Early Adopters Certified Under National Scheme

Early Adopters Certified Under National Scheme

Early Adopters Certified Under National Scheme
Date: 17-Jun-2015

Two staff from Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and four staff from Toowoomba Regional Council became the first “Certified Operators” in Queensland at a presentation held at the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia Queensland Conference in Toowoomba this morning (17 June 2015).

While Operator Certification has been in place for some time in Victoria, this presentation was an Australian first, as the staff were being recognised against the National Certification Framework for Operators Within Drinking Water Treatment Systems.

While drinking water treatment personnel in Queensland are typically trained to a high standard, this Certification program takes a few extra steps to ensure that the training they receive directly matches their on-the-job requirements and they get ongoing access to professional development.

It’s specifically about recognition of the significant skills of these people, building career paths and reinforcing the crucial role they play in delivering safe drinking water to Queensland communities.

This pilot program has been delivered through a partnership between qldwater, WIOA and the Queensland Department of Energy and Water Supply which aimed to test the implementation of the scheme with a view to its broader adoption.

Operator Certification in Queensland is strongly supported by our members who include the majority of the state’s water and sewerage service providers. And while certification is currently taken up on a voluntary basis, we ultimately aim to see it adopted as a regulated requirement to ensure that it is supported by appropriate investment from both employers and government.

Water service providers face significant challenges with declining resources, and we believe that this is the single most cost-effective investment that can be made in our industry to support strong public health outcomes.

WIOA Executive Officer, George Wall said that WIOA was thrilled to be both directly involved in the Certification program and hosting the presentation ceremony.

“The Victorian Operator Certification has been in place since 2010 and the national Framework was developed through the National Water Commission, building on the Victorian experience. WIOA has certified a number of operators in Victoria to date and as the key representative body for operational staff in the water industry, is excited to see the expansion of this important initiative."

“I don’t think many people really appreciate how skilled your average water treatment operator is and what is required to stay on top of changes, especially in a state like Queensland which routinely deals with poor source water quality through big weather events. Depending on where you are, the role is often a mix of technical and instrumentation skills with science including chemistry thrown in for good measure.  The water treatment operator is the final, and most important cog in the supply of safe drinking water to our communities. Being certified will ensure that these operators keep their skills honed at the highest level,” Mr Wall said.  

While drinking water regulation in Australia remains the responsibility of individual states and territories, it is hoped that these steps towards an integrated national program will drive improved standards in training and portability of skills.

Getting uptake of a program like this has been at times laborious and this first cohort of operators and their employers are to be congratulated on showing the initiative to be ‘early adopters.’

While we still have issues to address in delivering this initiative state-wide, including Queensland’s significant remote and regional population and improvements needed in the training market, we are confident this presentation will be the kick-start the program needs.

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