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The areas of skills gaps in the water industry varied across different industries and perspectives. A common view was that the industry reforms that have led to community-driven management of natural resources has obviously resulted in the demand for sophisticated capabilities in water management that are not being met. These capabilities tend to stretch beyond the normal technical skills and mostly require the ability to think across issues and disciplines:
 Integrating water management into a broader management agenda.
- Linkages between groundwater/ floodplains/biology,
- groundwater/surfacewater/riverwater interactions.
- Engaging communities in the issues and solutions, systems thinking.
Technical capability in hydrogeology was consistently identified as a gap by those active in water management such as catchment boards, EPA, water boards and consultants. Other capability gaps identified were:
- water sensitive urban design
- wetland design
- floodplain assessment
- aquifer storage and recovery
- groundwater
- stormwater
- monitoring and evaluation
- information management
- staff development
- management skills (professional, personnel and business management)
- water trading
- management of environmental flows
- GIS/modelling and development and utilisation of decision making tools
- wastewater management
- water for the environment
- knowledge of emerging and future water quality issues
- salinity solutions
- hydraulic modelling of pipes and pumps
- broader modelling skills (experienced designers with 10 to 20 years experience)
- treated water re-use (soil science and water management)
(ICEWaRM Report 2005)
Government Skills Australia is working in collaboration with other national and industry bodies to improve the availability of quality training for employment and skills development in the water industry.
This collaboration is aimed at:
 Identifying and providing information about the currently available training and professional development- Sponsoring the design and development of nationally relevant and endorsed learning resources to support the implementation of the Training Package
- Supporting networks and consortiums providing training and advising on resource development
Check this site for reports on development projects in training for the Water Industry.
Water Industry Capacity Development group
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