WaterAid is an international notfor-profit, determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere. Only with these three essentials can people change their lives for good.
Find out more at wateraid.org.au
WaterAidAustralia
@wateraidaustralia
wateraidaustralia
On the front cover: Hekoi, 48, and his son Willie, 2, collect water from a water tank using jerry cans in Central Province, Papua New Guinea.
Credit: WaterAid/Tariq Hawari
We value your feedback and address any complaints promptly. If you would like to provide us with feedback or would like to lodge a complaint, please contact us via the details listed on the back page of this report and your message will be directed to the appropriate staff for action and resolution. Our complaints policy is available at wateraid.org.au/complaints
This Annual Report was written and edited by Caity Hall and the wider WaterAid Australia team, and designed by Boran Mao.
A world where everyone, everywhere has sustainable and safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Our mission
Transform lives through sustainable and safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Our values
They define our culture and unite us across the many countries where we work. They are at the very heart of WaterAid – who we are, what we do and how we do it.
Respect - We treat everyone with dignity and respect, and champion the rights and contribution of all to achieve a fairer world.
Accountability - We are accountable to those we work with and to those who support us.
Courage - We are bold and inspiring in our actions and words, and uncompromising in our determination to pursue our mission.
Collaboration - We work with others to maximise our impact, embracing diversity and difference in the pursuit of common goals.
Innovation - We are creative and agile, always learning, and prepared to take risks to accelerate change.
Integrity - We act with honesty and conviction, and our actions are consistent with openness, equality and human rights.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Three sisters sit in their floating home in Kandal, Cambodia.
Adelina
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
From the Chair and Chief Executive
This past year has been one of big changes and big milestones for WaterAid Australia. Rosie Wheen finished as Chief Executive after eight dedicated years and a total of 20 years at the organisation. Rosie played a pivotal role in shaping WaterAid Australia, delivering its vision and mission, and left the organisation with a thriving culture.
Tom was appointed Chief Executive after eight years as Director of Policy and Programs, with a deep understanding of our programming work in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and TimorLeste. The organisation embraced this transition with openness and optimism, and has had a real focus on maximising our programming impacts and ensuring people and communities gain access to water, sanitation and hygiene.
In an exciting milestone, 2024 marks 20 years since WaterAid Australia was started by the Australian water sector, and we have taken this opportunity to reflect on all we have achieved since then. In that time, WaterAid Australia has reached over 5.72 million people with our water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs. This massive impact is a testament to the hard work and determination of our staff and partners, as well as everyone who has supported us along the way.
In another positive development, after years of contemplating whether WaterAid Australia can
add value to the issue of WASH in First Nations communities, the Board has agreed that we do have a positive role to play in this space. Over the coming 12 months and beyond, we look forward to developing relationships with First Nations organisations and finding ways to support their leadership in responding to their water, sanitation and hygiene priorities.
Of course, the continued support of the water industry, along with our partners and individual supporters, has underpinned everything we have been able to achieve in the last year. We are so grateful for this unwavering support, which allows us to continue making critical progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6: to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
While it is important to acknowledge the achievements of the past, it’s equally important to recognise the essential need for this impact to continue. Never before has a focus on WASH been more critical as the world faces the monumental impacts of climate change, which will mostly be felt either through there being too much or too little water.
WaterAid continues to be at the cutting edge of locally-led, integrated, water solutions. We are helping to create climate resilience where it’s needed most, with a fundamental commitment to equity and inclusion.
One of the ways we make a fundamental difference is through the leadership and skills of our Cambodian, Papua New Guinean, and Timorese staff. Since 2020, we have had a focus on changing our systems, processes, leadership and governance models, so the Country Directors are crucial to all strategic and organisational decisions. We are proud of the work we have done in this space so far, and will continue to sharpen how the organisation looks moving forward.
Our optimism remains undimmed, bolstered by our incredible supporters and their commitment to our cause.
We look forward to working to deliver another year of real and lasting change through safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene.
Thank you.
Tom Muller Karlene Maywald Chief Executive Chair of the Board
Daniela walks to her local water tap in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Our Global Impact
To have the greatest impact, we coordinate activities and make decisions collectively with six other national members of the WaterAid federation: Canada, India, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We bring together our different experiences and expertise to work towards our vision of a world where everyone, everywhere has access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Together, our goal is to advocate for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 6: to ensure access to water and sanitation for all. We have seen that real progress is possible when WASH policies and programs are prioritised in national development together with the necessary funding. But to achieve the goal set by the SDGs of universal access by 2030, rates of progress need to quadruple. WASH is not only the foundation for healthy, productive and inclusive societies, but also central to achieving gender equality and building resilience to climate change.
Globally, between 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024, WaterAid reached:
Access to clean water
685,000 household members,
110,000 school students and 767,000 patients in healthcare facilities
Improved hygiene
967,000 household members, 456,000 school students and 1,248,000 patients in healthcare facilities
Improved sanitation
267,000 household members,
136,000 school students and 941,000 patients in healthcare facilities
Zelmonia and Israel spash at a local water tap in Manufahi, Timor-Leste.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
WaterAid Australia’s 20 Year Anniversary
Sory and Channot play with clean water in their community in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
In 2024, WaterAid Australia is celebrating 20 years since we joined the global WaterAid federation in its vision of a world where everyone, everywhere has access to clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene.
Since then, we have been working with supporters, governments and local partners to change lives through these three human rights.
To achieve this, we have:
Dedicated ourselves to working with local partners and governments to find solutions that are most suited to the local environment and create long term change
Installed taps, toilets, tanks, and other systems to bring clean water, toilets and hygiene close to home for community members, reducing the need for people to travel long and gruelling distances to collect water
Worked with local and national governments to achieve Open Defecation Free status in 37 districts throughout our region, creating sanitary environments and reducing the risk of deadly diseases throughout communities
Helped provide access to water, sanitation and hygiene in 88 healthcare facilities around the world, increasing access to safe health services, especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, newborn babies, people with disabilities, and the elderly
Helped to install water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in 511 schools, reducing barriers to education, particularly for girls, and opening more opportunities for this generation
Worked to build and promote sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene systems designed to withstand the effects of climate change and extreme weather events.
In the past 20 years, WaterAid Australia has reached over 5.72 million people through our water, sanitation and hygiene programs.
We are proud of this progress that has been made possible through our partners, supporters, and allies. But there remains a challenging journey ahead. Meeting the ambitious goal of Sustainable Development Goal 6 - ensuring universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030 - requires us to accelerate our efforts fourfold. This highlights the critical importance of WaterAid’s work, and mission to reach everyone, everywhere with safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene.
Watch our 20 Year Anniversary video here:
A young girl washes her hands at a tap in Liquica, Timor-Leste.
WaterAid/
Tariq
Hawari
Climbing the sanitation ladder
Having somewhere safe to go to the toilet is critical for the health of communities, as it minimises the risk of people getting sick through exposure to human waste in water, food and fields.
In 2020, we began working with government and communities in Kandal province, Cambodia, to reduce the number of people defecating in the open. At that time, over 16% of Kandal’s population, or 200,000 people, were practicing open defecation. By 2022, with our support and the hard work of provincial leaders, local authorities and households, Kandal Province officially declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) status – they had ended open defecation practice in their province.
Following this, the leaders of the province set an even more ambitious target. With our support, they set out to become the first province in Cambodia to declare ‘Open Defecation Free Plus’ status. ODF Plus represents the next step up the ‘sanitation ladder’ and means that everyone has stopped defecating in the open, every house has an improved toilet, a place to wash their hands with soap and water, and is disposing of children’s faeces safely. On top of that, public institutions like schools, healthcare centres and government offices must have improved and accessible toilets.
The strong provincial and district leadership in Kandal has been a key factor in the province’s movement up the sanitation ladder. Ms Chi Thavy, the director of the Provincial Department of Rural Development, motivated local leaders to actively engage their communities to improve their household sanitation conditions. District leaders have mobilised their teams to run behaviour change campaigns and monitor progress in villages and communes across the province.
Devit, 5, washes his hands with soap and clean water outside a toilet block in Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia.
Throughout this process WaterAid has been a supportive partner for Kandal’s leaders, working to ensure sanitation and water supply are among their top priorities. We supported the provincial department to organise training for 356 participants from districts and communes to help them understand the national ODF Plus criteria and guidelines. We also supported Thavy’s team to develop a process for verifying their achievement.
In early 2024, Kandal’s records show that they have become the first ODF Plus province in the country and the Ministry of Rural Development is verifying the result. Looking to the future, Kandal is now setting its sights on becoming the first province in Cambodia where every household has safe drinking water.
“To achieve ODF status we cannot work alone; we need partners. This includes government ministries, the private sector, and most importantly, partner NGOs. WaterAid’s partnership with Kandal Province has greatly enhanced our understanding of the strategies in planning and organising to achieve ODF status quickly. We believe that Kandal can show leadership spirit through collaboration and partnerships, setting an example for WASH sector and showcasing effective methods for building capacity at the sub-national level.”
- Ms Chi Thavy, Provincial Department of Rural Development Director, Kandal
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Priority One Universal, sustainable, and safe access to water, sanitation and hygiene
A toilet and handwashing facility in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia.
Monitoring information and planning system strengthens service delivery
Access to fit for purpose, quality and timely data is critical for the water, sanitation and hygiene sector to deliver these crucial services to communities. An effective government monitoring system drives evidence-based planning, budgeting, financing and decision making, and provides valuable data to ensure resilience and sustainability of services. Unfortunately, with much of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) 96 districts spread across remote and challenging environments, there has historically been no reliable data.
Through the Australian Government’s Australian Water Partnership, we have been working closely with the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM) in PNG to establish and institutionalise its first WASH Management Information System (MIS). The MIS utilises a free and open access system known as mWater. Data is collected by government staff via a mobile application, and then processed and displayed on a web-based data visualisation console that is available to national and subnational decision makers.
As part of the system roll out, the DNPM WASH Program Management Unit and WaterAid delivered a series of regional training sessions for public servants, targeting decision makers, planners and technical staff at district level. The aim of the training was to inform and equip government decision makers to invest in effective monitoring and form long term planning processes to guide service delivery, effectively prioritise underserved communities, allocate more financial resources and progressively improve services through construction of infrastructure.
Through the program, 203 senior public servants from 52 districts were trained in the National WASH MIS. The trainings contributed to mobilising PGK7.575 (AUD$3.045 million) in public funds from national and subnational government, for districts to undertake large scale data collection and form their five year costed WASH plans to guide service delivery.
Community members walk to collect water from one of the new community taps in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Srey Touch, 25, shares the knowledge she has learnt from WaterAid’s WASH master training with her colleagues at a factory in Saang district, Kandal, Cambodia.
Factory managementled WASH in Cambodia
WaterAid’s global research has shown that improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in factories and manufacturing supply chains directly improves worker health and productivity, reduces absenteeism and improves worker well-being. In fact, that research estimated that improving WASH in workplaces produced a return on investment of 4.4 (Boosting Business Report, 2022).
Since 2020, WaterAid has been working in Cambodia with the VF Corporation, the company behind brands like The North Face and Timberland, to improve WASH conditions for factory workers and their communities.
In 2023-24 our work to improve WASH facilities in Cambodian factories benefitted 17,837 workers, mostly women, and we reached 26,047 workers with activities to change WASH behaviours.
WaterAid worked with factory management to conduct assessments in three factories and provide recommendations for how factory owners and managers could improve WASH conditions. As a result of the assessments, these factories have upgraded access to clean drinking water, provided reusable drink bottles for workers to encourage hydration and reduce plastic wastage, expanded the number of toilets available to workers to meet minimum standards, and provided facilities for safe and dignified menstrual hygiene management.
WaterAid has also delivered WASH awareness and behaviour change programs in factories. We have trained factory line managers to become team champions on WASH topics including handwashing, proper latrine usage, and household drinking water treatment. Line managers have run training and competitions within their teams to share the messages further, including to workers’ families and communities. Our training included financial literacy training to help workers improve their household budgeting, saving, and debt management practices so that they can make plans to improve their household WASH facilities and budget for ongoing costs like water bills.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Partnering with grassroots women’s networks for more equitable water, sanitation and hygiene
ESCOW facilitator, Jacklyn, leads women to participate in a community ‘pocket voting’ activity.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) can be an important entry point for improving gender equality, disability and social inclusion. In the last year, WaterAid has partnered with the East Sepik Provincial Health Authority (ESPHA), East Sepik Council of Women (ESCOW) and the East Sepik Disabled Persons Agency (ESDPA) to develop and roll out a community engagement package in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The ‘Healthy Villages: Community WASH Engagement Manual’ uses a series of activities and community discussions to shift attitudes around sanitation, water resources, gender and disability. We are supporting ESDPA and ESCOW to engage community members through their extensive grassroots network of women who can involve their neighbours in WASH discussions, and help their communities to develop action plans to protect their water resources and improve their WASH conditions.
In the communities where ESCOW and ESDPA have run the activities, we are already seeing changes in the WASH situation. In Kambagora village, the community built toilets for students
at the local school. In Yawik and Yiwun villages, after water quality test results showed people that their drinking water was contaminated by human faeces they have started to boil their water before drinking.
Significantly, we have seen improvements in equity and inclusion as a result of these discussions. Community WASH governance has become more inclusive – in Kambagora, Yawik and Yiwun villages women and people with disabilities have been elected to community WASH committees. In Wawat village, efforts to clean up wells and construct toilets were led by a group of women in the community. ESCOW facilitators have seen that women have become more vocal in community discussions as a result of changes in attitudes, and men are providing active encouragement for women to take up leadership roles.
Rights groups and grassroots organisations are valuable partners who can catalyse change in their communities and ensure the needs of the most marginalised community members are heard and prioritised in WASH service improvements.
WaterAid/ IssacThomas
Advocating for inclusive services with Civil Society Organisations
It is important for governance systems to include diverse voices, but in Timor-Leste this is not always the case. Policy makers in decision-making roles may not have insight into how people with disabilities or women access water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and what their real needs are. To address this, over the past year, WaterAid supported four local civil society organisations (CSO’s) in Timor-Leste to develop a joint influencing strategy to create policy changes to be more inclusive.
The local CSO’s drew on evidence collected by WaterAid from four rural communities about the climate and WASH issues they were experiencing. A strategy workshop series
was held in August 2023, and the local CSO’s collectively developed a vision for WASH for all by 2030 in Timor-Leste. WaterAid supported them to identify, agree on and develop messaging for a set of advocacy priorities which aimed to improve WASH outcomes and foster equality, inclusion and rights.
The CSO’s presented their strategy and key asks to senior WASH decision-makers in 2023. Over the past year, CSO partners have continued to use the strategy to inform their advocacy efforts, such as in preparation for meetings with decision-makers; budget and parliamentary submissions; to inform advocacy materials and as speaking notes at events.
Novia and Sandra returning home after a long journey to collect water in Liquica, Timor-Leste.
WaterAid/ Tariq
Hawari
Strengthening disability inclusive water solutions in a changing climate
Cambodia is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change, and there is growing evidence that people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change when it comes to accessing clean water. In Cambodia it is estimated that 21% of household members aged five years or over have some level of difficulty seeing, hearing, communicating, walking and other daily tasks. Evidence also shows that people with disabilities are often excluded from water governance at all levels.
In the past year, we have worked with the Australian Water Partnership and the Cambodian Disabled Peoples Organisation (CDPO) to undertake a scoping activity which examines how people with disabilities’ access to piped water is impacted by climate change. The project aimed to gather evidence of how people with disabilities are impacted by and are responding to climate change in the context of water in Cambodia, and raise awareness of these challenges. It also aimed to strengthen the capacity of people with disabilities and their representative organisations to be involved in decisions related to climate, water and disability in Cambodia by fostering leadership skills.
There were a total of 53 people across two districts participating in the scoping activity, including 10 people with disabilities and 10
Kung Oeurn, 66, washes with water from her new piped water system in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia.
Ms Kompeach, 33, shares information related to water, sanitation and hygiene with Ly Sary, 54, in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
caregivers.
According to the participants with disabilities, some of the key enablers to accessing water were: family support having access to government subsidy schemes receiving the right information.
On the other hand, the reported barriers to accessing water were: high costs of connecting to piped water supply negative attitudes of service providers a limited trust in authorities.
Having access to the right information was reported as a coping strategy for people with disabilities, while increased psychological stress was noted as a challenging experience. The scoping activity also found that many community members, both with and without disabilities, faced barriers in participating in community meetings about piped water supply or climate change. People with disabilities attended meetings about water if they had support from a family member and transport
to attend. But sometimes even when they attended meetings, they did not feel confident enough to speak up. Some findings specific to women were the challenges of managing menstrual health during severe climate events and also that most caregivers were women.
WaterAid and partners hosted three workshops to raise awareness about the findings and shape recommendations. Stakeholders from disability, climate and water sectors collaborated to co-create practical recommendations. People with disabilities played leadership roles at these forums. The final dissemination workshop in March 2024 was attended by 67 people and national government representatives spoke about the importance of understanding the impacts of climate change on people with disabilities access to water.
The scoping activity has improved the evidence base to ensure that water supply in Cambodia reaches people with disabilities and withstands the impacts of climate change. It also led to increased interest by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology and the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation in taking up greater disability inclusive actions in their water supply efforts.
Srey Vann, 60, waits for her appointment at Svay Chuk Health Centre, Cambodia.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Improving water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities
Improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a significant challenge. PNG has a rapidly growing population of 9.2 million people and is among the countries with the least access to safe water and sanitation globally. Nationally, access to basic WASH services is low, with significant disparities between rural and urban areas.
The PNG Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030 aims to modernise healthcare facilities and upgrade district health centres to hospitals; however, it does not specifically address sustainable WASH facilities in healthcare settings. As a signatory to the UN World Health Assembly 72.27 Resolution on WASH in HCFs, PNG has committed to contributing to the global action for universal access to WASH and health for all. Given PNG’s high maternal and infant mortality rates, there is an urgent need for the government to act.
In a significant step to improve healthcare quality, the National Department of Health (NDoH), with technical support from WaterAid and funding from the Australian Government’s Water for Women Fund, developed the WASH in Healthcare Facilities (HCFs) National Guidelines and Roadmap. These documents emphasise that adequate WASH in healthcare facilities is essential to protect health workers, patients, and guardians, and prevent deaths. Better WASH services in healthcare settings are especially critical for the care of vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, older persons, and people with disabilities.
The Roadmap outlines key priorities and actions across the health system to achieve the ambitious goal of
In the last year in Papua New Guinea, our water, sanitation and hygiene programs have supported almost 22,500 patients and staff at healthcare facilities
providing 100% of medical centres (hospitals, health centres, aid posts) with safe, convenient, and sustainable water and sanitation facilities by 2030. With less than a decade to meet these targets, increased investment from the government and donors for WASH in healthcare facilities is crucial.
The National Guidelines set key standards and provide guidance for achieving minimum WASH requirements, aiming to enhance healthcare service quality for all Papua New Guineans. A national situational analysis was completed in 2022, which offered valuable insights into the state of WASH in HCFs. The findings were validated by all 22 Provincial Health Authorities and other health representatives before being used to inform the development of the Roadmap and Guidelines.
WaterAid continues to support the NDoH in rolling out and promoting the Roadmap and Guidelines through workshops for Provincial Health Authorities, District Health Managers, and healthcare facility managers and staff to ensure effective implementation and to strengthen PNG’s healthcare system.
Sister Jocelyn Leo, 34, treats a child at Balam Community Health Post, Papua New Guinea.
Hand hygiene for mothers and babies
Hand hygiene during labour, delivery and post-natal care of mothers and babies is critically important, but many healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries, including Cambodia, lack improved water sources, sanitation facilities, and even basic soap for handwashing. WaterAid recently coordinated a piece of research with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the National Institute of Public Health, which demonstrated the importance of investing in better hygiene practices to safeguard the health of both mothers and new-borns, and to minimise the risk of neonatal and maternal infections that can be life threatening.
The Changing Hygiene Around Maternal Priorities Plus project, funded by the Australian Government’s Water for Women Fund, aimed to design and implement a behaviour change training package to assess and enhance hygiene practices among midwives and caregivers during labour, delivery, and postnatal care.
The project took place in six referral hospitals in the rural Province of Kampong Cham, and consisted of a before-and-after study that included qualitative interviews and direct observation of hand hygiene practice to assess and identify areas for improvement.
Key findings from the research emphasise that simple practices like handwashing with soap and clean water significantly reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. The research highlights the alarming gaps in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services within the Cambodian health system, showing the urgent need for improved WASH in healthcare facilities. Additionally, the research advocates for scaling up the multimodal behaviour change training package to other healthcare facilities providing maternal and neonatal care. Such interventions aim to enhance hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers, patients, and visitors, which are crucial in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates and preventing infections.
Thy Sitheng, 34, conducts a one month old check up on baby Farida at Kang Meas Referral Hospital, Cambodia.
Ael Sina, 28, with her one month old daughter at Kang Meas Referral Hospital, Cambodia.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Hygiene Officer Edna Luke, 45, sanitises a ward at Balam Community Health Post, Papua New Guinea.
Combating antimicrobial resistance in The Pacific
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) significantly threatens health security, especially in lowand middle-income countries. To combat this, healthcare facilities must take immediate action to improve infection control and resilience. Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) relies on essential services such as water, sanitation, hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and healthcare waste management.
The Pacific Islands are particularly vulnerable to the escalating risks of AMR because of inadequate laboratory surveillance, weak antimicrobial regulation, and limited WASH resources. In response, we have been involved in the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Centre for Health Security program aimed to enhance IPC in national hospitals across Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Samoa.
Through the program, we have been using specific tools and frameworks to support national and subnational ministries of health to accelerate and improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities. For example, an assessment of the National Referral Hospital in the Solomon Islands using the WHO Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework and the WASH Facility Improvement Tool found that the IPC team
are skilled and dedicated but need more resources to effectively perform their roles and responsibilities adequately. The WASH infrastructure was not always functional or accessible, and the knowledge and skills required for standard and transmission-based precautions varied among healthcare and non-healthcare staff. Moreover, the supply chain for equipment and products crucial for environmental cleaning was frequently disrupted, adding to the challenges.
Recommendations to improve AMR based on examples such as the one above include: to combat AMR effectively, an active governance structure for monitoring and ongoing quality improvement is crucial for WASH in healthcare settings
following the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare facilities must update their standard operating procedures and protocols for WASH and IPC to reflect changes in epidemiology, evidence, risks, and best practices
implementing an accountability process for adhering to and delivering on these procedures and protocols can significantly reduce infection risks for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and surrounding communities, thereby enhancing the quality of care.
Building climate resilient water resource management
Timor-Leste is highly vulnerable to natural hazards including floods, heavy rainfall events, landslides, and droughts. This causes significant damage to water resources and agricultural land, which is made worse by a lack of infrastructure, inadequate social safety nets, and poverty. Over 70% of Timor-Leste’s population is dependent on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods. As extreme climate-related events become more frequent, Timor-Leste’s food security is likely to be one of the most affected by climate change across all of Southeast Asia.
We have been working with partners to address these water security and climate challenges through a holistic Water Resource Management (WRM) model. The five important features of the model include:
a community-led empowering approach nature based solutions to restore and protect catchments
low-cost water resource monitoring systems a system strengthening approach harnessing of customary village laws (Tara Bandu).
After a successful pilot project was tested between 2021-2023, supported by the Australian Water Partnership, the project was expanded in 2023-2024 with additional support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency to two new target communities within Liquica and Manufahi Municipalities.
WaterAid partnered with Permatil, a Timorese permaculture organisation, and Similie, a Timorese technology start-up, to rehabilitate, protect, and revitalise community water
resources in the target communities using the model. This aligns with Timor-Leste’s National Adaptation Plan for climate change which includes ecosystem-based approaches as one of its 14 guiding principles to support climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
In the past year alone, the solutions brought about by the project have reached a total of 4,227 people with improved water resource management, including by planting trees, creating retention ponds, and constructing terraces.
Throughout the communities, we found the biggest impacts to be:
1. Improved understanding of water resource management
Through community workshops, community members gained an understanding of the strategies they can use to improve their water supply by drawing on their traditional knowledge and locally available resources.
With the availability of tank-level data and improved knowledge of WRM practices, the water user committee in Loidahar has started managing the community water supply more proactively. The committee is now accessing the water level indicator data from the tanks and informing communities on how to manage the tanks. Community members are now also reporting that they are disconnecting the pipe from the water source during periods of heavy rain to prevent debris being washed into the system. During this time, community members rely on their own small household level water tanks.
2. Improved availability of water, including in the dry season
Community members in all four communities are already starting to report noticeable increases in the quantity of water available, particularly in the dry season. The increased availability of water is enabling community members to grow more vegetables, fruit, and flowers which some families are selling in the market. The improved water availability is also enabling improved sanitation and hygiene practices.
3. Strengthened understanding of how village-level Tara Bandu laws can build community ownership and commitment to water resource management
During the project, communities in both Loidahar and Bubususu successfully updated their local Tara Bandu laws to include environmental principles related to water source protection, water conservation, and reforestation as well as gender equality, disability and social inclusion aspects around decision making.
A village leader in Loidahar emphasised the effectiveness of this approach in building community ownership and commitment to the WRM principles to ensure they were widely understood, valued, and encouraged. During recent consultations in Loidahar, community members noted that the revised Tara Bandu has helped to decrease the number of cases of people damaging the environment and the water pipes in the village and has helped to ensure the water sources and planted trees are protected.
4. Strengthened coordination between village and municipal actors
In both Manufahi and Liquica municipalities, strong coordination mechanisms have been established between local village water user groups and municipal government actors. This has prompted the Municipal Agricultural Services under the Department of Forestry and Environment to provide additional seedlings to support community reforestation activities in Bubususu.
Arminda dos Santos Gouveia, 24, watering her family’s garden in Leguinea, Timor-Leste.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Integrating climate resilience into district water, sanitation and hygiene plans
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the largest and most populous Pacific Island Nation, where approximately 85% of the population live in remote and rural areas. Only 50% of PNG’s population have access to safe drinking water, 19% of the population have access to safe sanitation, and 30% of the population have access to handwashing with soap.
While the Government of PNG and development partners such as WaterAid are making progress, these efforts can be undermined by the worsening impacts of climate change. Weaknesses in PNG’s broader climate management and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems also exacerbate vulnerabilities and risks posed by increasing temperatures, rainfall, extreme weather events and rising sea levels.
The lack of locally informed climate data also results in WASH planning and budgeting with limited consideration of the impacts that flooding, drought, cyclones, and other climatic
impacts have on services and infrastructure. Key WASH actors at local levels lack the technical capacity and skills needed to address climate risks and incorporate these risks into WASH planning processes.
To address this critical issue, WaterAid worked with the Wewak District Development Authority and the District WASH Coordination Body to form one of PNG’s first ever climate resilient 5-year district WASH plans. The plan articulates the districts vision of achieving climate resilient and inclusive WASH services at scale by accelerating government led service delivery. The plan priorities, put forward by Local Level Government, are based on modelling of current and future climate projections, local level data, hazard and vulnerability assessments, and priorities from community level. The new Wewak District WASH plan will guide the district and leverage new investment from 2024 to 2028, and help to build climate resilience throughout the district.
Ward Councellor Noel Mareu, 58, conducts a community meeting in Wom, Papua New Guinea.
Priority Four Strengthen the resilience of water, sanitation and hygiene to climate change
Demonstrating climate resilience in health
Climate change can be drastically disruptive to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities (HCFs) through reduced reliability of water sources, contamination of water, and damage to infrastructure during extreme weather events. Access to climate-resilient WASH services is critical in reducing the spread of infectious diseases during climate extremes and protecting the health and well-being of patients and staff.
Over the past year, WaterAid has piloted a Climate Resilient WASH Framework to assess the resilience of WASH services in three healthcare facilities (HCFs) in Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia. The assessment involved mapping out the strengths of the HCFs and identifying gaps across the three dimensions of Community, Environment and Institutional arrangements. The tool was piloted through workshops with the health centre management committee,
made up of representatives from the district health department, commune leaders, village health support volunteers, and health facility officer. Committee members completed a selfassessment of their HCF against the framework categories. The three facilities were selected based on gaps identified in a WASH Facility Improvement Tool assessment.
The results of the assessment identified key areas for improvement, which can assist the HCFs in becoming better prepared for the challenges of climate change. The pilot has shown that the first of its kind framework can help practitioners and HCF staff to assess the climate resilience of WASH of their facility in a holistic way. Moving forward, the framework and successes can now be shared with the rest of the WASH in HCF sector, and promoted as a tool to better prepare HCFs to provide safe and sustainable care to communities amidst the challenges of climate change.
A water tap at Cheung Prey Referral Hospital, Cambodia.
Moch Pheach, 75, washes her hands at Svay Chuk Health Center, Cambodia.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Our Country Programs
An aerial view of the floating community in Phloy Touk, Cambodia.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Cambodia
In the last year in Cambodia, our water, sanitation and hygiene programs have supported:
15
facilities (benefitting 39,880 people)
Expenditure: $2,094,534
Major Project Funders
• SIDA
• WGAC
• DFAT
• RTI
• ISF-UTS
• VF Foundation
• Etiqa Life Insurance
• WaterAid UK
9
(benefitting 26,047 people)
48,781
people in their homes
• Agenda for Change
• Australian Water Partnership
• Taiwan Fund for Children and Families
• Individual –Philanthropic
Locations
• Kampong Chhnang
• Kampong Cham
• Kampong Thom
• Kampong Speu
• Kandal
• Phnom Penh
• Preah Vihear
• Kratie
• Rattanakiri
Samphors, 12, clean dishes at her home in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia.
Meas Art, 70, washes her hands outside a toilet facility in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Papua New Guinea
Students use the taps at their new school toilet block in Central Province, Papua New Guinea.
In the last year in Papua New Guinea, our water, sanitation and hygiene programs have supported:
19
schools (5,361 students and staff)
3
healthcare facilities (benefitting 21,483 patients and staff)
Expenditure: $2,476,946
Major Project Funders
• The Coca Cola Foundation
• Australian Water Partnership
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• DFAT
• Griffith University
• SPC
• Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Locations
• East Sepik
• Central
• East New Britain
• Madang
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Timor-Leste
In the last year in Timor-Leste, our water, sanitation and hygiene programs have supported:
4
healthcare facilities, benefitting 13,728 patients and staff
Sandra, 13, and Novia, 14, walk back from collecting water with their parents in Liquica, TimorLeste.
3,746 people in their homes
Expenditure: $1,651,411
Major Project Funders
• Care (USDA)
• World Vision
• SIDA
• DFAT
Locations
• Manufahi
• Liquica
• Bobonaro
• Dili
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Monitoring and Evaluation
WaterAid is committed to monitoring, evaluating and learning from our projects in order to assess the impact we are having on the people and communities we work with, and to strengthen the effectiveness of our approaches. We undertake evaluations of all large projects, and mid-term reviews of large projects with a duration of more than three years.
During 2023-24, WaterAid conducted three evaluations (two internal and one external) of projects supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). This included two projects in Cambodia and one in Timor-Leste.
Following each evaluation, we systematically discussed the evaluation findings and recommendations, and identified follow up actions which will be taken to strengthen future programming.
In addition to formal evaluations, program teams and partners regularly come together to discuss and reflect on project progress and to explore and document challenges and lessons.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Key lessons and insights
The following are some key lessons that have emerged through our evaluations, and learning and reflection processes in the last year:
1. While approaches to strengthening water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Healthcare Facilities (HCF) can build on successful models used elsewhere, they must be fully contextualised to the health sector
Our evaluation of the WASH in HCF project in Timor-Leste found the incinerators constructed by the project had not been widely used by healthcare facility staff. The incinerators had been used in other contexts but needed to be further adapted to meet the HCF’s needs. Future projects are prioritising working closely with the municipal department of health to strengthen and test a new incinerator design that is more fit for purpose.
2. Locally-led, context specific approaches to addressing climate change are critical
Each community has its own unique adaptive capacity and vulnerability to climate change. Community engagement and ongoing support to strengthen climate resilience should build on customary and traditional practices which have developed throughout generations to respond to local climate risks. This lesson was identified through community-engagement work in Wewak, PNG.
“When we deliver community engagement sessions on climate change and WASH interconnections, we have to be contextspecific and take a context-based approach in the solutions and actions to improve climate resilience.” – Florence Parinjo, Wewak District Council of Women President, Boiken Rural LLG
3. Approaches to shifting harmful gender norms should prioritise men’s engagement, alongside strategies to empower women
During a learning exchange between our Cambodia and Timor-Leste country teams, both teams reflected on their shared challenges in influencing shifts in harmful gender norms. While our emphasis on women’s leadership and engagement in WASH governance has bolstered women’s participation, we need to do more to shift attitudes of men in positions of power to support meaningful, long-term change.
Madison, 10, washes her hands at her community tap in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea.
Chayhout, 32, beside his floating garden in Kandal Province, Cambodia.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Our Supporters Community Fundraising
Our supporters have had another incredible year of fundraising. As always, we’re inspired by their determination and commitment to take on a personal challenge while raising money to help people living without clean water.
Col took part in our inaugural Big Spring Swim event in November last year. Col has spent his whole life swimming in rivers and pools around greater Sydney, and made his laps count – he raised $560.75, a fantastic contribution to WaterAid.
Col was motivated to participate in the Big Spring Swim after his life experiences travelling to places around the world and witnessing the effects of a lack of safe drinking. He told us: “Water is the most essential part of life”.
Most of Col’s sponsorship came from friends and family and he raised funds through selling his own paintings. He also promoted the Big Spring Swim at local aquatic centres and through his Ukelele and Harmonica Blue Mountains Group, helping to spread the word far and wide for clean water.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Ama Isabel, 62, and her grandaughter
Bina drinking clean water from the tap near their home in Timor-Leste.
Tim raised a fantastic $438.96 by taking on The Water Challenge – giving up every drink except water for a month. He found the benefits much outweighed the challenge!
“I was inspired to take part in the WaterAid Water Challenge through a long-term friend who participated last year and recommended it as I had mentioned wanting to take a month off drinking alcohol. Little did I realise the true challenge that lay ahead by also giving up coffee, which coincidentally was also the hardest part of the challenge for myself. Each morning I’d smell the fresh brewing coffee from either friends or family and I’d have to excuse myself promptly less I give in to the delicious smell and want to have my own.
The sponsorship part of the challenge was surprisingly the easiest part as I chose to adopt some of the measures I found on the WaterAid website by offering sober drives to various events and functions for friends. Let’s not forget also the raising of money to a worthwhile cause! I’d also like to say that regarding any tips for any other potential participants, the number one suggestion I found that helped me achieve success is the clarity I achieved each and every day. I never realised how certain other drinks (including coffee!) cause mental stagnation. The clear headed and bright disposition I achieved through just water each and every day was second to none.”
Individual Donors
We couldn’t deliver clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene without the support of our wonderful supporters who give throughout the year.
Whether taking part in an event, making a donation to an appeal or giving a monthly gift – their generosity helps our teams plan and deliver long-lasting solutions that make clean water a part of everyday life for more people around the world.
Our supporters raised money to bring clean water to children like Samphors and Ponleu in Cambodia by giving donations and buying Gifts for Life for family and friends as their holiday gifts.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Queensland Ambassador and Fundraising Committee and WaterAid teams members - (left to right) Eric Guthrie, Tom Muller, Daniel Lambert, Colin McDonnell, Scott Fellowes, Mark Trembath, Bronwyn Wilcox, Mike Williamson, David Taylor, Mal Shepherd, Louise Dudley, Purvi Midwinter, Sheyanne Frisby, Margaret Riley and James Twohig.
State Committees
WaterAid would like to acknowledge and recognise the hard work and dedication of all its Committee Members and Ambassadors.
Queensland
Committee: Scott Fellowes (Chair), Lachlan Green (Deputy Chair), Sheyanne Frisby (Secretary), Ajay Thakur (Treasurer), Ellen Kemp, Jessica Fraser, Geoff Collins, Catherine Waterhouse, Ciara Otter, Lee Foster, Jackson Price, Purvi Midwinter, Joanne Seach
Ambassadors: Daniel Lambert (Lead), John Ciccotelli, Mal Shepherd, Eric Guthrie, Colin McDonnell, Frank Phillips, David Taylor, Laura Fluck, Margaret Riley, Patrick Newell, Jane Death, Sandra Hall, Daniel Wheeley
New South Wales
Committee: Steve Adamthwaite (Chair), Paul Sproules (Deputy Chair), Chris Godfrey (Treasurer), Sharolt Kicsi, Aaron Goth, Stephen Liu, Nick Drull,
Ivan Reolon, Jessica Benten, Sameer Joshi
Ambassadors: Greg Taylor (Lead), Paul Everett, Jim Livas, Julian Briggs, Ben Newton, Steve Hall, Clare Porter, Nicola Wallace
Victoria
Committee: Andrew Lawrie (Chair), Joanne Brincat, Laurence Newcome (Secretary), Su Ann Khoo (Treasurer), Kate Patterson, Alice Greco
Ambassadors: Trevor Hall (Lead), Tony Norrish, Damian Bradley, David Kirby, Peter Sherwood, Lindsey Brown, Richard McCarthy, Joanne Potts, Rohan McLellan
South Australia
Committee: Richard Petterson (Chair), Stuart Peevor (Deputy Chair), Steve Morton (Treasurer),
Robran Cock (Secretary), Charlie Litster, James Martin, Jess Iacopetta, Kim Falster, Meena Yadav, Sarah Colette, Shrastra Lama, Steve Whichelo, Zoe Wilson, Mitch Laginestra
Ambassadors: Richard Petterson (Lead), Karlene Maywald, David Ryan, Kellie McDonald, David Howard, Chris Hewitson, Tony Guidera
Western Australia
Committee: Cristiano
Carvalho (Chair), Lisa Chan (Deputy Chair), Begoña Rodriguez (Treasurer), Kyllie Whitehead (Secretary), Renee Blandin, June Sim, Halina Lamparski, Clint Dees, Shirley Field, Kate Bowker, Jason Ringrose, Dinithi Fernando, Pat McCaffrey
Ambassadors: Garth Walter (Lead Ambassador)
Events
Our volunteer State Fundraising Committees have worked tirelessly over the past year to enhance engagement, networking and fun for WaterAid event attendees. We held a total of 20 events across Australia and even established a new branch in Tasmania.
These fantastic events continue to be supported by the water sector through brand awareness, sponsorship, prize donations, and attendance. This year, our four Gala Balls in Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne attracted a total of 115 different sponsors. This exceptional support not only resulted in recordbreaking funds raised but also offered all attendees valuable face-to-face networking opportunities.
In Victoria, we celebrated our 20-year anniversary with the “20 Years of Impact” Gala Ball at the Sofitel on Collins. The event was a tremendous success, raising a recordbreaking $500,000 and entertaining 550 attendees.
Additionally, we hosted our inaugural Golf Day at Riversdale Golf Course, supported by eight sponsors and 12 teams.
In Queensland, we hosted our highly popular annual Golf Day at Virginia Golf Course, the “A Night in the Jungle” Gala Ball, and our much-loved Trivia Night. These events collectively
raised over $369,000 with the support of 49 sponsors.
In New South Wales our annual Golf Day had a record 26 different sponsors involved, and the Gala Ball was held at the beautiful Sydney Town Hall with 540 guests attending from across the water industry. More than $445,459 was raised.
In South Australia we raised over $171,445 through the annual Soccer Tournament, the highly popular 12th anniversary WaterAid Volleyball Tournament, and the “Mission Possible” Gala Ball which took place in September at the Adelaide Convention Centre with 440 attendees. A new record for the South Australia Committee. We also established an Ambassador group who are working together to ultimately beat the East Coast in funds raised!
This year Western Australia held a highly successful Lawn Bowls event and Trivia night, as well as a Wine Wall at the AWA Conference. Collectively these events raised over $23,000.
Thanks to the incredible support of the State Fundraising Committees and Water Sector Ambassador Groups, we raised net over $1.4 million this year. Their efforts have significantly expanded our network of supporters within the water industry and beyond.
WaterAid would like to extend a heartfelt and sincere thank you to our wonderful state Fundraising Committees and Ambassador Groups who volunteer their time to meet with other like-minded individuals to raise vital funds for water, sanitation and hygiene in our region through WaterAid Australia events.
Guests attending the Victoria "20 Years of Impact" Gala Ball.
Our Corporate Partners
WaterAid receives substantial and essential support from the corporate sector to help reach everyone, everywhere with safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene.
1. Global Partners
We recognise and thank the following organisations for their support of WaterAid globally:
2. National Partners
We recognise gratefully the following companies who partner specifically to support WaterAid Australia’s work in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste:
3. Major Sponsors
4. Gold Members
5. Silver Members
6. Entry Level Members
Strategic Partnerships
Two Decades of Impactful Collaboration with the Water Sector
WaterAid Australia was founded in 2004 by the local water sector. Our founders, Grant Hill, and Tony Kelly (former Managing Director at Yarra Valley Water) brought together the Australian water industry and the international development sector to establish WaterAid Australia, driven by the recognition of the profound injustice faced by those living without safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene. The sector’s commitment to addressing this issue was unwavering. Since then, together, we have reached 5.72 million people across 14 countries through our water, sanitation, and hygiene projects.
The steadfast support we receive from the water sector has been instrumental in our success. Through corporate memberships, employee development programs, supporter trips, and various social and networking events
such as Gala Balls and Golf Days, the water industry has provided essential funds and expertise. This unwavering and consistent commitment from the sector has enabled us to strategically address challenges and empower our local teams to create lasting, sustainable impact.
WaterAid Australia would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge these organisations who have been supporting us through membership or sponsorship for our entire 20 years:
Australian Water Association, Barwon Water, Central Highlands Water, GHD, Gippsland Water, Golburn Valley Water, Greater Western Water, Hunter Water, Interflow, North East Water, Power and Water, SA Water, Shoalhaven Water, South East Water, South Gippsland Water, Sydney Water.
Tom Muller ready to hit the pavement with the Yarra Valley Water team during Walk for Water.
Year in Review
In 2023-24, our Corporate Membership program continues to see record levels of participation, with 65 organisations currently taking part. Through their membership these organisations provide considerable financial support to WaterAid, and in exchange we enjoy working with them to raise their brand and profile, and provide a range of staff engagement and development activities.
In 2023, the Winnovators employee engagement program was run was run with a focus on WaterAid members from Australia and New Zealand. With 14 teams taking part, the participants were tasked with looking at developing sustainable solutions to address challenges in accessing clean water in healthcare settings in rural TimorLeste, working in partnership with our TimorLeste colleagues. Watercare from Auckland took out the overall winner prize, while best solve challenge prizes were awarded to Greater Western Water and Mott MacDonald, with Seqwater bringing in the prize for top fundraiser – amongst a great collective effort that saw over $100,000 raised for WaterAid.
Our annual Walk for Water peer to peer fundraising event enjoyed another successful year in 2023. For the first time ever, we had over 1,000 people take part in the event. We had great support from 16 water sector senior leaders from across Australia as Water Leaders, to help build awareness of the global water crisis, to promote the event, and to generate friendly fundraising competition across the water sector. A total of 128 teams came together to build awareness of WaterAid’s work and mission, and together raised over $200,000.
Feature Story – ‘A Cheeky and Very Impactful Collaboration’
WaterAid has continued our highly valued strategic partnership with Who Gives a Crap. Over the past year our partnership has taken on an exciting new evolution, with Who Gives a Crap launching a new collaboration with Heaps Normal.
Heaps Normal is a certified BCorp and a dedicated non-alcoholic beer company that is changing drinking culture. Together with Who Gives a Crap, they are committed to supporting more people having access to clean water and sanitation across the globe.
Both brands have come together to develop the ‘Cheeky IPA’ - a special release that was made available to the public in March 2024. Along with Who Gives a Crap’s ongoing support, WaterAid Australia will also benefit from $1.50 for each can sold. This valuable contribution will go a long way in helping WaterAid further our work and achieve our shared objectives.
The Seqwater Winnovators team hosting their morning tea fundraiser.
Directors’ report
WaterAid Australia Directors present this report on WaterAid Australia Limited for the 12 month period ended 31 March 2024.
Financial overview: 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
Where did the money come from in 2023/24?
WaterAid Australia’s 2023/24 total income was $13.9m, a decrease of $2.6m or 16% compared to the prior year. In 2023/24, we successfully completed the first year of extension of our major grantWater for Women - funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). DFAT contributed significantly to our mission, by funding $4.1m of our work, representing 29% of our total income (2022/23: $7.9m or 48%).
2023/24 fundraising income was $6.5m, a 21% increase on the prior year (2022/23: $5.3m). Support from the water sector remains a positive component of our fundraising effort. WaterAid Australia also received total funding of $2m via other members of the WaterAid International Federation (2022/23: $1.9m).
Where did the money go in 2023/24?
Total expenditure in 2023/24 was $14.4m, a decrease of $4.5m or 24% from the prior year (2022/23: $18.9m). Our programmatic work made up 64% of our total expenditure, fundraising investment were 27% and accountability and administration totalled 10%. We efficiently and effectively maintained our commitment to the Australian public of being a transparent and accountable organisation.
A child washes their hands at school in Timor-Leste.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Our Board
The Hon. Karlene Maywald, Chair, is Managing Director of Maywald Consultants Pty Ltd, providing specialist advice to the private and public sectors. Karlene’s time as a Cabinet Minister with the SA Government has given her extensive experience in high-level strategic planning, oversight of major infrastructure planning and delivery, reform of governance and organisational structures, budget oversight, change management, problem-solving across a broad range of high-risk sectors and driving the delivery of major policy reforms. She has an intuitive ability to analyse and identify key information to support decision making and a very good understanding of the importance of good governance. She uses her inquiring mind to seek innovative solutions to overcome obstacles and generate improvements to service delivery. Attended: 3/4
Kate MacMaster, Deputy Chair, is the Principal Consultant, Bendelta. She has two decades of cross-cultural experience, consulting in 16 countries across Australia and Pacific, designing, implementing and evaluating capacity building and leadership programs for organisations across many sectors including international aid and development, the Defence and Intelligence communities, and the Australian and Asian water sectors. Her particular passion focuses on gender equality and social inclusion. Kate is the Lead Facilitator for women in leadership program Homeward Bound 5 – the fifth cohort of 80 women in STEMM which culminated in a 3-week expedition to Antarctica in 2022. She is also an Alumnus from the inaugural 2016 Homeward Bound Leadership Program for Women in STEMM and has been on the leadership faculty ever since. Attended: 0/0
Robert Glasser is the Head of the Climate and Security Policy Centre at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Robert has over 30 years of experience as a practitioner, advocate and policy maker in the areas of climate change, sustainable development and disaster response. He was previously the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Head of the United Nations Office of Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and a member of the United Nations Secretary General’s Senior Management Group. He was also previously the Secretary-General of CARE International, Chief Executive of CARE Australia and an Assistant Director-General of the Australian Aid Programme (AusAID). Attended: 3/4
Felicity Green is the Co-founder & Director of for-purpose consulting firm Ensemble Strategy. She works predominantly with not-for-profit, government and philanthropic organisations on strategic planning and funding for sustainability. Felicity has extensive experience in profit for purpose funding models, cross-sector collaborations and social innovation. Attended: 4/4
Louise Dudley is a professional non-executive director and strategic water advisor to Aurecon group. Louise has more than 15 years of experience as a Director, Chair, Board Committee Chair and Committee member in water, financial services and not for profit sectors. She currently serves on water related boards in Australia and the USA, reflecting her personal commitment to the water sector. Louise has also held senior executive roles including Chief Executive Officer of Urban Utilities from 2012 to 2022, and prior to this, was the utility’s founding Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Urban Utilities, Louise held senior executive roles in the local government and aged care sectors and spent 17 years with global consultancy KPMG. Louise holds a
Top row: Karlene Maywald, Kate MacMaster, Robert Glasser, Felicity Green, Louise Dudley
Bottom row: Pat McCafferty, Denisha Anbu, Chiedza Malunga, Brian Krishna
range of qualifications including a Bachelor of Commerce, Chartered Accountant (AC) and Certificate of Superannuation Management and has completed AICD’s Company Directors Program and INSEAD’s Executive Educations Program. She is a member of Chief Executive Women and her contribution to the engineering profession was acknowledged by the awarding of an Engineering Executive (ComplEAustEngExec) in 2021. Attended: 4/4
Pat McCafferty is the Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water, one of Australia’s largest water utilities with over 30 years of experience in the water sector including advising the Federal Government as part of the National Water Initiative and working in the USA water sector. He is also Chair of the Thriving Communities Partnership and past Chair of the Water Services Association of Australia. Pat is a member of the Leadership Oversight Committee for the Victorian Government’s Women in Water program and is a member of the Committee for Melbourne’s Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee. He is a signatory to the UN Global Compact and a passionate advocate of the Sustainable Development Goals. Attended: 4/4
Denisha Anbu, is a practising lawyer and governance professional with over 20 years experience in commercial law and corporate governance, across a variety of sectors. Denisha is currently an Executive General Manager of Sydney Water (and the Corporate Secretary), and leads multi-functional teams, providing trusted advice to meet legal and regulatory obligations, manage risk, and enable delivery of business objectives. Prior to joining Sydney Water 10 years ago, Denisha practised law in a top-tier global law firm (King & Wood Mallesons) for 14 years, focusing on technology transactions and intellectual property law. Denisha has a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons 1), a Masters of Law, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia. Attended: 3/4
Chiedza Malunga is a public health professional with experience in refugee health and sexual and reproductive health and research in multicultural communities. Chiedza has worked in statewide programs across Victoria, ranging from individual and communitybased programs through to policy and advocacy initiatives. Attended: 4/4
Brian Krishna is the Managing Director for Xylem Australia and New Zealand and brings with him over 25 years experience in the water sector. He is responsible for delivering sustainable and efficient water technology solutions to clients across the ANZ region. With a private sector background, Brian has an MBA and has served most of his career in management and executive leadership positions across Asia Pacific - driving growth through innovation and education. Brian is an experienced executive leader focused on overcoming water challenges through strategic planning, community engagement and a diverse and equitable workplace. Attended: 4/4
Summary of Finance Report
WaterAid's full financial statements are available at: www.wateraid.org/au
These summary financial reports have been prepared in accordance with the requirements set out in the ACFID Code of Conduct. For further information on the Code please refer to the ACFID Code of Conduct Implementation Guidance available at: www.acfid.asn.au
Income statement for the year ended 31 March 2024
EXPENDITURE
During the year, WaterAid Australia had no transactions in the following categories: political or religious adherence promotion programs, international political or religious proselysation programs expenditure or domestic programs. Also, WaterAid Australia does not bring to account any nonmonetary revenue or expenditure.
Statement of financial position as at 31 March 2024
Statement of changes in equity
Directors' declaration
The Directors of the Group declare that:
The Directors of the Group declare that:
Directors' declaration
The Directors of the Group declare that:
1. The consolidated financial statements and notes of WaterAid Australia are in accordance with the Australian Council for International Development Charities and Not-for-profit Commission Act 2012, including:
1. The consolidated financial statements and notes of WaterAid Australia Ltd for the year ended 31 March 2022 are in accordance with the Australian Council for International Development Code of Conduct and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission Act 2012, including:
a. complying with Australian Accounting Standards, the Australian Code of Conduct and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission
1. The consolidated financial statements and notes of WaterAid Australia Ltd for the year ended 31 March 2024 are in accordance with the Australian Council for International Development Code of Conduct and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission Act 2012, including:
b. giving a true and fair view of the financial position as at 31 March financial year ended on that date;
a. complying with Australian Accounting Standards, the Australian Council for International Development Code of Conduct and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission Regulations; and
a. complying with Australian Accounting Standards, the Australian Council for International Development Code of Conduct and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission Regulations; and
2. In the Directors' opinion, there are reasonable grounds to believe that as and when they become due and payable.
b. giving a true and fair view of the financial position as at 31 March 2022 and of its performance for the financial year ended on that date;
b. giving a true and fair view of the financial position as at 31 March 2024 and of its performance for the financial year ended on that date;
This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.
2. In the Directors' opinion, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.
2. In the Directors' opinion, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.
This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.
Director ................................................................................................................................................
This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.
Hon. Karlene Maywald, Chair
Director ................................................................................................................................................
Hon. Karlene Maywald, Chair
Dated 11 of July 2024
Louise Dudley
Dated 7 of July 2022
Director ................................................................................................................................................
Louise Dudley
Dated 11 of July 2024
Dated 7 of July 2022
Director ................................................................................................................................................
Independent Auditor's Report
Opinion
WaterAid Australia Ltd and Controlled Entities
ABN 99 700 687 141
Report of the Independent Auditor on the Summary Financial Statements
The summary financial statements, which comprise the summary statement of financial position as at 31 March 2024, the summary statement of profit and loss and other comprehensive income and a summary statement of changes in equity for the year then ended, are derived from the audited financial report of WaterAid Australia Ltd and Controlled Entities for the year ended 31 March 2024.
In our opinion, the accompanying summary financial statements are consistent, in all material respects, with the audited financial report.
Summary Financial Statements
The summary financial statements do not contain all the disclosures required by Australian Accounting Standards – General Purpose Financial Statements – Simplified Disclosures, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 and the ACFID Code of Conduct. Reading the summary financial statements and the auditor’s report thereon, therefore, is not a substitute for reading the audited financial report and the auditor’s report thereon The summary financial statements and the audited financial report do not reflect the effects of events that occurred subsequent to the date of our report on the audited financial report.
The Audited Financial Report and Our Report Thereon
We expressed an unmodified audit opinion on the audited financial report in our report dated 18 July 2024.
Board’s Responsibility for the Summary Financial Statements
The board is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the summary financial statements
Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on whether the summary financial statements are consistent, in all material respects, with the audited financial report based on our procedures, which were conducted in accordance with Auditing Standard ASA 810 Engagements toReport on Summary Financial Statements
Saward Dawson
Partner:
Matthew Crouch
Chartered Accountant
Date: 5 August 2024
Blackburn, Victoria 3130
WaterAid Australia places accountability at the forefront of our work and upholds the highest standard of practice. We are an active member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), making us a signatory to their Code of Conduct, which prescribes the highest standards of development practice. Information about how to make a complaint on breach of conduct can be found at: www.acfid.asn.au
WaterAid Australia is fully accredited by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This status represents the Australian Government’s confidence in our organisational effectiveness, governance and development programs. We are an active member of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits
Commission and the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association. We are also committed to the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s Principles and Standards of Fundraising Practice.
We adhere to the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations and ISO31000 Risk Management Practice, and we undergo both internal audits by WaterAid International and an annual external audit.
People in local communities are at the centre of our work and WaterAid Australia has an organisational Code of Conduct, Ethical Guidelines and a strong commitment to child safeguarding to ensure the best interests of our local partners and community members are always our priority.
WaterAid/ Tariq Hawari
Stay in touch
To sign up for our regular e-newsletters, head to wateraid.org.au/subscribe
WaterAidAustralia
WaterAidAustralia
WaterAidAus
WaterAidAustralia /company/wateraidaustralia
WaterAid Australia
3 Albert Coates Lane, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
