The department's Woola Awards and Employee Recognition ceremony is held annually on the 23 June. This date is internationally recognised by the United Nations as Public Service Day to 'celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community'. In the Noongar language ‘Woola’ – meaning shout of praise.
Significant Achievement Award
This year’s Significant Achievement Award winner Michael Whiting was recognised for his exemplary and innovative work on the WA's water monitoring network.
Michael leads and manages the department’s Hydrologic Technology Centre (HTC) located at Welshpool.
The HTC has a dedicated team of instrument technicians, hydrographers and related specialists who support the department’s water monitoring programs by researching, developing and supporting fit-for-purpose hydrometric instrumentation and infrastructure systems, which are deployed across the state.
Michael led the multi-million dollar, Internet Protocol (IP) telemetry upgrade project for the statewide water measurement and monitoring program through 2022-2024.
This project required the department to design, procure and install about 450 new satellite and mobile network telemetry systems to automatically transmit data from river gauging, rainfall and water quality monitoring sites across the state.
This near-real-time telemetered hydrological data underpins a range of water resource development and management businesses within the department and the community, including supporting the department’s responsibilities under State Hazard Plan – Severe Weather and enabling the BoM and DFES flood warning and advice services.
The upgrade program was required to ensure continued transmission of essential data in response to the impending cessation of the Globalstar satellite service in 2023 and the Telstra 3G mobile network in 2024.
In reading his citation, Manager Talent and Culture Michelle Raymond said the Significant Achievement nomination is for the particular efforts of Michael who went 'above and beyond' to ensure the telemetry project could be delivered within scope and on time, as well as enabling a range of technology and process improvements along the way.
"Michael is extremely dedicated and hard-working and also very humble – he will be uncomfortable being recognised for the team effort that this is, however, it would not have been achieved without Michael’s capabilities and outstanding work ethic and commitment," she said.
In accepting this award Michael was quick to note that his achievements were part of the efforts of the broader project team across the department’s portfolios including regional staff and the department’s procurement specialists.
Aboriginal Empowerment Award
Mighel Chivilo and Phil Correll were presented the Aboriginal Empowerment Award which recognises the outstanding contribution of individuals and teams who went “above and beyond” in the delivery of a significant project or piece of work that over the last 12 months has contributed to our Aboriginal empowerment vision.
Migel and Phil have played pivotal roles in guiding the Yamatji Aboriginal trainees, Breanna Mead and Lyric Papertalk within the framework of the DWER's strategic initiatives aimed at fostering environmental sustainability and water resource management in Western Australia. Their involvement in the training program not only empowered the Aboriginal trainees but also directly contributed to the department’s broader mission and vision.
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