Partners

Effective stakeholder engagement and informed advocacy are critical in advancing water reform.

To progress its COAG reform objectives, the Commission collaborates extensively with federal, state and territory government agencies.

Our Strategic Plan 2012–15 signals even stronger engagement with COAG and jurisdictions, who have core stewardship responsibility for water as a vital input to vibrant communities, a healthy economy and a sustainable environment.

The Commission actively participates in a range of industry and research alliances that provide important channels for sharing knowledge, building capacity and improving water management.

• We are a member of the Australian Water Research and Development Coalition, which was formed in recognition of the benefits of coordination across those organisations responsible for brokering R&D knowledge in the urban water sector.
• The Commission also supports activities of the National Urban Water Research and Development Partnership Working Group, which was established to advance initiatives agreed at the inaugural National Urban Water Needs and Capability Forum held in September 2012.
• The Commission co-funded the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (together with the Australian Research Council) and continues to contribute to and promote the centre's strategic research goals.
• The Commission also collaborates with the Australian Water Association, the Water Services Association of Australia and a range of other water sector organisations.

The Commission values our stakeholders as partners in reform, actively seek their views to inform our decisions, and welcome their scrutiny of our actions.

We have established formal channels for stakeholder engagement—principally the Stakeholder Reference Group.

Previously, the Commission had convened specialist committees to provide us with technical and expert advice, for example the Groundwater Technical Advisory Group and the First Peoples' Water Engagement Council.

The Commission also communicates with clients, partners and stakeholders through a range of consultative processes, participation in water sector and industry events, and its program of meetings and site visits outside Canberra.

Through its partnerships and collaborations, the Commission seeks to:

• support others to take decisions that contribute to reform progress
• build a shared vision for sustainable water management
• harness the best evidence and knowledge available to inform its work program and deliverables
• broker information and build capacity by sharing findings and leading practice
• advocate the benefits of water reform and generate national conversation around related issues
• build our understanding of the interests and positions of industry and other non-government stakeholders.