Our vision
People, land, cities and water are all connected.
As populations have grown and cities have filled with more people, the relationships between water, land, people and cities have changed.
Over the last century, we've tried to make water management easy by breaking the water cycle into different parts to manage separately - tap water, wastewater, stormwater runoff, flooding, rivers...
But these past approaches no longer meet our needs. Populations are continuing to grow, and our climate is getting hotter and drier. We’re facing new and more difficult challenges in our relationship with water.
The way we've been managing water - disconnecting it from the water cycle and focusing on each part individually - is starting to cause big problems and missed opportunities.
We’re working to shift this thinking.
We support government, water sector and industry organisations to take a more holistic approach to water management. One that recognises the water cycle as a connected system, and places people at the centre of decision making.
Through knowledge sharing, skills development and collaboration, we’re here to help you build the capability you need to manage water in ways that support livable places, healthy environments and resilient communities.
Who we are
Clearwater is a capability building organisation for the water sector. We help people and organisations better understand the complexity of water. We help you build the skills and connections needed to manage it sustainably.
We don't deliver infrastructure or regulation. We support the people who do, by strengthening their knowledge, capability and collaboration across the sector.
What we do
We support people in the water sector through knowledge, skills and connections.
We build knowledge by sharing current research, emerging trends and practical resources that help people understand how water systems work as a whole.
We build skills by delivering training, workshops and learning experiences that support people to apply this knowledge in their day-to-day work.
We build connections by bringing people together across organisations and disciplines, creating spaces for collaboration, shared learning and collective problem-solving.
How we work
Everything we do at Clearwater is guided by our purpose and focused on supporting the water sector in practical, meaningful ways.
We recognise that water management happens through people. That’s why we take a human-centred approach and focus on building shared understanding, practical skills and strong connections across the sector.
Collaboration is crucial to our work, and collaboration doesn’t work without transparency. We build trust by being open about what we know, what we’re learning, and how decisions are made. And we work alongside others with a shared purpose.
Our work is informed by both established water knowledge and emerging science. We adapt as the sector changes and evolve our approach while staying grounded in what works.
We always prioritise carefully. We focus on the work that’s most relevant and valuable for our audiences at any given time.
Who we work with
Clearwater works primarily with local government, supported by partnerships across state government, water authorities, consultants, and non-government organisations.
Our programs are designed for individuals, teams and organisations working across planning, policy, design, delivery and management of water in urban and regional environments.
Why our work matters
Water is finite. No new water is created.
As cities grow and landscapes change, the way water moves through our natural and created water systems has become increasingly complex. Decisions made in one area inevitably affect another.
By supporting a more connected and holistic understanding of water, Clearwater helps the sector identify better outcomes, reduce unintended impacts, and unlock opportunities that conventional approaches might miss.
