Beyond the Wires: The Uncharted Pathway to Building a Rewarding Career in the Electrical Industry with Matthew Peacock

OFTEN when we talk about careers in the electrical industry, the conversation focuses on the industry sector and the type of business we want to work in. Are we most interested in industrial, commercial, residential or maybe mining? Will we get there by working for a big company, a small family-run business or perhaps by striking out on our own? Rarely do we talk about industry regulation as a career pathway.

We were pleased to talk to Matthew Peacock, Building and Energy's Director of Electrical, Gas and Plumbing Compliance, who shone a spotlight on this important part of industry. A former-EGT apprentice, Matthew has had a varied and interesting career. He is passionate about safety, education and relationship-building, and draws on all three of these areas in his current role.

How did you get into the industry?

MP: My career started with EGT. I applied for lots of electrical apprenticeships, but missed out each time. It was hard, but I refused to give up and I continued to send out applications, including one for EGT. They saw something in me that the others didn’t, and gave me a shot. I’ll always appreciate that.

It was the best possible start for me. I was placed with two great companies. The first was Kings Park Electrical, a family run business. I worked with two tradies: Alan Taylor and Andrew Webster, who really invested the time and effort to develop me right up to my third year. Then I moved on to LKR Electrical with Les Bertolini and Rino Perrella. Again, they were brilliant to work for and very supportive of my apprenticeship. 

Working with both of these companies gave me technical and practical skills that set me up for my future. Equally important, the tradies I worked with showed me what being a supervising tradesperson is all about. I believe that apprentices are a direct reflection of the tradespeople they’ve worked with. As a tradie, your aim should be to make your apprentice a better tradesperson than you are, so that you can take pride in the tradie they’ve become, and know that you’ve done everything you can to keep them safe.

What are some of the highlights of your career?

MP: After my apprenticeship, I got a job with Positron Electrical, working as an underground electrician in gold mines. The mines run at 1000 volts all the way down the mineshaft, enabling us to reduce the current and use smaller cables to reticulate power throughout the mine. My job was to keep the power going and look after all the equipment including mobile drill rigs that ran on 1000 volts, pumps, pump starters, ventilation fans, and large, complicated control panels. 

It was a fantastic job and I learned a lot. My first night, I got the call and made the half hour drive down to the drill point. The main hydraulic pump wasn’t working and I had a team of impatient people, who were paid by the metre, waiting for me to get it fixed ASAP.  I opened the two metre by one metre control panel, and there were contactors and relays everywhere. Where to start? I learned very fast in that role!

Being an underground electrician gave me solid controls and instrumentation experience.   From there, I worked as an electrical technician looking after automated electrical infrastructure for several large manufacturing companies. While I was there, Alan and Andrew, my tradies from Kings Park Electrical, started a company called Blue Tongue Electrical. As the company grew so did our roles, and over a number of years I worked my way up from sparky to project manager. 

I ran a lot of big-scale projects from start to finish including an automated flash butt welder facility producing 400 metre lengths of railway, a train refueler and a new rail operations building for Rio Tinto. I built new portions of Banksia Hill Detention Centre, worked on the South Centro shopping centre, and a galvanising plant located in a Naval Base. They were big projects and really interesting. 

By then though, I’d had enough of being away from my family and realised I needed a change. I was looking about jobs in Perth or starting my own business, when I saw an advert for Energy Safety (now called Building and Energy) and thought, That’s my role. It felt meant to be.

What made the advert leap out for you?

MP: I saw a chance to give back. 

When I was 17, I lost a mate. He had a restricted electrical licence and was working on a cool drink vending machine that had been left outside. The machine had filled up with water and was live when he pulled the frame off. That event planted a seed for me, way back then, around the importance of safety. After having the opportunity to work in so many parts of industry, going to work with Building and Energy enabled me to drive positive change and work to protect our workers, make industry safer and look after the community. 

I started as a senior electrical inspector, working on a number of high-level cases. My core role was to investigate matters that ranged from unlicensed work, unsafe appliances, ineffective supervision, dangerous work and serious accidents.  Such investigations require us to collect evidence, obtain witness statements, conduct records of interview, carry out specialised testing and attend court as an expert witness. From there I moved into senior roles within the department.

What do you enjoy the most about your current role?

MP: Inspectors have a unique role in industry. I’m very passionate about what we do, and am proud of what I and the team have been able to achieve in my time here. I am lucky to be surrounded by likeminded people, who are just as passionate as me about the electrical industry and public safety.

A large percentage of incidents result from a failure to isolate and test, so we place a strong focus on education. We have a lot of tools in place to improve safety outcomes, including education, legislating, auditing, issuing warnings and prosecution. For me, education needs to be the first tool we use so that we can increase awareness and change industry culture. I see this as a primary role for our team. 

Since starting in my current role, we have created a full-time education position within our team. Together with our inspectors, we visit TAFEs, colleges, contractor courses, industry nights and other forums to talk about safety, share our stories and engage with industry. We’ve seen a real improvement in the response from industry as a result of our education process.  

As part of this, we’ve continued to focus on engaging with stakeholders including industry associations, network operators, unions and training providers, bringing everyone along for the journey. Working hand in hand with industry is how we are going to change culture.  I value the relationships we’ve developed and the opportunity to collaborate.

I enjoy using data to identify trends so we focus our energy in the right places. For example, in the solar sector we used data to pinpoint opportunities for change, then worked with the Clean Energy Regulator to modify the rebate process to improve compliance within industry. It is vital to ensure that solar systems are installed by licenced electricians, using components that meet strict Australian Safety Standards, and that the work completed is safe. The reforms greatly improved industry compliance in the solar space, protecting both consumers and industry from unlicensed operatives.

Data also supports the legislative review process, and we have worked hard to ensure WA’s legislation sets strong standards, drives positive change and continues to improve safety for workers and consumers. 

As a result of our efforts, each year we see the number of incidents in industry reducing and I’m proud to have played a part in that result.  My work is incredibly satisfying and I feel like I’m making a genuine and valuable difference for our industry and community. 

How did doing your apprenticeship through EGT contribute to your success?

MP: Without EGT I wouldn’t be here - they provided me with the best possible start and set me up for life. I had an excellent Field Officer, Greg Knowles, who looked after me and made sure I was ok. Through my placements, I got experience across different parts of industry, and first-class technical skills. I worked with supportive companies who invested in me and were committed to giving me a solid foundation for my career. 

In my work, I see first-hand the importance of company culture and how it plays out in the quality of the work produced and the products that are chosen. I see how critical it is for companies to invest in their apprentices so they are well trained, turn into the best possible electricians they can be, and can keep themselves and others safe. As an employer, EGT plays a positive role in achieving this.

What advice would you give to current apprentices? 

MP: Firstly, value your life and safety. Always test for yourself and make sure the power is off - don’t take anyone else’s word for it. If someone says, ‘It’s all good, don’t worry,’ test for yourself anyway.

Secondly, soak up as much wisdom as possible during your apprenticeship. Ask questions. Your tradies are ultimately your teacher, so ask for and take their advice. Every day you should be learning something new. 

Take pride in your work. Make sure that the work you do is safe and meets the standards. Every day you should go home proud of and confident in the work you’ve done.
 
Lastly, think big. With so much change happening in the sector, you can do anything. So many doors will open if you put the hard work in. 

Have you got any final thoughts you’d like to share?

MP: We are in a period of transformation not seen in 100 years, and as an industry we are so lucky to be a part of that. Technology is advancing at lightning speed. Infrastructure, power generation and energy sources are changing. The work we do is becoming more complex. 

In this environment, the opportunities for individuals, businesses and industry as a whole, are amazing. There has never been a better, more exciting time to enter the electrical world.