by Cecilia Harris
Water literacy is central to building a sustainable water future. As organisations across Australia work to engage communities in valuing and conserving water, a national, collaborative approach could amplify impact and help drive lasting collective action.
The call to action for this year’s National Water Week (20-26 October) is Bring Water Into Focus, inviting all Australians to discover how small, powerful choices can protect our most precious resource – water – for generations to come.
With National Water Week just around the corner, we took the opportunity to catch up with AWA Water Literacy & Education Specialist Network co-Chairs, Tracey Willingham and Zoe Walsh, about how a united approach to water literacy could help Australia shift the dial on community understanding and engagement.
Sydney Water Manager Water Literacy and Education Willingham said a unified approach to water literacy across Australia would ensure clear, consistent messaging that builds widespread understanding and collective action.
“We’ve realised in ongoing conversations that we’re all doing incredible work, but the alignment is missing. The challenge we have in Australia is the diversity of our geographic locations. In Sydney at the moment, we’re experiencing higher-than-average rainfall. But we know our friends in South Australia are really struggling through a drought,” she said.
“So, while the relevance of certain messaging will differ depending on the location and context, there is power in a unified coordination that allows us to share resources and build stronger advocacy when the time is right for each state and territory.
"If we could bring Australia together, we could position ourselves as a global leader in sustainable water management by aligning goals and amplifying impact.”
Sequana Director, Brand, Marketing & Communications, Zoe Walsh, said working together enables a much better use of resources and encourages an approach where Australia’s water community works smarter, not harder, on water literacy efforts.
“Right now, water messages are quite fragmented, which is really confusing for the public. When we unify our messaging, we can build shared understanding, which reduces duplication across organisations,” she said.
“It frees up resources and makes it easier for families and communities to engage when the information is clear and simple, no matter where they live. Of course, you can localise certain information, but the overarching messages should be the same.
“It’s about working smarter, not harder. We know water corporations are stretched. How can we better share insights, work together, and package up national programs and resources? Then we can focus on activating in the community, rather than spending all that time pulling together materials that already exist somewhere in a similar format.”
Valuing water
Improving water literacy translates to everyday water conservation behaviours, Willingham said, but behavioural change is about more than simply knowing information, stats or facts, it’s also about how people value water.
“Water literacy is about water knowledge, but also something bigger. Water literacy cultivates a culture of stewardship. It gives people a sense that they have a role to play in looking after our water,” she said.
“We know that a water-literate community is more likely to practice good water behaviours, and for more reasons than just saving money on their bills. Water-literate communities understand that water is a finite resource, and we all need to help save it.”
Walsh agrees: “Obviously, improving water literacy directly influences behaviour change. When people understand why it’s important to turn the tap off, they’re more likely to take action”.
“Over time, these everyday habits compound. They build community resilience through droughts and climate change. They’re small actions, but when multiplied across communities, we start to see a cultural shift in how water is valued,” she said.
“We want everyone to feel empowered and own the role they play. For me, as a mum of a young child and someone passionate about early education, it’s such an exciting place to start. If we build these informed habits at the very beginning, it becomes part of everyday life. It’s ingrained.”
Literacy in action
One of Sydney Water’s primary school programs – Aqua Allies – encourages school kids to consider themselves a water ally in order to build and nurture a strong emotional connection.
“Emotional connection with water is really powerful. And if we achieve that when our kids are young, we never lose that sense of connectedness and appreciation,” Willingham said.
“We’ve got a primary school program called Aqua Allies that we take into schools. It’s about having young people walk out of the school hall feeling like they’re an ally. That’s what I mean by stewardship. They feel like they’re part of a collective action.”
Zoe Walsh at the Wanda the Water Warrior book launch at Ozwater'25.
At Sequana, Wanda the Water Warrior was created, a children’s picture book to educate and inspire young children about water, “but it’s more like an ecosystem,” Walsh said.
“There’s the book, teaching resources, a website, colouring-in sheets, activities and Water Warrior merchandise, to help meet kids and parents where they are. It’s about turning everyday moments and conversations into learning opportunities about water in ways that feel natural, rather than feeling like you're being formally taught.”
Sydney Water’s mini-golf activation at the Royal Easter Show is another great example of what Willingham calls ‘edutainment’, an approach to community learning that encourages play and enjoyment, too.
“When you think about our communities, they’re hit with multiple messages every day. We want to invite our community to understand the work we do and build water literacy at the same time. That’s what the mini-golf game Make A Splash allowed us to do,” she said.
“You hit the ball in the direction of whichever hole you think holds the correct answer. The flags had the options, and you had to think. There was nothing more beautiful than seeing an 8-year-old say: ‘No! Dad, go for C, C is the right answer!’ That’s when kids become allies – when they want to champion the right information.”
Another recent initiative from Sydney Water is utilising fleet vehicles as space to showcase key water literacy messaging.
“We have vehicles on the road every day. Other than a safety stripe and a logo, they were blank space. We had that “aha” moment. We’re rolling out water literacy messaging across over 100 of our smaller fleet trucks," she said.
“It’s about getting the message out into community, when water is not front of mind.
We’re trying to keep water visible all the time.”
Sydney Water's Make A Splash minigolf course at the 2025 Royal Easter Show.
What works
When it comes to actionable steps, what can water organisations do right now to meaningfully contribute to building water literacy within the communities they serve?
Make messaging accessible
“Turn complex, technical information into simple, relatable stories. Use the channels where people already are, because that removes the first barrier, which is attention,” Walsh said.
Willingham agrees: “If you can invest in education programs, make sure they are accessible across all levels. From social media cut-through for general audiences, to bill inserts for adults, to incursions for kids.”
Build partnerships outside the sector
“We need to be working with education, government and community groups. We’re not in this alone. Everyone is connected to water and has a vested interest in boosting water literacy in the community,” Willingham said.
Promote, don’t just produce
“There are so many great programs and resources out there, they just need amplification. Comms, marketing, engagement, bring in different parts of the business to support them. If we want teachers or community members to use these tools, make it easy,” Walsh said.
Measure and communicate impact
“Evaluate the outcomes of water literacy initiatives. That’s how we demonstrate value and adapt approaches to what’s working,” Willingham said.
Collaborate nationally
“Let’s share resources and align messaging, because we are stronger together. When something works, replicate it. Don’t reinvent the wheel,” Walsh said. “The water sector is unique in that people don’t choose their provider. There’s no competition. We’re all working towards the same goal.”
Are you interested in getting involved in National Water Week? Take a look at what’s on offer here.
Learn more about the AWA Water Literacy & Education Specialist Network here.
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