Workforce development roadmap
The local water utility workforce development roadmap outlines strategic direction for workforce planning, focusing on attraction, career progression, quality training, and industry collaboration. This resource includes tips and tools for local water utilities to build resilient, skilled and inclusive teams across regional NSW.
Roadmap
This roadmap uses insights from the 2024 Workforce Composition Survey, consultation feedback, and other data available to the department to identify opportunities for workforce growth and development. This will ensure the water industry remains resilient and well-equipped to meet evolving demands.
New competency benchmark for local water utility operators in NSW
Following extensive consultation with the water and training industries, the competency benchmark for local water utility operators in NSW has been released. This includes a summary of what we heard through the development and consultation processes. Thank you to everyone who made a submission or provided feedback on the consultation paper.
The competency benchmark aims to address significant challenges in the water sector, including inconsistent training standards, limited access to quality training, and a lack of clear guidance on the skills required for critical operational roles. The benchmark will be implemented in partnership with the water and training industries throughout Phase 3 of the Town Water Risk Reduction Program.
To stay up to date with the competency benchmark, please subscribe to our monthly LWU newsletter.
Report
The competency benchmark aims to address significant challenges in the water sector, including inconsistent training standards, limited access to quality training, and a lack of clear guidance on the skills required for critical operational roles.
Download the Competency Benchmark for LWU operators in NSW (PDF. 3,370KB)
Consultation paper
Learn about the need for the competency benchmark, implementation and how we consulted with local water utility operators.
Advisory Panel
A new Advisory Panel has been formed to support the implementation of the competency benchmark for local water utility operators in NSW.
Expressions of interest closed on Friday 24 October 2025. We will contact all applicants shortly with the outcome and information about the next steps.
Purpose and role
The Advisory Panel includes professionals across the water operations and training sectors, including local government, utilities, training providers, and industry bodies.
The Advisory Panel provides strategic insight, practical advice and sector expertise to ensure the benchmark reflects current operational realities, supports workforce development and aligns with national and state training frameworks. Participation in the Advisory Panel is intended to support the broader interests of the local water utility sector, with a focus on shared outcomes rather than individual or organisational priorities.
Commitment
The Advisory Panel will meet 4 to 6 times per year, with occasional input requested between meetings. Members may be asked to review documents, provide feedback, or participate in targeted workshops. Panel appointments will be for up to 3 years.
Water workforce composition survey
Thank you to all the local water utilities that participated in the water workforce composition survey in 2024 to help us build a picture of your industry and support future resourcing. This was the first survey of its kind in NSW.
We collected data about staffing, skills, available positions and remuneration and workforce planning.
We are pleased to share the results with you.
The large copy of the snapshot is also available for viewing.
Download the snapshot (PDF. 454KB)
Report
Read the full NSW Local Water Utility Workforce Composition Report to understand the workforce needs of LWUs across the state.
The next survey will take place in 2026 to establish trends and monitor data over time.
View the survey questions (PDF, 715.27 KB) that were sent to all LWUs.
To stay up to date with surveys and other information for LWUs, please subscribe to our monthly LWU newsletter.
Workforce and training analysis
Skilled and competent operators are vital to provide essential water and sewerage services in regional NSW and to managing drinking water quality. Currently there is a critical shortage of formally trained water operators in NSW.
To better understand these shortages, the Town Water Risk Reduction Program commissioned an analysis of the NSW water operations workforce and its access to training. A summary report (PDF, 420.89 KB) of the analysis published in September 2022 provides much-needed baseline data for use and further development by the local water utility and training sectors and government partners.
Water operations skills and training action plan
The Town Water Risk Reduction Program is working in partnership with Training Services NSW, the training sector, and the water utility sector to address both training supply and demand challenges.
Action plan
Our water operations skills and training action plan aims to address these challenges to increase skills of existing operators, attract more operators into the sector and increase employment and jobs in regional NSW.
National approach to water operations training materials
Water utility workforce, skills and training shortages exist across Australia. A major barrier to RTOs supplying training in the water operations training market is the high cost of developing teaching, learning and assessment materials consistent with the National Water Training Package. The draft action plan includes an action to reduce this cost barrier by developing high quality training materials and making them available to all RTOs. In consultation with water and training sector stakeholders, we have set out a case for a national approach to water operations training materials (PDF, 615.91 KB) and are discussing it with state, territory and national governments to gain their support.
Projects and pilots from Phase 1
We are funding this pilot to support the 11 far west water utilities in the Orana Water Utilities Alliance to identify their training needs across their water business, including catchment or source water provision, water and wastewater treatment and all networks. This will enable each utility to identify the specialist skills and training needed for the utility to reliably provide essential water services to their communities.
The outcomes of the pilot will enable the Alliance to easily identify a training pathway for the critical skills shortages in the Far West region and engage a registered training provider to tailor a program that addresses their specific needs.
As an outcome of this pilot project, resources such as generic professional role descriptions and training and skills required for supervisors, operators, and relief operators, will be made available to all water utilities in regional NSW to assist with workforce planning.
Contact us
For more information call us on 1300 081 047 or email us at water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au