As Aussies, many of us see Bali, Indonesia as our go-to escape – sun-soaked beaches, neutral-toned cafés, slow mornings and cocktail hours that stretch into the evening. But while we enjoy the islands beauty, the impact of tourism on local communities often goes largely unnoticed. And in many ways, Tom was no different. A lifelong surfer, Tom had travelled for surf trips to Indonesia from when he was young. But it wasn't until Tom started studying a Bachelor of Engineering Honours at Murdoch University that he started to understand the full freshwater implications of tourism on small islands. 

On nearby Nusa Lembongan, Tom saw the issue firsthand. Fresh water was being diverted to large resorts to meet demand, leaving local families without consistent access to clean drinking water. Majoring in Environmental Engineering, he recognised the deeper implications of what he was witnessing and knew it was a challenge worth taking on. 

Working alongside his peers, Tom helped to conceptualise and design a desalination unit that would not only provide the locals of Nusa Lembongan with fresh water but also run on solar power, as electricity was not readily accessible. Once happy with their idea, they presented the concept to their lecturers, who were immediately on board. 

With support from their academics and access invaluable industry connections, the Engineering and Energy students worked directly with Moerk Water Supplies, a Perth-based manufacturer of solar-powered desalination systems. Together, they refined their design, tested emerging technologies, and gained hands-on guidance from industry experts in both engineering and sustainability.  

Once the solar-powered desalination unit was ready for use, the challenge became getting it to Nusa Lembongan – right in the middle of COVID when international travel had stopped. Tom and his peers handed the project to the Australian Navy, which worked with the Indonesian Air Force to transport the half-tonne system safely to the island. 

The collaboration between Tom, his peers, the Australian Navy and the Indonesian Air Force inspired a post stamp, illustrated by children from the local school in Nusa Lembongan. This story is just one example of how our students create real impact in industry, in communities and in the world around them.