Language no barrier for Karen community water literacy education
Thanks to recent collaboration between Coliban Water and Bendigo Community Health Services (BCHS), members of the local Karen community have a greater understanding of the water and sewer services many of us take for granted.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Karen is now the number one language other than English spoken in Bendigo’s homes. The first Karen-speaking family arrived in the city in 2007, and the local population has now grown to 3,500 people today.
And like many people in our region, they receive water and sewer services from Coliban Water.
Most Karen-speakers arrive in Bendigo from areas in southeastern Myanmar (Burma) and western Thailand ready to build a new life, having experienced conflict, displacement, and a background living in refugee camps without safe drinking water and sewage services.
Coliban Water’s Executive Manager Customer and Stakeholder Experience, Lauren McLean, said this growing group of Central Victorians has not previously been able to trust that their water is always safe to drink.
“Thanks to our deepening collaboration with Bendigo Community Health Services, we’ve been able to reach our Karen community with important messages about their water and sewer services. This includes building their trust and confidence in those services - services that most customers take for granted.”
Working with the BCHS’s Refugee and Cultural Diversity Team, Ms McLean said Coliban Water designed a program of engagement focusing on small-group water literacy sessions throughout the year.
The sessions, which were supported by BCHS refugee project staff, focused on:
- Where our drinking water comes from and how it is made safe to drink.
- Understanding our climate and the importance of using water wisely at home and in the garden.
- What happens to the water we use and send down the drain.
- How customers can access support if they have an issue or concern.
All sessions were followed by ‘drop-ins’ with specialist members of Coliban Water’s customer support and education teams.
The engagement program also focused on reaching younger Karen speakers.
“Our team ran sessions at Bendigo Senior Secondary College in August and September for Karen students. Those students have been able to share their knowledge with family members and others in the community,” Ms McLean explained.
“We also had four BCHS ‘Community Champions’, who were Karen speakers motivated to share our translated resources with the broader community and to capture feedback about our services.”
Kaye Graves, Senior Leader, Refugee and Cultural Diversity at BCHS, said the ongoing collaborative nature of the program has been key to its success.
“BCHS’s settlement programs are designed to aid settlement and community integration. To learn about essential services like water and sewage in Karen is important if we are to boost understanding and ensure a smooth transition.
“We welcomed the opportunity to work with Coliban Water and connect them with the local Karen community. It was also important to co-design a range of in-language resources and videos and to make sure education sessions were culturally appropriate,” Ms Graves said.
Karen speaking team members from BCHS were central to the work. Refugee Project Facilitator, Nido Taveesupmai, and Refugee Project Worker, Eh Ta Mue Lue, played an essential role translating education materials, helping recruit community members to attend the sessions, and linking them with the support available from Coliban water.
“Many Coliban Water customers are from a refugee background. There is a lot they need to learn about life in Bendigo. Programs and resources like those offered by Coliban Water are a big help,” Mr Taveesupmai said.
“Bendigo is a richer place for its new arrivals,” Ms McLean concluded.
“Our vision is to deliver healthy water for healthy people. This extends to everyone, and our approach to education, community engagement, and financial assistance ensures there is support for all.
“With this collaboration we’ve built trust, opened the lines of communication, and helped some of the newest members of our community to better understand their water and sewer services. We look forward to a rewarding, long-term partnership with the Karen community.”
Working with BCHS, Coliban Water’s Karen community engagement program has achieved the following in 2025:
- Six water education sessions.
- Four culturally safe drop-in session with specialist staff to assist with billing enquiries.
- Three education sessions at Bendigo Senior Secondary College.
- Four ‘community champions’ who spoke directly with 80 newly-arrive Karen community members.
- Creation of in-language resources and videos.
- Provision of 34 Utility Relief Grants through the Coliban Assist program.
- Measurable increase in basic water literacy among program participants.
Image: Coliban Water's Engagement Coordinator, John McDonald, with Refugee Project Worker, Eh Ta Mue Lue, and Karen Community Champions
Last updated on 26 Nov 2025