Sparking the next generation

By Greg Chapman

Fifteen years ago, Barry Peek used his electrician skills to help rebuild hospitals after the Christchurch earthquake - now he’s helping build the next generation’s sparkies as a CQUniversity teacher. 

Barry has been an electrical teacher at CQU for the past three years and brings a wealth of experience to the role and a determination to make sure today’s apprentices are getting the best training and a fair go. 

“Prior to becoming a teacher, I had worked in the Electrical industry for almost 40 years,” he said. 

“My career in the electrical industry started in telecommunications and SCADA (computer control of electrical substations) before I took up a position servicing and repairing medical analysis equipment (blood and chemistry analysers).” 

After a few years in that job, Barry moved onto repairing electronic modules for traffic signal equipment, and later installation of this equipment. He did this for about four years and then used Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and did the “gap training” to complete an Electrician apprenticeship.  

Soon after, he moved to New Zealand and lived and worked in Christchurch for 16 years as an electrician and then a registered electrical inspector.  

It was there in 2011 that his skills were really put to the test following the devastating earthquake. 

“I worked on rebuild projects following the Christchurch earthquake. Much of this work was at Canterbury University and at various sites for the Canterbury District Health Board, including the construction of the new East Wing of Burwood Hospital and constructing a new Community Dentists Clinic,” he said. 

His interest in training apprentices emerged when his eldest son was completing his heavy diesel apprenticeship. 

He eventually became an apprentice workbook assessor for Skills NZ. 

“I found helping the apprentices to be rewarding and wanted to get more involved in the training of apprentices,” he said. 

Not long after moving to Australia in 2017, he discovered that CQUniversity was looking for electrical teachers in Rockhampton. 

 “My youngest son was already living in Rockhampton, and so I applied for the position. CQUniversity offered me a teaching role and fully supported me to complete the Training and Assessment qualification. They paid for the course, provided mentoring, and they paid me while I was under training – so it was a real win, win,” he said. 

Now as a teacher, Barry gets to share his experience with students. 

“I tell my students of both the good experiences and of those which they would want to avoid – such as incidents where colleagues have been harmed due to not following prescribed practices which are put in place to ensure safety. They need to have no doubts that electricity can be dangerous if not treated with a healthy measure of respect,” he said. 

“If you establish a good rapport with your apprentices, you feel like you have ‘paid your dues’ in the industry.  

“If you want to move off of the tools, and you have the knowledge and experience to contribute something meaningful to the next generation of workers within your particular trade – then getting into vocational teaching may be a good fit for you.” 

Enquire about how you can become a trade teacher at CQU TAFE.  

You don’t need to have a teaching qualification to apply to become a TAFE Teacher. CQU recognises talent and will help you gain your TAE40122 - Certificate IV in Training and Assessment through a fully supported pathway.