Flood Management Capacity Building Training Program

Rain Consulting has delivered the Melbourne Water Flood Management Capacity Building Program since 2021, leading the sector in technical training and policy education. In 2024, the program won both the Stormwater Victoria and the Stormwater Australia National Awards for Excellence in Policy and Education. The program is renowned for its practical, tailored sessions, designed to build flood risk management skills across councils, authorities, and industry partners.

Above & Beyond Strategies

Councils across Victoria bring diverse experiences and approaches to flood management and modelling. Melbourne Water sought to build consistent capability and shared understanding across its partners, linking technical training directly to the Port Phillip and Westernport Flood Management Strategy and equipping the sector for current and future flood challenges. The annual training courses are open to all 38 municipal councils in Metropolitan Melbourne.

Rain delivered the following solutions.

• Designed and delivered four online sessions per year, each built around the latest sector needs and participant feedback.
• Engaged technical experts, council speakers, and real-world case studies to keep content relevant and actionable.
• Directly linked all training topics to actions in the Melbourne Water Flood Management Strategy, making the sessions a key delivery mechanism for the strategy itself.
• Used interactive technology and facilitated live Q&A for maximum participant engagement.
• Developed program content and delivery style in partnership with Melbourne Water and participating councils.
• Delivered training as live, interactive modules with supporting resources, recordings, and summary materials.
• Led ongoing evaluation, adapting the program in response to participant surveys and sector needs.

The Flood Management Capacity Building Program has trained hundreds of council officers and industry professionals, raised the sector’s baseline knowledge, and directly influenced flood management practice across Victoria. The dual awards received in 2024 reflect sector-wide recognition for innovation, relevance, and impact in policy and education.

Creating a shared foundation of flood management expertise across Victoria—equipping councils, authorities, and industry partners with the skills and confidence to meet today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s. Training session recordings, available via Melbourne Water’s *Let’s Talk* website, are now used by many councils as part of their staff inductions, extending the program’s reach and lasting impact.

Resources: Flood Management Strategy Capacity Building | Let’s Talk | Melbourne Water