e-News Edition #53 New

Date: 02-Oct-2025

Hot Topics

1. Farewell to Rebecca New

2. Invitation to Exhibit at ICID Congress 2026 – Marseille

3. Irrigear Delivers Biggest-Ever $50,000 Prize

4. Update: CID Step 3 is Now Live!

5. Federal Review of Apprenticeship Priority List: Have Your Say

6. Career Opportunity: Team Leader Irrigation

7. Wrap up 2025 with training – Open 2026 with opportunity

8. The Irrigation Australia Talent Hub – Employers Wanted!

1. Farewell to Rebecca New

After six years of dedicated service, Rebecca New has resigned from her role at Irrigation Australia.

Rebecca has been an important part of our team, working across key areas of the association. As Membership Manager, she provided strong support to members nationwide, always championing their needs and ensuring they remained at the centre of our work.

She also played a vital role in managing Irrigation Australia’s regional committees, ensuring strong engagement and alignment across states and territories. In Western Australia, Rebecca has been instrumental in leading the Waterwise Program, working closely with industry and government to promote sustainable water use and best practice.

Her leadership was also central to the successful delivery of the Waterwise Expo, which recently brought members, suppliers, and stakeholders together in Perth to showcase innovation and industry capability.

Throughout her time with Irrigation Australia, Rebecca has shown great passion and commitment to the irrigation industry and its members. Her contributions across membership, regional committees, and programs have strengthened our organisation and left a lasting positive impact.

We sincerely thank Rebecca for her hard work, dedication, and commitment to the industry. We wish her every success in her future endeavours.

2. Invitation to Exhibit at ICID Congress 2026 – Marseille

Following the success of the ICID 4th World Irrigation Forum in Malaysia, preparations are well underway for the 26th ICID International Congress and 77th IEC Meeting, to be held in Marseille, France, 12–17 October 2026. The congress is expected to attract around 900 participants from across the globe, providing a premier platform for knowledge exchange and industry collaboration.

Australian companies are warmly encouraged to participate as exhibitors. This is a valuable opportunity to showcase innovations, connect with international networks, and position Australian irrigation expertise on the global stage. ICID has already engaged with organisations such as Rubicon Water, and further interest from Australian companies would be welcomed.

Exhibition and sponsorship packages are now available, offering strong visibility across the congress program. Irrigation Australia encourages members to consider this international opportunity and share details with their networks.

Learn more about ICID 2026 Exhibition & Sponsorship Opportunities

For enquiries or to be connected directly, please contact Céline and Stéphane via the ICID Congress organising team.

3. Irrigear Delivers Biggest-Ever $50,000 Prize

Irrigear Independent Experts, Australia’s largest network of irrigation and water management specialists, has successfully concluded its biggest-ever customer promotion, awarding $50,000 in cash and nearly 700 prizes nationally.

The 12-month Win Here at Irrigear campaign was designed to celebrate the strength of independent stores within a national network while rewarding loyal customers across regional Australia. The headline prize was won by Queensland customer Sarah Berkery, who entered through Tropical Irrigation Services in Cairns after resolving an irrigation system issue with the store’s support.

General Manager Simon Treptow said the campaign’s success highlighted the power of collaboration:

“This is the largest promotion we’ve ever run, and it was only possible because of the combined strength of our independent member stores and industry partners.”

Delivered in partnership with leading suppliers including Lowara, White International, Franklin Electric, Hunter, Philmac and Vinidex, the campaign ran across all 80 Irrigear member stores. Seasonal prize opportunities spanned pumping, home irrigation, lighting, water filtration and more — providing tangible rewards for customer loyalty.

Tropical Irrigation Services owner Peter Crathern added that being part of Irrigear gave them access to promotional opportunities no single store could achieve alone:

“By being part of Irrigear, we gain access to supplier relationships and marketing campaigns that boost our business and create real value for customers.”

About Irrigear Independent Experts

Operating since 1987, Irrigear is Australia’s largest network of owner-operated irrigation, pumping, filtration and water management specialists, with 80 stores nationwide. Every Irrigear store is locally owned, ensuring customers receive personalised service from experts who understand soil types, water quality and regional climate challenges. Backed by national buying power and supplier partnerships, Irrigear combines local knowledge with the latest technology and products.

4. Update: CID Step 3 is Now Live!

The new Australian-led Certified Irrigation Designer (CID) Program has reached its next milestone, with Step 3 – the General Exam – now officially available.

This refreshed program has been designed to align with Irrigation Australia’s standards, offering updated learning resources, a simplified online application process through Ammonite, and secure 100% online exams supervised by nominated professionals.

What’s available now:

Step 2 – Pre-Qualification Exam: applications open
Step 3 – General Exam: now live and ready to complete
Step 4 – Expert-Led Design Tutoring & Practical Application: coming soon

Members can download the Participant Policy and Fact Sheet, submit their application, and access program details via the Irrigation Australia website.

Download the Participant Policy and Fact Sheet, apply, and access full details here.

5. Federal Review of Apprenticeship Priority List: Have Your Say

The federal government is reviewing how occupations are selected for the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List, aiming to ensure the process more accurately reflects skills shortages.

Currently, only occupations within Major Group 3 (Trades and Technicians) and Major Group 4 (Community and Personal Service Workers) are considered, as these groups traditionally lead to apprenticeships. However, this method excludes several apprenticeships outside these groups, limiting their access to the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive Scheme even when they are in national shortage.

The following roles are proposed for removal from the list:

362411 Nurseryperson
362511 Arborist
362711 Landscape Gardener
362712 Irrigation Technician

With irrigation technicians at risk of losing recognition under the scheme, Irrigation Australia encourages members and stakeholders to make a submission to the consultation before it closes on 17 October 2025.

Read the discussion paper and have your say

6. Career Opportunity: Team Leader Irrigation

The City of Belmont is seeking a Team Leader Irrigation to oversee the design, installation and maintenance of the City’s irrigation systems, ensuring high-quality presentation of gardens, lawns and streetscapes.

This permanent full-time role offers a 9-day fortnight roster, a competitive salary, and commuter use of a council vehicle. Key responsibilities include supervising a work crew, programming and maintaining automated irrigation systems, preparing annual maintenance programs, and ensuring safe work practices.

Applicants will need a Certificate III in Irrigation Technology, leadership experience, and relevant licences and accreditations. Additional benefits include up to 16% superannuation, wellness initiatives, discounted leisure memberships, and active social club involvement.

Applications close Tuesday, 14 October 2025.

Learn more and apply via the Irrigation Careers Board

7. Wrap up 2025 with training – Open 2026 with opportunity

There’s still time to make 2025 count, with plenty of course options still open, now is the perfect opportunity to gain practical skills, boost your confidence, and strengthen your professional profile in the field of irrigation. We’ve recently loaded our training calendar through to June 2026 on our website, giving you even more flexibility to plan your learning journey.

Learners are loving:

User-friendly navigation
Simple, streamlined course structure
Easy progress tracking throughout the program

Upcoming training

October:

November:

December:

Click here to view all upcoming training

Train your team and save

Upskill your workforce while saving on costs, as discounts are available for multiple staff enrolments from the same organisation.

Contact: training@irrigation.org.au to discuss group bookings.

Explore your funding options

Funding and subsidies are available for the Certificate III in Irrigation Technology (AHC32424) across QLD, NSW, SA, and WA. Several states have recently updated their funding programs, and Irrigation Australia has extended and renewed contracts to support trainees under new pathways like Career Start and Career Boost.

Check your eligibility here or reach out to training@irrigation.org.au to learn more.

8. The Irrigation Australia Talent Hub – Employers Wanted!

Finding and keeping great people is one of the biggest challenges across our industry. That’s why Irrigation Australia, in partnership with Goheadhunt, has launched the Irrigation Talent Hub - a platform where employers can connect with pre-screened, job-ready candidates.

Register your free employer profile
Access the growing talent pool
Only pay if you hire (Pay-for-Success model)

Featured talent now available:

T.L. – Team Leader Irrigation | City of Belmont, WA – Full-time, 9-day fortnight, competitive salary.
F.L. – Irrigation Technician | Perth, WA – Full-time role with Frenchams Landscaping Services, seeking experienced technician.
B.R. – Reticulation Technician | Perth, WA – Full-time, hands-on field role with Beyond Reticulation.
F.I.N. – Irrigation Channel Operator | Emerald, QLD – Full-time position with Fairbairn Irrigation Network, supporting regional water delivery.
P.S.S. – Landscape Supervisor | Mandurah, WA – Full-time role with Peel Scape Solutions, leading projects across residential, commercial and local government.
N.W.S. – Commercial Irrigation Serviceman | Perth Metro, WA – Full-time, service and maintenance role with Newground Water Services.

Irrigation Australia Members: Don’t miss out - set up your free profile today and access a growing pool of talent.

Join the Irrigation Talent Hub

Click here if you are interested in becoming an Irrigation Australia Member.

Click here to view upcoming Training Courses.

Click here to view the latest Career Opportunities available within the Irrigation Industry.

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