• Ruth Hundertmark, General Manager, Employment Services (GTO)
• Megan Harris, General Manager, Education Services (RTO)

PEER is very excited to welcome Ruth Hundertmark and Megan Harris to the team. Both Ruth and Megan bring extensive experience working within the vocational education sector and will be valuable additions to PEER’s leadership team.

We look forward to introducing Ruth and Megan to you over the coming months as we partner with industry to build trade careers through quality apprenticeships, employment and training.

Ruth Hundertmark
General Manager, Employment Services

Ruth Hundertmark is a leading industry engagement and business development expert within education and training. With over a decade of experience in the South Australian education sector, Ruth comes to PEER with a broad range of knowledge and skills in understanding industry needs, workforce development and a culture of high performance in outcome driven environments.

Ruth is committed to the highest standard of customer service and takes pride in spending face to face time with industry employers to ensure their outcomes are being achieved.

Ruth’s most recent experience was as Director of Education Partnerships at TAFE SA, where she led a team of 17 business development, marketing and contracting professionals generating over $34m in fee for service revenue. In this role, Ruth was responsible for setting the strategy, direction for growth and sustainability of TAFE SA partnerships. Prior to TAFE SA, Ruth held leadership roles in the area of research partnerships at UniSA and University of Adelaide.

Ruth has been recognised as an exceptional people leader who invests time in her team members to get the best outcome for them individual and the business.

Ruth strongly believes in the transformative impact that education and training can have in an individual’s’ life.

Ruth will be leading PEER’s employment services: including our Recruitment, Placements, Apprentice Traineeship Supervisors (ATS) and Marketing teams.

Megan Harris
General Manager, Education Services

Megan Harris is a Vocational Education Leader and Business Development Professional, with 15 years of experience in the Vocational Education and Training sector.

Prior to Megan’s career in Vocational Education, Megan worked in International Hotel Management with the InterContinental Hotels Group. Megan worked with the group in a number of operational and leadership roles for 14 years in Canberra, Sydney and Singapore before a passion for developing people led to her transition to Vocational Education and Training. This career change has seen Megan work in Vocational Education and Training in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore, and deliver a range of corporate and government training projects across South-East Asia.

Megan was the Head of Sales, Marketing and Academic Services for the Singapore campus of the William Angliss Institute of TAFE. Megan led the delivery of both Australian and Singapore government certified vocational training programs and created bespoke training solutions to meet individual and industry needs.

Megan is passionate about assisting organisations to grow through the training and development of their people. In the workplace, Megan is known as a supportive leader, and encourages her team to drive towards excellence in training development and delivery, and in making the important connection between industry requirements, training delivery and positive employment outcomes.

Megan has been a recognised and highly awarded Trainer and Guest Lecturer in her fields of expertise, and has a demonstrated history of commercial success, people development and client loyalty.

Megan is pleased to be joining an organisation committed to industry relevant training and positive employment outcomes.

Megan will be leading PEER’s Educational Services: including our VET in School programs, Apprenticeship training and Upskilling programs.

One popular program is the plumbing pathway to an apprenticeship. Students with an interest in plumbing can undertake a Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre Apprenticeship) while at school. This contributes to their SACE completion. Students will engage in new skills that can be used later in their career and in a workplace setting which may increase employment opportunities as an apprentice.

https://peer.com.au/vet-in-schools/

Once they have completed the high school plumbing program, students may go on to apply for PEER’s pre-apprenticeship program.
Providing they pass all of the necessary entry requirements, students may be accepted into the free 8 week program which teaches the necessary skills required to transition quickly into a trade. With a 2-week work experience placement included, participants learn first-had insights into their chosen career pathway and can decide whether it is the right choice for them.

With the program teaching valuable industry skills, this can significantly improve their changes of obtaining an apprenticeship.

The feedback from learners completing this free course is generally positive and although PEER cannot guarantee employment at the end of their course, many go on to obtain an apprenticeship.
That is not where it ends for the apprentices who will then go on to attend PEER for trade training and learning at their Albert Park trade school.

The PEER training way encourages apprentices to be the best versions of themselves and to become the most outstanding tradespeople in the industry.

Did you know that any plumbing apprentice can learn at PEER? Find out more here https://peer.com.au/apprenticeship-training/

From the beginning of 2022 our Certificate III qualifications are gradually changing to new qualifications.

• The UEE30811 will be transitioning to the UEE30820 – Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
• The CPC32413 will be transitioning to the CPC32420 – Certificate III in Plumbing
• The UEE32211 will be transitioning to the UEE32220 – Certificate III in Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration
• The UEE30411 will be transitioning to the UEE30420 – Certificate III in Data & Voice Communications

All Apprentices enrolled in the current Certificate III qualifications, will need to be transitioned across to the new qualifications unless they can be completed before the due date in July 2022.

Why are these changes being made?

With the changes in technology, industry practices, and licensing requirements, the new training packages will better prepare our apprentices both from a technical and safety perspective.

How will it affect our apprentices enrolled in the old package?

We wish to minimise the impact of this on our apprentices and employers. Our Training Team have been working diligently to develop a transition plan for every apprentice based on their current progress and expected date of completion.

Each apprentice will receive a letter outlining their transition date in 2022 ( if required ) and how the transition impacts their apprenticeship and what they will need to do. If you do not attend these trade school dates it WILL affect your ability to complete the required training before the qualification transition deadline you may be required to extend your apprenticeship.

Also attached will be a statement outlining any outstanding units. For any units that an apprentice has attempted but is not deemed competent in, we strongly advise to contact customer service as soon as possible to arrange the unit/ units to be completed before your class transition date.

All enquiries about the transition can be directed to PEER Customer Service at customerservice@peer.com.au

The largest circle represents PEER as an organisation, the smaller circles represent the communities and people that PEER reach. The ‘U’ shapes around the circles represent the people who attend PEER for work, apprenticeships and training.

The background displays PEERs reach across South Australia. The green and brown background represent the fertile plains and desert lands on which we live and work, with the solid brown shapes around the outside representing the hills and ranges across the state. The blue represents the ocean and those students from many countries that come to PEER.

About the Artist
Melanie Pickett is a local Contemporary Indigenous Artist and a Ballardong Yamatji woman from Western Australia who moved to South Australia as a young child.
While struggling with chronic illness Melanie found relief in painting, alongside raising 4 children who at the time of painting are between the ages of 13 and 22. She has worked in the Department for Education, within Local Government and in Law Enforcement, which gave her the opportunity to work in the Far North of South Australia in the APY Lands and surrounding areas, among remote and rural communities.

Melanie has been creating art professionally for 5yrs and volunteers with Kura Yerlo in Port Adelaide, a not-for-profit Aboriginal owned community organisation that works towards ‘walking together for a strong culture and a sustainable future’. They put culture at the heart of everything they do. Her Art pieces are showcased in Adelaide, Perth, Germany, London and Italy.

We thank Melanie dearly for her time in creating this meaningful piece for PEER.

As one of the largest employers of Apprentices in the construction industry, we are committed to assisting with the mental health of our apprentices both on and off the job. Our partnership with Mates In Construction and the vital work they do for mental health in the construction industry is of paramount importance to us.

We are a huge supporter of the connector work that MATES In Construction deliver to our apprentices and staff and show our support by holding fundraising events throughout the year to raise money for their ongoing programs.

Events include a casual day on the last Friday of the month, where staff out of uniform are encouraged to donate a gold coin to MATES. Electrical Trainer and Assessor Michael Gaczol is the founding father of the Casual Day Authorisation Committee and is key to drumming up support for donations, which PEER matches dollar for dollar. In addition to casual day we raffle items such as shopping vouchers, bottles of wine and gift hampers that staff donate.

Our 10 cent deposit container bins located all around PEER, are another way we raise money throughout the year for MATES and every September on “Fly The Flag Day” a BBQ held at PEER encourages all staff, apprentices and trainees to check up on each other and ask RUOK? Many a snag is eaten, provided by our onsite Xpress Café with all proceeds going to MATES.

Incredibly we have already raised $8555.81 this year and will continue to raise money for our MATES year on year for the important training and support they provide.

It really goes to show that every little bit helps throughout the year to raise money for the important work the connectors are doing at MATES.

Incredibly we have already raised $8555.81 this year and will continue to raise money for our MATES year on year for the important training and support they provide.

It really goes to show that every little bit helps throughout the year to raise money for the important work the connectors are doing at MATES.

30 female high school students from a number of Adelaide High Schools were treated to a special event at PEER as we celebrated ‘Women are Tradies Too,’ on Friday the10th of September

Throughout the day the girls were able to ‘Try A Trade’ in our state-of-the-art Trade Training Centre and get a taste for what a Plumbing, Electrical or a Refrigeration/Air-conditioning apprenticeship would be like. The three groups learned skills in cutting and bending copper pipes, installing electrical lighting switches and using an array of hand tools and trade equipment. With one of the girl’s telling our Trainers she didn’t realise that ‘Plumbing would be so much fun!’

To wrap up this hugely positive, highly engaging experience, the girls were treated to an afternoon tea presentation by PEER female electrician and data communications trainer Jessica Vaughan who outlined the benefits and challenges faced being a female in a male dominated industry.

The event included a question and answer panel discussion from Jessica and two 3rd year PEER Plumbing apprentices Charlotte Harr and Renae Becker, along with PEER Electrical Trainer and owner of She Sparks electrical, Karina Stratchan.

PEER’s Training and Digital Transformation Lead, Melanie Worrall emceed the event and highlighted the numbers of women who work in trades is still only a small 2%. Melanie spoke further on the benefits of gaining a trade qualification, including being able to be earn while you learn, plus a number of other financial and flexible work life balance incentives.

The well received networking event was attended by industry representatives including MAS National, MEGT, Makita, Mates in Construction, Master Plumbers Australia, Master Builders Australia, CITB and special guest VIP and advocate for women, Paula Leuthen MP.

think safe. work safe. be safe.

October is National Safe Work Month and is a time to think about and commit to a safe and healthy workplace. At PEER we support SafeWork Australia’s think safe. work safe. be safe. campaign and are encouraging our staff, apprentices and trainees to join in on the number of activities planned for the month of October.

PEER knows that our people are our most valued asset and their health and safety is our top priority. National Safe Work Month in October is an important event each year for PEER as it raises awareness about important work health and safety issues and helps us to understand and investigate potential WHS concerns in our own workplace.

During the last two years as we battled the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces have presented with complex and dynamic challenges that have changed the way business is conducted and, in turn, their management of work health and safety.

This year’s National Safe Work Month campaign highlights a range of work health and safety topics, including COVID-19, occupational lung disease, sexual harassment, mental health, and working in extreme weather.

National Safe Work Month serves as a reminder for workplaces to review their work health and safety policies and processes and we encourage other businesses to join National Safe Work Month to raise awareness of work health and safety in your own workplace.

The think safe. work safe. be safe. campaign is led by SafeWork Australia and is supported by its members across Australia, and stakeholders, including PEER. We look forward to a month where all staff, trainees and apprentices can get involved with health and wellness and safe work practices.

For more information about National Safe Work Month, or to download resources, go to the campaign website http://safeworkmonth.swa.gov.au.

A FREE girls only ‘Try A Trade’ event at PEER on Friday the 10th of September 8.30 til 4pm.

This is a great chance for girls to learn new skills such as the safe use of hand tools and equipment. They will have the opportunity to learn some of the building/construction trades here at PEER, in a safe and nurturing environment.

A free lunch is provided and will finish with a small presentation from women in trade, where the girls can ask questions and find out what it is like to be a woman working in a trade profession.

This event is limited to 30 girls, so please register before Friday the 3rd of September to avoid disappointment.

To register please phone 8348 1200 or email vetis@peer.com.au

For a digital copy of the girls “try a trade” event flyer please click here.

PEER is leading the way in apprentice training, providing flexibility and choice, including the capability to provide supported training from any location, which is essential in our current Pandemic climate.

PEER has worked hard to develop and implement flexibility in the choice of training location, asserting themselves as leaders in the apprentice training market being equipped to quickly adapt to events such as the recent State lockdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s terrific to see training providers moving swiftly to digital tools to keep students learning while adhering to social distancing and I commend PEER on their achievements,” Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said.

PEER is the leading not-for-profit apprenticeship and skills recognition training, pre-vocational training, and VET in school’s provider, delivering high quality apprentices and trainees to meet the skill development needs of South Australia.

As PEER CEO Peter Nolan explains, PEER is a National Training Award winner and is known for finding ways to deliver innovative solutions and providing flexibility and choice to employers and apprentices.

“We developed an advanced way of delivering training, and PEER is recognised for understanding what its customers want,” Nolan said.

“Two years ago, we started a program of change, we looked at what our learners wanted and what their needs were. They wanted more flexibility and choice. We listened and put resources in place to develop capability in providing consistent yet flexible training at any location.”

Flexibility and choice are what appeals to employers of apprentices, especially in tougher times such as lockdowns.

“We have had a lot of enquiries from employers in South Australia, who are concerned their apprentices won’t complete their training on time,” Nolan said.

“Using our world class interactive learning resources, apprentices can continue their studies at any location as well as at our state-of-the-art training centre. The key thing for us is to ensure all of our apprentices, complete their apprenticeship on time and on schedule.” Nolan said.

As the latest lockdown unfolded in July, and schools closed their doors, PEER’s training model accommodated VET students and apprentices to receive support to study from other locations. This ensured no extension of training would be required, nor would any student or apprentice be disadvantaged.

“We were really on the front foot, having already developed the capability. The day the lock down started, our students continued their training, just from a different location – at home. There was no interruption to their training, in fact a survey of our learners showed that they were happy with the change and actually enjoyed it with an 8.2/10 satisfaction rate.” Nolan said.

PEER is motivated to create new opportunities for flexible and personalised training providing more choice for students, even beyond COVID-19.

“One of the challenges around South Australia has been students living in regional and remote areas,” Nolan said. Our training capability means we are able to provide more training opportunities for our students and apprentices in country areas and that’s what we’re going to do next”. Nolan said