Skills eFlash #143 New
Date: 30-Mar-2026
In this edition: Water Skills Forum 2026 | Say What You Are Campaign | GU ASBNR Course | OSCA Maintenance and more...
Skills Forum Wrap
Thank you to everyone who joined us at qldwater HQ for a highly engaging and thought provoking forum focused on “Training today. Sustaining tomorrow.” With strong attendance and robust discussion, the day reinforced the importance of collaboration, innovation and courage as we work together to build a skilled and sustainable water workforce for Queensland.
A special thank you to our event sponsors whose support helped make the day such a success:
Coffee Cart Sponsor – Simmonds & Bristow
Thank you for keeping conversations (and energy levels) flowing throughout the day.
Breaks Sponsor – Engenera
We appreciate your support in creating valuable moments for delegates to connect, reflect and share insights.
Speakers Gift Sponsor – TRILITY
Thank you for helping us recognise and thank our speakers for sharing their expertise and experience with the sector.
We are grateful for the ongoing support of our sponsors, speakers and delegates who continue to invest time and effort into strengthening skills capability across Queensland’s urban water industry.
Event photos coming soon — stay tuned!
Say What You Are Campaign
At the Water Skills Forum 2026, we officially launched the “Say What You Are” campaign — a simple idea with a big impact.
The 2026 Census is coming, and how our workforce describes what they do will directly shape how the water sector is represented in national data.
Right now, too many of our people are being counted under broad or unrelated job categories — not because the work isn’t there, but because of how it’s described.
- “Operator” instead of Water Treatment Plant Operator
- “Technician” instead of Water Network Maintenance Technician
- “Plumber” instead of a water utility role
Small wording changes can mean the difference between being counted… or being invisible.
The Say What You Are campaign is about helping our workforce clearly describe:
- the job they do
- the systems they work on
- the services they support
We’ve developed a practical campaign pack to support councils and utilities and were pleased to have Ronan Analytics at the forum to walk through the data challenge and why it matters.
This is about better data, stronger advocacy, and making sure our sector is seen for what it truly is.
Download the campaign materials here.
Trade Waste Toolbox
In 2025, qldwater commissioned trade waste expert Col Hester to develop a Model Trade Waste Plan tailored to regional communities.
The premise was straightforward: the plan should focus on the essentials instead of burdening councils with overly complex or unnecessary trade waste management practices. The goal was to develop a clear, consistent framework that smaller councils can adopt without reinventing policies or spending resources on low-risk activities.
The Model Trade Waste Plan includes Model Application Forms for Commercial and Industrial premises to demonstrate contemporary best practice and recognising the differing risk profiles and information requirements of these customer groups.
For each pathway, an example of a “properly made” application is also provided as guidance to assist councils and applicants to understand the level of detail and supporting information expected.
The Plan is now available on our new Water Workforce Toolbox for Trade Waste (members only so please log in first!)
HPWJ Training
Our next round of High Pressure Water Jetting (HPWJ) training is heading to the Mount Isa region. We’re thrilled to bring this program to another part of the state that continues to grapple with the legacy of asbestos-cement assets.
This session will continue building on the incredible momentum from the Mackay, Isaac and South West Queensland deliveries — strengthening safety, compliance, and operator confidence across Queensland.
Please contact Sarah for more information.
Griffith University Activated Sludge and Biological Nutrient Removal Short Course
Registrations are NOW OPEN for the 29 June- 3 July2026 ASBNR Micro-Credential course providing successful learners with an Activated Sludge Expert Digital Badge.
If you are involved with the management, operation and maintenance of an activated sludge or BNR plant; Upgrading your AS plant to BNR; A scientist working in a laboratory analysing wastewater or researching the AS/BNR process; Studying environmental engineering or wastewater subjects; Completing your Certificate III or IV in water operations, you might be interested in attending this course. This course has been successfully offered since 1997 providing excellent knowledge sharing and building skills in wastewater treatment operations for over 1000 Operators, Engineers, Managers and Scientists. Don't miss out on the early bird registrations - get in early to secure you place in 2026
Early Bird closes 10 April 2026. For further information, don't hesitate to contact Mel or Helen (m.christie@griffith.edu.au or h.stratton@griffith.edu.au).
Empowering Women Grant Application
Following strong interest from participants at the recent Water Skills Forum, we’ve submitted an application to the Empowering Queensland Women grant to trial a practical, sector-led initiative focused on increasing female participation in the water workforce. The idea is simple—bring together women working in water, those interested in entering the sector, and council HR and operational leaders to have a grounded conversation about what’s actually getting in the way, and what we can realistically change. This isn’t about another report or strategy—it’s about designing solutions that reflect how our sector actually operates, particularly in regional areas where workforce pressures are most acute.
If successful, the initiative will be delivered as a facilitated session supported by an independent expert, with a focus on identifying barriers, sharing real experiences, and developing practical actions councils can take. It’s a small pilot, but one that could provide a clear pathway for broader workforce reform. We know the sector is looking for new ways to attract and retain people, and this is an opportunity to build on that momentum and test something that directly connects workforce needs with real employment pathways for women in our communities.
OSCA Maintenance Strategy – Queensland urban water sector consultation
On 11 March 2026 the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) opened consultation on the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA). This consultation is part of the planned OSCA Maintenance Strategy.
Consultation efforts throughout 2026 will contribute to the 2027 OSCA update. During this consultation exercise, the ABS is seeking feedback on:
- Occupations already in the OSCA that are not accurately described
- Occupations that should be separately identified with a unique code in the OSCA.
Consultation will run until Friday 24 April 2026. More information can be found on the ABS Consultation Hub.
As an enabling sector, the workforce and occupations that contribute to the water industry are often captured amongst other industry sectors (Environmental Managers, Pipe Layers, Laboratory Technicians). As a result, the number of people working in the industry looks far smaller than it is. By helping refine occupation descriptions, we can better collect information on our workforce and our industry, enhancing advocacy efforts.
qldwater is making a detailed submission. WSP and the QWIRG members will be consulted directly, and for all members please provide feedback to Skills@qldwater.com.au.