In 2008, the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (now known as Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) commissioned an audit and report into the extent of a likely water sector skills gap for the Council of Australian Governments COAG. 

The Audit demonstrated that there is an existing and worsening skills gap in the industry and in response to the findings (COAG) endorsed National Water Skills Strategy was developed in 2009.

Following the Strategy, the Government funded the AWA through the Water Industry Skills Taskforce (WIST) to develop a National Water Skills Business Plan. The Plan responds to the Actions included in the Strategy with existing and new projects and the first version of this living Plan was completed in 2010.
 

The Business Plan outlines the framework for implementation (i.e. governance, funding, timetables etc) and includes details on specific actions to be undertaken to achieve each item identified in the Strategy.  The Business Plan, which can be found in the related links, was  developed in consultation with the Federal Government and state/territory governments.