The Goyder Institute for Water Research is partnering with the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources to deliver a capacity-building initiative focused on improving irrigation and integrated water resources management across Australia and Vietnam.
Funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australia Awards Fellowship program, the project brings together Australian and Vietnamese water professionals to share knowledge, strengthen technical expertise, and build long-term collaboration between the two countries.
Through a combination of field visits, technical exchanges, workshops, and applied case study development, the initiative supports participants to advance sustainable water management practices and develop practical solutions for complex water challenges.
This project reflects the Institute’s commitment to fostering international partnerships and delivering real-world impact through collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.
The Australian component of the Australia Awards Fellowship project has now been successfully completed, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between the Goyder Institute for Water Research and the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources.
Throughout the program, Fellows took part in a diverse schedule of technical workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions and field visits focused on irrigation modernisation, integrated water resources management, wetland ecology and water governance. The program engaged with 25 South Australian organisations, providing a rich cross-section of expertise from government agencies, research institutions, water utilities, councils and environmental management bodies.
Field visits to key wetland, irrigation and stormwater sites, including Lake Hawdon North, sites across the south east and urban water management locations, gave Fellows practical insights into South Australia’s approaches to sustainable water management and restoration.
Fellows have returned to Vietnam equipped with enhanced technical skills, new perspectives and strengthened professional networks. The knowledge gained through the Australian program is now supporting the development of case studies, master planning approaches and considerations for water pricing structures in two northern provinces.
The next phase of the project will focus on continued collaboration through online workshops, technical exchanges and a reciprocal visit to Vietnam, where Australian experts will further engage with provincial partners to progress the case studies and ongoing capacity building.
