Protecting Ageing Assets Starts With Protecting Workforce Capability New
Date: 17-Feb-2026
This morning Water Skills Partnership Manager Sarah Henry participated in a thought-provoking panel discussion at the Australian Water Association QLD Industry Breakfast, delving into the topic “Fix the Mix: People, Pipes and Possibilities”.
Sarah was joined by Deputy-Director-General Water Resource Management, Jarrod Cowley-Grimmond, and Major Contractors Association CEO Andrew Chapman. A big shout out to Janice A. Wilson who did a great job facilitating a spicy panel!
Sarah's message was clear: protecting ageing assets starts with protecting workforce capability.
We speak often about ageing infrastructure in the water sector.
Ageing pipes.
Ageing treatment plants.
Ageing networks.
But there is another critical asset ageing at the same time — our workforce.
Across Queensland and beyond, operators in regional and remote communities don’t perform a single narrow task. They manage drinking water treatment, wastewater compliance, network operations and emergency response — often within the same role.
Queensland’s urban water sector continues to advocate for a structured apprenticeship pathway that recognises the technical skill and accountability required of modern water operators and the risks that they face.
But an apprenticeship alone is not enough.
Our training package contains over 150 units of competency that reflect the breadth and complexity of the work.
Yet under current funded packaging rules, only 11 units are supported within the funded qualification pathway.
In practice, this means councils are often required to self-fund essential workforce skilling beyond the funded scope — even when those skills are critical to public health, environmental protection and infrastructure resilience.
If a competency is essential to safely operate drinking water and wastewater systems, it should not be treated as discretionary training spend.
Training investment must be seen for what it truly is: infrastructure protection.
- Capability extends asset life.
- Good decisions prevent failures.
- Experience reduces unnecessary capital expenditure.
- Workforce resilience is as important as asset condition.
If we are serious about renewing ageing infrastructure, we must ensure the system that develops our workforce is funded to match the responsibility it carries.
We thank the AWA for the opportunity to speak at the event.
Back to list