**Amy is a Wastewater Treatment Operator whose path into the water industry began on her family’s cattle property. After working in farming, food production and civil maintenance, she found a career where she can keep developing practical skills while helping protect communities and the environment.**

## The lesson that led Amy to a career in water

> *“Water is life. Without it, nothing survives.”*

Amy’s father shared those words while teaching her how to help run their family’s 2,000 acre cattle property near Merriwa in New South Wales.

At the time, it felt like practical advice. Amy was new to farming and learning as she went. Her days included checking tank levels, cleaning troughs, repairing floats and valves, and making sure the cattle always had water.

Then her father passed away in 2018, and Amy took responsibility for the property as one of Australia’s most severe droughts tightened its grip. Suddenly, his words meant something entirely different.

**Every decision depended on water.**

By the end of 2019, the continuing drought and bushfires led Amy to make the difficult decision to sell the cattle and close the business. She did not know it then, but the lesson her father left her would eventually lead to a career protecting the resource he had taught her never to take for granted.

### Building practical skills

After leaving farming, Amy worked as a cheesemaker before joining the Water and Sewer team at Upper Hunter Shire Council in Scone. The role introduced her to maintaining water and wastewater networks, testing water samples, caring for pumps and treatment infrastructure, and working directly with the community.

After almost two years with the council, Amy moved to the Lower Hunter and completed a Civil Maintenance traineeship with Hunter Water. She gained practical experience constructing, maintaining and repairing water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. Her work included clearing sewer blockages, operating trucks and plant, reading water and sewer plans, responding to callouts and helping protect the environment during essential maintenance.

Amy also completed Certificate III qualifications in Water Industry Operations and Civil Construction Plant Operations. She obtained her HR truck and forklift licences and developed experience operating excavators, loaders and tipper trucks.

When a Wastewater Treatment Operator position with Veolia appeared, Amy saw an opportunity to build on everything she had learned. She applied and joined Veolia in March.

### Work that makes a difference

For Amy, the appeal of the water industry comes down to its impact on people and the environment. “*I like knowing that what I do each day helps safeguard public health and our natural surroundings*,” she says.

Although Amy brought practical skills and industry experience to Veolia, wastewater treatment introduced her to a new area of work.

The support of her colleagues has helped her continue learning. “*The people I work with are happy to share their knowledge and answer my endless questions*,” Amy says. “*I learn something new every day*.”

That willingness to learn has been a constant throughout her career. Amy moved from farming and food production into civil maintenance and water operations, continuing to build her skills through formal training and practical experience.

### Behind an essential service

Amy believes many people would be surprised by how much happens behind the scenes to provide reliable water and wastewater services.

“*You turn on the tap and get clean drinking water, or flush something away and never think about it again*,” she says. “*But there is a heap of daily work, checks and problem solving that makes all of that look effortless*.”

For Amy, that work has a clear purpose. It protects public health, supports communities and safeguards the environment.

It also connects back to the lesson she first learned on the family farm: **water is essential to everything.**

### Encouraging more women into operations

Amy’s advice to women considering work in water, civil maintenance or plant operations is straightforward.

“*If you are even thinking about it, try it,*” she says. “*The work is interesting, the people are good and you will pick things up quicker than you expect*.”

From her first day at Veolia, Amy says she felt welcomed and saw that safety was treated as a genuine priority.

She also sees opportunities to keep learning and developing within a global organisation. “*Where you start might not be where you end up*,” Amy says. “*There are plenty of opportunities. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.*”

Amy’s career shows how practical skills, curiosity and a willingness to learn can create positive change while helping protect the essential services communities rely on every day.

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