At the recent International Water Association’s (IWA) Project Innovation Awards for Asia Pacific, Australian organisations won eight out of the twelve honours awarded.

A number of the successful Australian projects have also been recognised at a national level at the Australian Water Aassociation (AWA) National Water Awards, held earlier this year.

Congratulating the winners, Tom Mollenkopf, Chief Executive of the AWA, said that Australia is leading the way in developing new and innovative solutions to water management.

“These awards reinforce the fact that the Australian water sector has world class skills and expertise,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has also launched the National Professional Development Initiative for Sustainability Educators, to improve the delivery of environmental education programs.

The initiative has been developed and supported by four peak environmental education organisations:

• Waste Management Association of Australia
• Australian Water Association
• Australian Association for Environmental Education
• Marine Education Society of Australasia.

Launching the initiative, Grahame Collier, the Project Management Group Chair, said that communities, industry and governments need to understand and respond to the challenges of sustainability.

“Individuals involved in sustainability education programs play a key role in improving understanding around sustainability so it is important that they have the right skills to deliver these programs effectively,” he said.

The first modules of the new initiative will be delivered during August 2010.