Great People at GWA

History + Innovation + People

GWA Group has a long history of innovation and dedication which goes all the way back to 1886. We are proud of our Australian and New Zealand heritage, innovative spirit, iconic market-leading brands such as Caroma, Methven, Dorf, and Clark, and importantly - our inclusive culture. We're committed to creating an environment where our people can bring their true selves to work and have the opportunity to thrive and grow. We embrace diversity, nurture inclusivity and prioritise wellbeing for a truly caring culture which is embodied by our cultural pillars: We are One Team, We are Customer Focused, and We Care for Each Other. We truly live these values on a day-to-day basis and to us they are more than just words, they are our way of life.

Water Sustainability

Our commitment to water sustainability, customer first values, and community engagement creates a ripple effect of positive impact, and we are passionate about protecting and conserving water to benefit all Australians. Conscious that we co-exist with the land, our products are designed with the vision of protecting the vital water resources of our country for the next generation. With this in mind, our team of experts are dedicated to designing innovative, high-quality products for both residential and commercial spaces. Some of our best-known innovations include:

• The first one-piece plastic cistern which Caroma produced in 1956.
• The world-first dual-flush toilet developed by Caroma in 1980 (which saved approx. 32,000 litres of water per household due to change in full flush/ half flush technology).
• FastFlow?, a unique technology patented by Methven in 1995 to solve unequal water pressure in homes.
• Satinjet?, a luxurious showering experience developed by Methven in 2004 using colliding twin jets of water which creates optimum water droplet size and pressure, with over 300,000 droplets per second. The result is an immersive, full-body shower sensation that transforms your regular shower into an experience like no other.
• Smartflush? technology by Caroma, which in 2005 won the Australian International Design Award and Home Beautiful Product of the Year and reduces water usage to 4.5 litres per full flush.
• AuraJet? launched by Methven in 2015 which delivered our most advanced, invigorating shower experience ever.
• Smart Command?, a comprehensive intelligent solution for commercial bathrooms which Caroma launched in 2018. These intuitive products incorporate the latest in touch-free technology enabling building managers to monitor water use in real time and make smarter decisions that reduce maintenance costs and improve hygiene and up time.
• VJet? launched by Methven in 2018 allowing you to activate a seamless spray transition from a firm, invigorating shower spray to a gentle enveloping warmth.

Our People

We recently caught up with Lauren Peck to find out more about her experience in our industry and to ask her what advice she would give to women in building and design. Lauren joined GWA in 2022 and is currently an Industrial Designer in our Design and Innovation team.

What initially drew you to pursue a career in our industry, and how have your experiences shaped your journey?

Having worked in other industries, and spending most of my career in commercial furniture, the aspect that excited me the most was learning about new materials and processes. Ceramics was all new to me and learning about the process, the time and the variables has been insightful and changed the way I look at product design.

In your experience, what aspects of working in this industry do you find most fulfilling or enjoyable? Are there particular challenges you've overcome that have shaped your perspective?

Being in product design is a very rewarding career, but there is something special about being able to design and work on products that so many people use every single day and can be found all around Australia. A challenge that does often arise with product development is sustainability. Luckily, at GWA we work on essential products that are needed in homes and businesses. Finding a business that focuses on essential products has been a real career highlight for me.

In your current role, what specific aspects do you find particularly rewarding or satisfying, and how do you navigate any potential obstacles or biases?

One of the most rewarding aspects is when we get to show customers and other members of the team new product concepts and watch them get excited and look forward to getting the product into the market. Sometimes getting a negative reaction or having people offer suggestions can be hard to hear, but collaboration is an important part of the process and its always worth hearing people out and seeing if we can push the designs further.

For women considering entering this industry, what advice or insights would you offer based on your own experiences and successes?

At GWA we have a supportive and dynamic culture which welcomes people from all walks of life. We all have something different to offer and good designs come from people who are open minded and want to make the world a better place for everyone.

Interested in joining us?

We can’t wait to meet you! All our roles are advertised on our Careers Page, and you can also find them here on LinkedIn and Seek.

See a role but not sure you ‘tick all the boxes’? Don’t let that put you off applying - we’re always keen to hear from enthusiastic, talented people and we truly value passion, potential, and a willingness to learn.