PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Thursday, 27 March 2025
Australian music icon Kate Ceberano took centre stage at WaterAid Australia’s Victorian Ball on Friday, March 21, delivering a show-stopping performance and helping raise crucial funds for clean water, sanitation and hygiene projects worldwide.
Held at The Sofitel Melbourne, the gala brought together 550 supporters, partners, and advocates, with Ceberano’s set the highlight of the evening. The singer, known for her soulful voice and dynamic stage presence, captivated the crowd, making it a night to remember.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have headlined the Victoria Gala Ball in support of WaterAid,” Ceberano shared. “Clean water and sanitation are fundamental human rights, yet millions around the world still lack access. WaterAid’s incredible work is changing lives every day, and I am honoured to lend my voice to such an important cause. Music has the power to bring people together, and this event was a beautiful celebration of compassion, generosity, and making a real difference.”
The event successfully raised over $580,000 to support WaterAid’s mission of providing clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to communities in need.
Special guest Sodany Saing, Learning and Communication Manager at WaterAid Cambodia, shared a moving account of growing up without access to clean water and sanitation, highlighting the life-changing impact of WaterAid’s work in the region.
WaterAid Australia’s Chief Executive, Tom Muller, expressed his gratitude to attendees and sponsors, including Abergeldie, Califam, Clover, Interflow and John Holland for their ongoing commitment to tackling the global water crisis.
"With the continued support of the Victoria Water Industry, WaterAid will keep driving forward in 2025 to create a world where everyone, everywhere has access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
In the year ahead, we’ll strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene in schools and healthcare facilities, implement nature-based solutions in Timor-Leste to protect water sources, support local governments in Cambodia to advance safely managed sanitation, and share lessons on water access in informal settlements in Papua New Guinea. Together, we’re making lasting change happen."
-ENDS-
Key Facts:
· 703 million people in the world – almost one in ten – don’t have clean water close to home.1
· 2.2 billion people in the world – more than one in four – don’t have safe water.1
· Almost 2 billion people in the world – one in four – lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home, if they have a place at all.1
· 1.5 billion people in the world – almost one in five – don’t have a decent toilet of their own.1
· 570 million people in the world – 1 in 14 – have a decent toilet but have to share it with people outside their family. This compromises the privacy, dignity and safety of women and girls.2
· Almost 400,000 children under five die every year due to diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. That's more than 1000 children a day, or almost one child every one and a half minutes.2
· Investing in safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services provides up to 21 times more value than it costs.3
[1] WHO/UNICEF (2023). Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022: special focus on gender. Available at: washdata.org/reports/jmp-2023-wash-households-launch (accessed 11 Jul 2023).
[2] WHO (2023). Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update. Available at: who.int/publications/i/item/9789240075610 (accessed 24 Jul 2023).
[3] WaterAid (2021). Mission-critical: Invest in water, sanitation and hygiene for a healthy and green economic recovery. Available at: washmatters.wateraid.org/publications/mission-critical-invest-water-sanitation-hygiene-healthy-green-recovery (accessed 1 Nov 2023).
About us:
WaterAid
WaterAid is an international not-for-profit determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. We work alongside communities in 22 countries to secure these three essentials that transform people’s lives. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 28 million people with clean water and nearly 29 million people with decent toilets. To find out more, visit www.wateraid.org.auand follow @wateraidaustralia on Instagram, @WaterAidAus on Twitter, or find WaterAid Australia on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wateraidaustralia
Contact details:
For more information, please contact:
Tegan Dunne, Public Relations and Communications Manager, WaterAid Australia
Ph: 0415 714 589
