EnergySafe Magazine Spring 2017, issue 48 | Page 5

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For all the latest energy safety news visit www.esv.vic.gov.au
Spring 2017
energysafe issue 48
Teacher awarded for excellence
by students and peers
By Jonathan Granger, Head of
Communications and Marketing
Last August, Energy Safe Victoria presented
the innaugral Energy Safety Victoria
Instructor’s Excellence Award at the
Plumbing, Sheetmetal and Coppersmithing
Instructors’ Association (PSCIA) Plumbing
Teachers Conference in Albury
Nominees for the award are endorsed by
colleagues and students, with each providing
testaments of their gratitude towards their
respective educators. This year’s winner
and award recipient is Kerri McDonnell from
Chisolm Institute.
Kerri has forged a proud career in the gas
industry. A well deserving recipient receiving high
praise from colleagues at Chisholm TAFE and
students alike, Kerri is all too humble in describing
her achievement.
“It’s a huge honour,” she said.
“It’s hard to articulate. To be firstly nominated
for such an award – my boss did the nomination
and he got some very kind words from some of
my former students. To then win it, well I can’t
express what an honour and shock it was.
“It’s very nice to be thought of so highly.”
In the nomination, Kerri’s former student
Scott Emms described her as kind natured,
a person who put all students at ease, which
made for a great learning journey.
“She was able to explain things in a way
that made sense and in a way that I was able
to remember,” he wrote in the nomination.
“Kerri made sure she paid each of the
students attention and gave them the time
and help they needed…”
Fellow student Joel Turton-Lane was
just as complimentary.
“Kerri has a strong passion for gas and can
easily explain the necessary requirements from
the gas regs and her clear lessons made all the
students very much at ease. Even though I was
Good habits start young: ESV’s Instructor’s
Excellence Award is all about giving students
a chance to show their mentors how their
guidance has shaped their learning journey.
Workshop 101: ESV’s Instructor of the year, Kerri McDonald ensures her apprentices get the attention
and time they need to gain the most out of their eduction and enjoy themselves along the way.
a bit worried when enrolling, her knowledge and
the way she took the time to repeat areas to
ensure I understood the subject made for a
very enjoyable experience.”
Sponsored by ESV, the award was designed
to acknowledge the efforts of all RTO/TAFE
plumbing teachers involved in gasfitting training.
Kerri was chosen from a strong group.
However, her motivation to teach is not driven
by awards. Kerri’s greatest reward is when one of
her students learns something.
“When you get to the end of the week and a
student or apprentice comes up to you and says
‘y’know, I really learnt something this week’…
that is what keeps you going,” she said.
“The best thing is getting positive feedback
from students.”
Kerri started her career in the UK where she
completed her qualifications. She has been at
Chisholm for seven years where she is described
as an ‘essential part of the team’.
Her passion for her work extends to
consulting with VBA on improvements to the
current licensing exam.
Kerri is also the driving force the behind
development of a ‘theme’ room at Chisholm
with real life installations and full sized models
to complement theory-based teaching.
Manager of Plumbing and Water Services
at Chisholm, Bryan Ornsby, said Kerri had a
calming influence on apprentices.
“The feedback from employers and
apprentices alike is that Kerri treats the
a pprentices with respect and in that way
receives respect in return.”
The awards were attended by 120 guests,
with presentations made by ESV’s Manager of
Gas Operations, Paul Harris, and Gas Inspector,
Laurie Devitt, the Victorian Building Authority
(VBA), the President of the Backflow Prevention
Association of Australia and a leading Educator
from La Trobe University.
Attendees were informed about great initiatives
and strategies in relation to gas installations,
coupled with a better understanding of regulations.
Kerri’s award is the first of its kind. It serves
to highlight and recognise the dedicated work
teachers place into educating the minds of our
future tradespeople in the gas industry.
Kerry said supports the enery safety
messages ESV sends to her apprentices
and the broader community.
“There is a considerable need to get these
safety messages out,” she said.
“I see ESV as a supporter of education,
rather than the authoritative body. I encourage
my students to embrace contacting ESV and
seek information upfront.
“You don’t want to be meeting ESV for the first
time when they come in to investigate something.”
ESV would like to thank the PSCIA for their
support, all the nominees for their hard work, and
the colleagues and students across all institutions
for their nominations.