In 2017 two of Australia’s leading philanthropic organisations – The Myer Foundation and The Ian Potter Foundation – funded a major study to better understand how Australia could improve the sustainable management of its inland waters and catchments. The study identified a role for an independent organisation that could act as an honest broker working with stakeholders to improve processes of decision-making for the policy and management of Australia's waters and catchments. This led to the establishment of Watertrust Australia Ltd as a charity in 2021 to improve how water and catchment policy decisions are made in Australia.

Learn more about the exploratory work that informed the establishment of Watertrust.