Read about the latest news, events and research from VicWater, and your colleagues around the Victorian water sector.
VicWater Update October 2023
Last month we held our Annual Conference at the Langham in Melbourne. We were joined by 200 delegates from across the sector as we heard from a range of expert speakers and panellists who helped us explore the conference theme: ‘Navigating the Waters: Adapting to Economic Challenges in the Water Sector’.
Conference highlights included our two keynote speakers, economist Nicki Hutley and climate tech activator Mick Liubinskas, who both spoke honestly about the big issues and challenges we are facing today, while leaving us with an optimistic outlook for a future in which wise and confident investment decisions support transformational change.
Another highlight was the Women in Water Directors Network (WWDN) session on enhancing board diversity and Traditional Owner engagement, featuring the Chairs and independent Aboriginal board delegates from North East Water and Central Highlands Water who talked about their experiences and learnings and the positive outcomes at both an organisational and individual level.
The conference program also included panel sessions featuring a number of industry leaders who shared their insights and expertise on topics including customer affordability, capital projects, non-regulated revenue initiatives, and supporting economic growth in the regions. All sessions served to reinforce the benefits of industry collaboration and the ‘better together’ ethos that VicWater exists to support.
I would like to thank our Annual Conference speakers and sponsors, and most importantly the wonderful VicWater team who all played their part in delivering another successful event for our members and industry colleagues.
The Annual Conference is our flagship event for the year, but we have a number of other in person and online events scheduled over the next few months which you can check out on our website or by following us on LinkedIn.
The member survey to identify the training gaps and needs of the water sector was sent out in mid-September with a submission date of 22 September. The results from the completed surveys will be considered at the October working group meeting. Following our September meeting with WaterRA the Project Manager of its Technical Competency Benchmarking Project will attend our next working group meeting to discuss how these projects complement each other. A meeting was also held with Melbourne Water to discuss the project.
I can’t believe that we are into October already! This time last month we were busily preparing for our Annual Conference and now we are starting to look to the next ‘big thing’ which, for me is the OHS forum being held on 24 October 2023.
I don’t think it is any secret that I believe I have one of the best jobs in the Victorian water sector, as I am in the privileged position that I get to see the cross sector collaboration and the culture of openness, authenticity and support that is fostered.
The OHS network is a prime example of this great culture of sharing with the network being made up of more than 60 people across the sector...
We are thrilled to have Dr Sean Brady present for us at this year's VicWater OH&S Network Forum. Taking place at the beautiful Barwon Water head office, the forum will feature Dr Sean Brady, who will speak on the learnings from the QLD Mine Safety program including how to identify critical risks and controls.
Dr Brady has been selected specifically as an expert in the field of occupational health and safety and ties into our theme of Driving Safety, which brings together two areas of important focus for our sector… That of safety when driving, and that of moving (driving), our safety culture and behaviours forward.
Don't miss our upcoming webinar this Friday 13 October! VicWater has been working with Secolve to develop an information sesssion aimed at executives and managers who want to gain a broader understanding of Cyber Resilience inOperational Technology (OT).
The webinar will be presented by Nick Rodofile from Secolve. Nick is a Brisbane based security consultant with a background in offensive and defensive cyber operations including OT / SCADA cyber attack analysis and cyber incident response.
Members of VicWater are invited to join the VGSO's Workplace Relations and Occupational Safety Branch for this free webinar from 11:00am - 12:00pm on Thursday 23 November 2023 - Employment Law: Key Updates from 2023.
It has been an eventful 12 months in Australia's employment law and industrial relations landscape. A suite of changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 (and with more to come) have taken a rolling effect throughout 2023. This webinar will discuss the impacts of these changes and provide a useful summary of the key decisions in 2023 relevant to the water sector.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal recently upheld a decision of Greater Western Water that a property developer be required to construct a new sewer branch, rather than relying on an existing combined drain. Such an approach was found to reflect sound principles relating to a water authority seeking to manage sewerage infrastructure in an orderly manner.
GWW is not alone in adopting a general policy requiring developers to establish new sewer connection points, rather than relying on existing combined drains. The Tribunal has supported this general policy as a means of "future proofing" key service assets, and has shown a reluctance to depart from the policy where there is no persuasive reason why a new sewer connection would be unachievable or prohibitively costly.
Super is your savings for your future, and there are some rules around when you can access it. Generally, you need to wait until retirement, but sometimes (if you really need it) you can access it sooner.
When and how can you access your super?
There are some circumstances under which people can access some or all of their super before retirement age; however, there are government regulations and rules for all this.
In short, there are two benefit types: preserved and non-preserved. The kind of benefit will determine when and how you can access your super.
Shaun Cumming has been appointed as the organisation’s Managing Director, after an extensive and rigorous recruitment process.
Barwon Chair, Jo Plummer said she and the board had unanimously agreed that Mr Cumming was the person to take Barwon Water forward.
“It is with absolute delight that I announce and welcome, on behalf of the Board, Shaun Cumming officially to the role of Managing Director for the next five years.
“Shaun’s vision, leadership, passion and care shone through at every stage of the recruitment process, which shortlisted six outstanding candidates.”
Caption: Gippsland Water team members Walk for Water
Walk to support clean water
Gippsland Water is supporting WaterAid’s mission to deliver clean water to people all over the world through the annual ‘Walk for Water’.
The organisation is calling for community members to get behind its staff and join the initiative. Walk for Water is an annual event that helps raise funds and create awareness about the work WaterAid does. It runs from 2 October to 6 October.
Everyday millions of people across the world walk large distances to access their nearest water source, so for Walk for Water week participants raise funds by walking, running, or riding a bike for five days.
Caption: Chloe Warburton Alison Fitzsimmons at GMW
Goulburn-Murray Water providing more leadership opportunities for women
Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is supporting gender equality by providing opportunities for women to achieve their leadership goals. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency's Gender Equality Scorecard 2021-22 found only 41 per cent of managers in workplaces across Australia are women.
In June 2022, GMW created a Gender Equality Action Plan to help ensure the corporation was providing equal opportunities for all employees. One of the aims of this plan was to create more leadership opportunities for women. To support this, GMW has had a number of staff participate in People Measures’ Women in Leadership Development course.
Yarra Valley Water wins award for excellent customer service
Yarra Valley Water has won Contact Centre of the Year, one of the highest honours at the 2023 Auscontact Excellence State Awards
These highly coveted awards celebrate outstanding customer service and attract companies from a range of industries, including ANZ, ATO and Bendigo Bank.
The rigorous judging panel also assesses how well a company treats its staff by providing training, support and rewards for success.
Do you have a water sector event you'd like to promote? Maybe an announcement you'd like us to share on behalf of your organisation? VicWater Update has opened the news and events section of the monthly update to promote visibility of things that are happening within the water sector.
If you'd like something included email Lauren Vines with your request for consideration in our next edition.
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