Engineers Without Borders NSW

11/04/2025

🚨 Engineering Volunteers Wanted! Make a Real-World Impact in Rural Cambodia 🚨

Are you an engineer passionate about sustainable solutions and real-world impact? Here's your chance to use your skills for good!

CRST, in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders (EWB), is tackling a pressing issue in rural Cambodian schools: unsafe and environmentally harmful waste disposal. Many schools rely on open burning or makeshift incinerators—but you can help change that.

🔧 We’re seeking professional engineers to:

Conduct a literature review on waste management technologies

Develop conceptual designs for safe, low-cost incinerators suited to rural school settings

Your input could directly improve the health and environment of Cambodian schoolchildren and their families. Whether refining an existing design or proposing a new one, your expertise can create lasting change.

📢 Interested? This is more than a project—it’s purpose in action.

19/02/2025

What does a ‘flooded toilet’ mean to you?

In Australia, it might be an inconvenience, but in rural Cambodia, it’s much more dire. It means families have no access to safe sanitation, leaving them at a higher risk of illness.

This problem inspired Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) to create the ‘snorkel toilet’ – a brilliant solution designed to address the issue of sanitation during flooding. This innovative prototype will help people in Cambodia live healthier lives by improving sanitation.

On 4 March, which marks World Engineering Day and EWB Giving Day, EWB be aiming to raise $56,000 to bring creative solutions like the “snorkel loo” to life.

You can make a huge difference. For every dollar you contribute, your donation will be DOUBLED – supporting life-changing projects for low-income and remote communities. Donate here: https://appeal.ewb.org.au/ #:~:text=Tuesday%204%20March%20is%20World,all%20gifts%20dollar%20for%20dollar.

How does the snorkel loo work? Photos below.
A regulation toilet is elevated above flood level, connected to three large pits. Faecal matter is sent to the main sludge pit. Wastewater starts treatment in the second pit. It’s filtered through locally sourced charcoal and sand in the leach field pit before being safely released into the environment.

Let’s work together to bring better sanitation to those who need it most. Your support can help change lives.

15/01/2025

Exciting Opportunity: We are thrilled to announce the next Impactful Futures Immersive – a professional study tour focused on a community-led approach to climate resilience with the Wujal Wujal community in Cape York, QLD. Participants will have a unique opportunity to learn directly from community-based innovative low-tech approaches to adaptation and recovery that are grounded in local cultural knowledge and practices. There are full details here:

02/01/2025

On the 3rd Dec 2024, the 2024 EWB Challenge Showcase, in collaboration with the World Engineering Education Forum at the University of Technology Sydney, featured finalist teams from 14 universities across Australia and New Zealand. Students presented innovative design ideas tackling community challenges in Saibai Island (Torres Strait) and Mondulkiri (Cambodia), with representatives from our community partners engaging with the teams. Students who participated in the 2024 EWB Challenge developed design proposals addressing a variety of themes including but not limited to: Information and Communication Technology, Energy, Waste management and Water management.

2024 Award winners include:
Showcase Pitch Award – First Nations Context: The University of Queensland – Mangroves and Oysters: Harnessing biological symbiosis to tackle climate change

Community Partner Award – First Nations Context: Charles Darwin University – Robust Oyster Basket Breakwater

Showcase Pitch Award – Cambodia Context: Charles Sturt University – Portable Water Catchment and Storage System

Best Stall Award: Curtin University – Layer Roading

Industry Reviewer Award: Swinburne University of Technology – Handwashing Stations with Foot Pumps

Congrats to all the finalists and winners!

05/12/2024

EWB NSW Chapter and Metro Assist: SkillMe program
A big thank you to Metro Assist for inviting the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) NSW Chapter to participate and celebrate the incredible progress of the SkillME program. It was inspiring to witness the success stories of participants and their journey towards meaningful employment.

We are proud to continue our collaboration with Metro Assist on the SkillME program, which supports migrants and refugees with engineering and IT backgrounds as they navigate the job market in Sydney. We look forward to continuing our partnership and contributing to the success of these talented individuals.

To learn more about the program and its impact, check out this inspiring story from SkillME mentee, Moustafa Al Esali, a civil engineer who successfully found a job through the program: https://ewb.org.au/blog/2022/04/12/creating-opportunity-for-migrant-and-refugee-engineers/

Thank you again to Metro Assist for their tireless work and dedication to the community. We are excited for what’s to come!

The EWB NSW Chapter works with Metro Assist’s SkillME Program to support migrants and refugees with engineering and IT backgrounds to find employment.

28/11/2024

Human Rights Day 10 Dec

Human Rights Day, observed on December 10 each year, highlights the importance of protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of all individuals. For engineers, this day serves as a reminder of our responsibility to design and implement solutions that uphold human dignity and equality. Engineering is at the heart of addressing global challenges such as access to clean water, affordable healthcare, education, and sustainable energy—issues that directly impact human rights. By incorporating ethical practices and human rights considerations into our work, engineers have the power to create innovations that improve lives, promote social justice, and ensure that basic human rights are accessible to all.

22/11/2024

Exciting news from our latest event! 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce our first-ever collaboration with the EA Sydney Migrant Engineers Group! This event marks the beginning of what we hope will be many more impactful partnerships in the future. 🌟

A huge thank you to Gaudi and Ivonne for their hard work and dedication in planning and making this event possible.

We were also lucky to have Rodger Zhao, Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor at Mott MacDonald, and Ryan Nguyen, Talent Acquisition Specialist at Georgiou, as our incredible HR guest speakers. Their insights and expertise truly added value to the event. 💼🎤

A special mention to Daniel Bonatti, Vice President of the EWB NSW Chapter, and other EWB NSW committee members who attended and supported the event. It was fantastic to have so many engaged professionals coming together to share knowledge and create new opportunities!

Side note: A big congratulations to the Sydney Migrant Engineers Committee for winning the President’s Prize at the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards 2024! 🏆
What an incredible achievement and well-deserved recognition for all your hard work and dedication. 🙌

Together, we can make a positive impact on the engineering community and beyond!

13/11/2024

🌍 Join the Movement: Volunteer at Engineering Without Borders (EWB) Challenge Showcase 🌍. See below for details