to be able to keep pace (particularly given substitution)

Fate & Risk

  • Not well understood, desire for better links between guidelines and health and environmental targets
  • How relevant are these questions given pressure for no additional chemicals?

Education & Comms

  • DAWE is looking at education but there is no focus on labelling at present
  • Who is the polluter and how do they pay for ‘forever chemicals’?

Treatment

Influence

  • ?? Can we work together more as a sector ??

6. Webinar – Unitywater's Automated Metering Journey

Steve McDonald was unfortunately ill and unable to present at the qldwater automated metering workshop on 7 September. Steve has kindly agreed to provide a special online presentation, providing an update on Unitywater’s automated metering program on Tuesday 2 November at 10:30 am. 

Register Here for the webinar.

Recordings of the other presentations from the day are now available at https://qldwater.com.au/automated-metering-workshop-2021.

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