SunWater
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    SunWater
    (40 reviews)
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    Company Reviews

    Working at SunWater

    2.940 ratings in total
    5
    11
    4
    5
    3
    6
    2
    5
    1
    13
    88%
    Rate salary as high or average
    45%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.7(40 ratings)
    Career development
    2.6(40 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.7(39 ratings)
    Management
    2.5(40 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.0(40 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.1(39 ratings)
    Ratings for SunWater are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 41 reviews sorted by most recent
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    1.0
    admin
    Mar 2026
    Fortitude Valley QLD 4006Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    the best part was leaving
    The good thingsthe ceo updates. the attempt at inclusive gatherings (morning tea birthdays)
    The challengesculture needs huge work
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Contractor
    Oct 2025
    Fortitude Valley QLD 40061 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    A company where good culture is talked about but doesn't actually exist.
    The good thingsThere are and were some great people, good location near public transport.
    The challengesC-Suite is more about power and control than actually being able to deliver any return on investment. Being thrown under the bus is norm, gaslighting is rife and until those running the business are either replaced or let go it sadly isn't going to change.
    6 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Electrical Design Draftsperson
    Aug 2025
    Fortitude Valley QLD 40063 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    If you want relaxed life syle, this is the right company for you. If you have career aspiration, don't join this company.
    The good thingsWork life balance is very good
    The challengesNo career growth No developement program
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Prefer not to say
    Aug 2025
    Brisbane QLD 40001 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Bullet proof main requirement, easy target for consultants and contractors to make money
    The good thingsGetting paid, some awesome coworkers
    The challengesFloundering Government owned Corporation with narrow minded executive leadership trying to play in the major infrastructure construction space without the skillset
    4 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Operations & Maintenance
    Feb 2025
    Brisbane QLD 40007 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    All good things must come to an end.
    The good thingsDiverse range of infrastructure, work/life balance & some good people. Initially SunWater was a great place to work, respectful & professional staff. Worked here for 12+ years, met some lifelong friends/collogues. Leaving this toxic unprofessional workplace was a breath of fresh air.
    The challengesThe change in executive management changed SunWater for the worse, constant restructures, poor job security & promotion of incompetent managers. SunWater has become a very clicky environment, staff getting promoted for being a yes man rather than for their skill set/ideas/opinions.
    8 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Stakeholder
    Jan 2025
    All Brisbane QLD
    Lovely community focussed people, Narrow minded Senior Leadership/Executive that has led to a severe culture decline.
    The good thingsThe people. Most are genuinely good people who want to work as part of a team and to support our regional communities with a vital service.
    The challengesThe senior management model is broken. Complaints directly to the CEO or executive go unanswered or worse ignored. The culture is really deflating and its depressive to walk into the office. This workplace would be a fantastic environment if it were not for the Executive Management Team. When i first started with the business culture was great. Collaborative, community focussed and a nice place to work. But new Executive and a derailment of what is important has led to an internally focussed business with a disengaged stakeholder group. It is a real shame.
    9 people found this helpful
    3.0
    PEP Team
    Oct 2024
    Brisbane QLD 4000
    Would work in Sunwater if this manager was not there.
    The good thingsThe working environment is great.
    The challengesManager was not good. He had trust issues and was a micromanager. Had to leave because of that.
    6 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Infrastructure Engineering Manager
    Sep 2024
    Brisbane QLD 4000Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    I'm enjoying it tremendously
    The good thingsFantastic culture with management that cares about its employees
    The challengesDistance. Queensland is a big state.
    5.0
    Senior Human Resources Business Partner
    Sep 2024
    Brisbane QLD 4000Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    A great place to work with a team who genuinely cares about it's team.
    The good thingsA very genuine, supportive, caring team culture. The company values are not just a poster on the wall, they guide the teams behaviours every day. Big focus on safety, well being and work life balance.
    The challengesNone that I can see so far.
    4.0
    Resourcing Adviser
    Sep 2024
    Brisbane QLD 4000
    From my experience working at SunWater it is enoyable, inclusive, challenging but rewarding.
    The good thingsSupportive, collaborative and recognised for your work
    The challengesInitial learning curve is quite steep but plenty of support should you need it
    5.0
    People, Environment & Portfolio
    Sep 2024
    Brisbane QLD 40003 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    One of the best places I've worked.
    The good thingsThe genuine care for all employees' comes right from the top. Working for an organisation with a purpose creates a really great team environment especially when we get to see first-hand our impact on the communities where we operate. The work/life balance is well managed, and the social club is amazing!
    The challengesPoor placements can have a ripple effect through teams/the organisation as a whole, but every organisation has this challenge. The good far outweighs any bad.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Information Technology Support Role
    Sep 2023
    Brisbane QLD 4000current employee
    Grateful to be given the opportunity to be working at a fast-paced and growing company.
    The good thingsWork life balance, benefits, career progression, team
    The challengesOther business units have challenges with internal politics, and small handful of managers can be difficult.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    People Environment Portfolio
    May 2023
    Brisbane QLD 40003 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Fabulous company, highly recommend.
    The good thingsA modern, contemporary company that genuinely lives through its values. A rare find.
    The challengesAll the usual challenges - but I will say that you are supported in these challenges by your team and managers.
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Projects
    Nov 2022
    Business culture and environment needs a shock with some poor leader managers need to be shown the door.
    The good things1. Great CEO & Executives. 2. Leader in the water industry. 3. Great work flexibility.
    The challenges1. Technical department engineers & managers are very poor communicators. 2. Limited qaulity processes. 3. Mates rate workplace.
    2.0
    Project Engineer
    Aug 2022
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Overall not a great place to work. Culture driven by constant change with little or no direction being provided for the workforce. A shrinking stagnant business with not great prospects for growth or diversification.
    The good thingsGenerally good people to work with and nice open office space. Generally a very diverse workforce particularly in the Brisbane Head Office but not in the regions.
    The challengesA reasonably diverse workforce across race, gender, age and personal choice. However anyone that was different seemed to go from the business a couple of years ago now - was s strange time. Some managers there for most of their careers and not very flexible or open to change or ideas. Some issues with payment of present and past employees a while ago but this was resolved. People in regions intolerant of people from head office.
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Projects team
    May 2022
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Interesting projects, good people, good culture.
    The good thingsI have been working in the projects part of Sunwater for 12 months now. The projects are interesting and the people are really good to work with. It's a growing business, so the opportunities are good. Good work/life balance.
    The challengesThe systems and process are not as mature as some other organisations, but it's getting better all the time. A lot of decisions have to go to a committee, which can slow things down.
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Middle management
    Feb 2021
    Good place to work
    The good thingsLots of opportunity to make a difference and work with modern systems and well appointed offices. Many good colleagues make it worth it.
    The challengesUnrealistic expectations from some within the business who hinder progress.
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Prefer not to say
    Dec 2020
    current employee
    Serious improvements from start to now.
    The good thingsThere has been a lot of improvement over the last few years with team moral, office environment, career opportunities and system improvements.
    The challengesLots of change across all areas of the business and while there were some troublesome changes and restructures, there are more positives that have come along to help balance the historical negatives. There is still a lot of room for improvement which is starting to be identified so hopefully there will be more improvements coming.
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Recruitment Adviser
    Nov 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    It has been a pleasure to work for an organisation that lives by its values!
    The good thingsSunwater prioritise the safety of their employees above all else. The team actively live the company values. The organisation is invested in its people, including their customers. This is an organisation that works with its people to find better ways and is open to and takes on feedback and initiatives.
    The challengesOperating under an old enterprise agreement has had its challenges with the new agreement voted in, this will see a huge benefit for the organisation and its people moving forward.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Environmental Advisor
    Nov 2019
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    It was good till the management couldn't stick with a plan
    The good thingsModern workplace with mature systems in place
    The challengesManagement are a basket case and they change tack with every election
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Operations
    Nov 2019
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Bureaucracy Is alive and well at SunWater
    The good thingsThere are some good people that make it bearable
    The challengesManagement is terrible. Because SunWater is gov owned, it cannot fail and management exploits this fact with their incompetence.
    5 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Operations
    Nov 2019
    It was disappointing for it to end the way it did, 13 years is a long time.
    The good thingsThe people The coffee machine
    The challengesThe management, in particular the executive leadership group. Ever changing focus and restructures galore are killing sunwater.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Management Consultant
    Nov 2019
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Worse place I have ever worked.
    The good thingsSome very talented individuals trying to do the best they can. Beautiful offices in Brisbane.
    The challengesBroken systems, poorly implemented. EVERYTHING on hold waiting for management to make decisions. Board members are far too involved in the everyday running of the business.
    4 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Middle Manager
    Sep 2019
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Please consider working somewhere else
    The good thingsThere are good people who want to do the right thing
    The challengesAlot of challenges, however biggest by far is the executive leadership team of SunWater as it severely lacks in strategic direction, is constantly changing goals, are very poor communicators and do not take kindly to feedback. Because of this the culture is one of fear, \"do as I say or else\" and borders on toxic with staff turnover at a high level. Many of the mid level leaders are scared to say what they really think and the culture unfortunately cannot be turned around until this executive leadership (at the very top) changes. The picture they paint of the business at the interview is vastly different to the reality of the current operating environment. I didn't get any pleasure writing this but felt I had to.
    12 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Engineer
    Jul 2019
    Toxic environment
    The good thingsWork life balance was well enforced.
    The challengesOffice politics played a huge role in each department. Career development was minimal and career progression was dependant on who you knew in upper management.
    7 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Procurement Specialist
    May 2019
    former employee
    Good Environment to work in but a little hard to implement change especially in Procurement
    The good thingsThe team was very friendly and helpful
    The challengesIt was hard for the management to take changes on board.
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Administration Role
    May 2019
    former employee
    Not a good place to work
    The good thingsA great team of peers
    The challengesManagement only care about themselves and don’t care who they step on
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Desktop Support Role
    May 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Worse place I could have worked!
    The good thingsZero zip mother good about the place
    The challengesThe management, the people, Toxic environment
    4 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Systems Analyst
    May 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Good but challenging
    The good thingsSome very nice people to work with.
    The challengesResisting to change. Set in old ways.
    2 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Operations
    Sep 2018
    Typical public service
    The good thingsStaff are great and show respect towards each other
    The challengesSome, not all, upper management were way out of place. SunWater has a motto \"the right people in the right jobs\", this is a complete joke.
    4 people found this helpful
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