Melbourne Water’s digital learning program, The Future Water Story, has received national recognition after winning gold in the Digital – Education category at the GOV Design Awards. The program has also been shortlisted as a finalist in the BETTER FUTURE World Design Awards, which celebrate leading examples of digital education design internationally.
The global awards will be announced on January 19, with the ceremony scheduled for March in London. Melbourne Water will support the event from Australia, reflecting the program’s international reach through its design and educational approach.
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An immersive approach to water literacy
Developed by Melbourne Water’s Education Team in partnership with design studio S1T2, The Future Water Story is located at the Western Treatment Plant and offers students an interactive, simulation-based learning experience.
The program invites young people to explore a dynamic water system in which participants’ decisions influence outcomes in real time. Through storytelling, collaboration, and hands-on activities, students engage with complex water management challenges, including trade-offs among environmental, social, and economic outcomes.
Rather than focusing on static information, the experience is designed to mirror real-world water decision-making, helping participants understand system interdependencies and the long-term implications of choices.
Building confidence and agency
Melbourne Water’s Water Literacy Manager Melissa Cordy said the recognition reflects the organisation’s focus on empowering the next generation. “We designed The Future Water Story to spark curiosity, build confidence, and give young people a sense of agency on what it takes to shape a sustainable future,” Cordy said.
She said the award highlights the value of combining education, creativity and technology. “This award is a testament to what’s possible when education, creativity, and technology come together with a shared purpose,” she said.
Education as part of long-term water strategy
For the water sector, the program demonstrates how digital education can support broader sustainability objectives by building water literacy early. As climate change, population growth and infrastructure constraints place increasing pressure on water systems, informed communities are becoming an essential part of long-term resilience.
By using simulation and collaborative learning, The Future Water Story moves beyond traditional classroom models, offering a scalable approach to engaging students with complex water challenges in an accessible way.
From local program to global recognition
Recognition from national and international awards positions the program as an example of how water utilities can play a direct role in education and community engagement alongside their core operational responsibilities.
Melbourne Water acknowledged the contribution of educators, designers and collaborators involved in delivering the program, noting its growing impact in schools across Victoria.
As digital tools continue to evolve, initiatives like The Future Water Story highlight how innovative education design can support water literacy, inspire confidence and encourage genuine environmental action among young people.