An exciting moment for the PEER team today. We have been named as a finalist for the Large Training Provider of the Year at the 2025 SA Training Awards.

This award recognises large Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that offer a range of training products and services and demonstrate excellence and high-level performance in all aspects of vocational education and training.

At PEER, we are shaping our state’s future workforce by combining industry demand, flexible learning and student wellbeing practices to help build a skilled workforce for South Australia.

We are committed to supporting our current 1100 apprentices and 700 school students in their licenced trades pathways and look forward to further expansion in the future. We also create access for regional South Australians through our innovative Mobile Electrical Training Unit. The future is bright at PEER.

Today’s recognition reflects our ambition to set a new national benchmark for student driven training delivery where flexibility, wellbeing and industry relevance merge to create future ready workers. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our staff, trainers, apprentices, students, partnered employers and industry partners.

The winner of the award will be announced at the Gala Presentation on Thursday, 25 September at the Adelaide Convention Centre. We look forward to providing you with an update!

For more information about this award, visit: https://skillscommission.sa.gov.au/2025-sata-finalists/large-training-provider-of-the-year

Media Release: SA Skills Commission Media Release Training Awards Finalists Announced 280825

At PEER, innovation is part of how we improve and evolve. A recent initiative by the RTO Team has not only raised the bar for training delivery but also reinforced why PEER continues to lead the way in education and apprentice development.

The pilot not only demonstrated the effectiveness of a reimagined training model but also showed the power of truly listening to apprentice feedback, something PEER is deeply committed to.

Through strong teamwork and a focus on improving the apprentice experience, PEER has introduced a new approach that’s already showing positive results.

This pilot has provided a solid example of what effective training can look like and offers a helpful model for future programs.

Trainees will have the opportunity to work with leading employers across Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine, naval shipbuilding, and sustainment enterprises. This important program provides a traineeship in a critical industry, designed to equip participants with the skills and experience needed to thrive in the Australia’s rapidly growing defence workforce. Throughout the program, trainees will gain exposure to a broad range of disciplines, including manufacturing and engineering, computing, technical drawing and CAD, warehousing and logistics, procurement and supply chain, and project scheduling.

Litica, another trainee in the program, reflected on the significance of the opportunity.

“I’m feeling excited and a little nervous, this is a big career opportunity for me, so there are a lot of emotions today. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and trying new things. Once I complete the program, I hope to have a career in the maritime side of the industry, ideally working on submarines and warships for the Navy.”

PEER is proud to support the next generation of defence industry talent and thanks all attendees for helping to make the welcome event a memorable milestone for this group of future leaders.

For more information about the Defence Industry Pathways Program, click here. PEER’s next intake is scheduled to commence on 7 October 2025.

Source: ABC’s Behind The News

Isabella loves her job as an electrical apprentice. (ABC News: Simon Goodes)

Despite this, when it came to deciding on her future, pathways to “hands-on careers” didn’t appear to be on the table.

“I went to a private all-girls school and trade really wasn’t even an option for me,” she says.

“I was told I had to apply for uni; literally, they would make sure we applied, otherwise they were like, ‘We can’t let you graduate.’

“If you don’t have a tradie, you don’t have anything — you don’t have a house to live in.”

While everyone may need a tradie, at the moment, not everyone can access one.

“There’s a massive shortage of tradies right around Australia,” says Will Frogley, CEO of Master Builders South Australia.

He says stigma — what Isabella experienced in high school — is impacting on the number of people taking up apprenticeships.

“I think we’re seeing this [trade] shortage because, for so many years, kids were told they had to go to university … otherwise, you’re second rate almost.

“Nothing could be further from the truth.”

More tradies ‘desperately needed’

According to Monash University’s 2024 Australian Youth Barometer report, 70 per cent of young people aged 15 to 19 say they plan to go to university after school.

For apprenticeships, the numbers are far lower, with only 15.2 per cent of males, 9.2 per cent of gender-diverse young people, and 4.1 per cent of females planning to do an apprenticeship.

Looking at figures, it is no surprise that the number of people starting apprenticeships and joining the trade sector has not kept up with population growth over the past 10 years.

“Without enough people, construction work takes longer, it’s more expensive, and the quality can suffer as well, so we really desperately need more tradies,” Mr Frogley says.

Master Builders Australia estimates that the industry needs an extra 130,000 workers to reach the government’s national target of 1.2 million new homes by mid-2029.

The apprenticeship “earning while learning” model has always been a selling point, however, apprenticeship wages aren’t particularly high, and some say this is contributing to the tradie shortage.

“The wages are a bit challenging sometimes when you’ve got car insurance to pay for and rego or your car’s broken down,” Josef says.

“That can be hard if you’re not a good saver.”

The federal government has been targeting wages to entice more people to take on a trade.

Earlier this year, the Albanese government announced an incentive that would pay housing and construction apprentices $10,000 in five instalments over the duration of their training, with more given to those who live away from home.

Mr Frogley says incentives like this do make a difference.

“We need to make it as attractive as possible to be an apprentice,” he says.

“You can earn more money today doing something else.

“But my message is if you stick with it, once you finish your apprenticeship within a few years you can be earning really good money and that’s why it’s really rewarding to stay the course.”

This is Josef’s perspective, too.

“Once you’re qualified as well, the money’s just, you know, pretty insane for what it is and what you can do,” he says.

Not just about the money

The tradie shortage doesn’t start and end with money, though. Some in the industry say there are cultural challenges that contribute to the fact that almost half of apprentices don’t finish their training. 

“I’ve had a lot of mates do apprenticeships and then not follow through … it was very challenging times for them,” says Josef, who believes there should be more support for apprentices while they’re doing their training.

“Some companies and some tradespeople [are] very hard on the apprentices – it’s sink or swim.

“Maybe some bullying as well; some people face that.”

Mr Frogley says generational change in the industry can contribute to these challenges.

“There’s a mindset from some of the old guard in the industry that kids lack resilience these days, they don’t know how to work, they’re much more high maintenance than they used to be,” Mr Frogley says.

“But at the end of the day, it is a different generation, and they want more support, so you give it to them to help them succeed.

“That’s what it’s all about.”

Gender disparity in the trade sector is another significant factor when it comes to the tradie shortage.

Fewer than 3 per cent of people on the tools in Australia’s building and construction workforce are women.

“We need way more female tradies,” Mr Frogley says.

“But you’ve got to get the basics right if you want to attract more women into the industry.”

When it comes to basics, we’re talking as basic as an accessible bathroom.

Isabella says the worst thing she’s experienced is the lack of female toilets on sites.

“I’ve been on a couple of job sites where I’ve been told to drive to the closest servo for a toilet, where there’s been a block of men’s toilets with urinals in it,” she says.

“So, obviously, I don’t want to go in there, and then they won’t have a female toilet at all.

“There’s also a lack of sanitary facilities in women’s toilets when they are on site.”

For Isabella, having more women on site means having a more diverse skill set, which benefits everyone.

“I might not be as tall and strong as a guy on site, but I’ve got different problem-solving skills to him,” she says.

“I’ve seen it firsthand. We [men and women] work really well together.”

But, to bring more women into the trade sector, Isabella believes visibility and education are crucial.

“Every time we speak about women in trade, it’s always at trade events,” she says.

“I just think we need to go broader so get out to the schools, get out to society in general.

“If it doesn’t even seem like an option, people aren’t going to consider it.”

PEER extends sincere thanks to all involved in supporting the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships.

The event served as a powerful reminder of the strength of the apprenticeship model and the value of collaboration across employers, trainers, mentors, and the broader Vocational education community.

PEER apprentices Joseph Prior (Electrical – hosted by Glow Heating & Cooling), Aidan Coleman (Electrical – hosted by AHT), and Finn Koch-Reid (Refrigeration – hosted by Westside Group) represented South Australia with distinction. Their professionalism, technical capability and commitment were outstanding, reflecting the quality of training and support they have received throughout their journey.

This milestone represents a great moment of pride for PEER and the broader trade training community, a reflection of the commitment to excellence and the shared goal of building highly skilled tradespeople for South Australia.

Source: Australian Government I Defence: Shaping up to get ships out | Defence

It’s all hands on deck for South Australia’s next generation of shipbuilders with the launch of two exciting employment initiatives.

The first cohort of South Australian trainees and apprentices took their first steps into the defence industry through the Defence Industry Pathways Program and Shipbuilding Employment Pathways pilot initiative.

The Shipbuilding Employment Pathways initiative will support apprentices throughout their four-year trade qualifications, building skills and experience in trades critical to Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine and naval shipbuilding and sustainment industries.

Several intakes of apprentices will commence over the next two years, growing the future workforce for South Australia’s shipbuilders and supply chains.

Through the Defence Industry Pathways Program, trainees will receive hands-on experience working with defence industry employers, finishing in 12 months with a nationally recognised Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways.

Over the next three years, 150 South Australian trainees will begin their journey through this tailored pathway.

The program has been expanded from Western Australia, where it started as a pilot in 2021 and continues to thrive. Over the past four years, nine intakes have completed the program, with more than 70 per cent of graduates securing jobs in the maritime defence industry, while others have chosen to continue their training.

First Assistant Secretary Waterfront and Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Andy Cann welcomed the first South Australian trainee cohort, and highlighted the importance of the Defence Industry Pathways Program.

“The resounding success of the Defence Industry Pathways Program in Western Australia and its expansion into South Australia is part of how we develop the workforce to deliver maritime capabilities for the Australian Defence Force for decades to come,” Mr Cann said.

“Establishing the program in South Australia offers more opportunities for young people seeking to join the maritime defence industry, and ensures our nation’s long-term naval capability needs are supported by a highly skilled workforce.”

‘I was drawn to this program because of my passion in cybersecurity, and it feels like the perfect first step. I’m looking forward to learning new skills and gaining real-world experience to help build my career in the field.’

For 23-year-old Matthew Clemente, one of the first South Australian trainees, the Defence Industry Pathways Program is exciting and a little nerve-wracking.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to pave the way for future trainees,” Mr Clemente said.

“I was drawn to this program because of my passion in cybersecurity, and it feels like the perfect first step. I’m looking forward to learning new skills and gaining real-world experience to help build my career in the field.”

Head Virginia Workforce and Commercial in the Australian Submarine Agency Rear Admiral David Mann said these initiatives demonstrated the Government’s commitment to the AUKUS partnership.

“These trainees and apprentices will get valuable experience in defence industry, growing the highly skilled workforce needed to support, enable and build nuclear-powered submarines,” Rear Admiral Mann said.

“This investment in our next generation of defence industry workers demonstrates our commitment to Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program.

“These initiatives will create rewarding, long-term career pathways for new workers in South Australia.”

The program is also one of the 22 initiatives contained in the South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Action Plan.

The initiatives have been designed in partnership with industry to generate near-term and sustained longer-term impacts to address workforce demands and projected future needs, while also building on work already under way.

With plans to expand the Defence Industry Pathways Program across the country in future years, graduates are already proving to be an integral part of Australia’s naval shipbuilding and sustainment enterprise.

Peer Education Employment & Training Ltd (PEER) is supporting both initiatives, in partnership with TAFE SA. Visit their website to express interest in joining the next intakes of the programs: peer.com.au/careers/

(i) Engineering – Fabrication;

(ii) Engineering – Mechanical; or

(iii) Electrotechnology – Electrician

Apprentices will graduate with a nationally recognised qualification in their chosen trade, as well as unique experiences and non-accredited training offered only to nuclear powered submarine and naval shipbuilding and sustainment Pathway program participants.

As the Group Training Organisation, PEER will employ and manage apprentices and facilitate host placements and non-accredited training for the SEP.

The Defence Industry Pathways Program (DIPP) is a 12-month paid traineeship that awards graduates with a 52904WA Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways. This program provides hands-on training and experience across various sectors of the defence industry, including manufacturing and engineering, computing, logistics, procurement, technical drawing and computer-aided design (CAD).

The Program in South Australia (SA) is an expansion of the successful program of the same name established in Western Australia in 2021. The Defence Industry Pathways Program SA will be focused on the nuclear powered submarine and naval shipbuilding and sustainment enterprises. The program enables a broad understanding of the various career pathways available in nuclear powered submarine program and naval shipbuilding and sustainment, whilst also providing vocational training across a number of critical skills areas required by defence industry.

Throughout the Program, trainees attend block training at TAFE SA campuses and gain valuable real-world experience with work placements within our defence industry partners scheduled throughout the program, preparing them for diverse and rewarding career pathways within the sector.

Recruitment, employment, placement with industry partners, mentoring and pastoral care for the trainees will be facilitated through PEER, as the Group Training Organisation (GTO). The model supports the trainees by providing flexibility to move between host employers for greater exposure to the sector and employment options without disruption to their studies.

Delivery of the Defence Industry Pathways Program in SA is co-designed with the South Australian Government. TAFE SA will support program participants with foundation knowledge training, while PEER will employ and manage trainees and facilitate relevant work placements with host employers in the nuclear powered submarine and naval shipbuilding and sustainment enterprises. The Program aims to create a valuable pathway into rewarding careers within the nuclear powered submarine, naval shipbuilding and sustainment enterprises in the defence industry.

The Defence Industry Pathways Program has rapidly established a reputation for excellence. In WA over the past three years, more than 100 trainees have graduated, with many now securing fulfilling full-time roles in the defence industry. Graduates of the program have gone on to secure a variety of positions, ranging from technical trades to business support roles. These roles include apprentice fabricators, electronics technicians, project administrators and health and safety advisors, reflecting the diverse career pathways available within the defence industry.

PEER, in partnership with the South Australian and Australian Governments, and industry, is pleased to announce the upcoming intake for the Defence Industry Pathways Program and Shipbuilding Employment Pathways. These initiatives aim to create valuable pathways into rewarding careers within the defence and shipbuilding sectors.

PEER Chief Executive Officer, Brian Rungie, is excited about this opportunity, stating “A skilled South Australian workforce is critical in meeting the current and future defence industry workforce requirements. PEER is extremely proud to be launching careers on this national endeavour.

Successful participants will develop valuable skills and knowledge that are in high demand within the defence sector. This is the chance to start your successful career in an exciting and dynamic field that will have a meaningful impact on our future.”

PEER has moved to a flexible approach to apprenticeship training, enabling apprentices to study at their own pace without the limitations of a structured classroom. The new training model is receiving positive feedback from both apprentices and employers, who are greatly appreciating the opportunity to have a flexible approach to trade school.