Trainer & Assessor Profiles

Laurie Ratcliffe
(Senior Trainer & Assessor for car & HV)

Background
Laurie has more than 28 years of extensive military and civil experience driving and instructing on a wide variety of vehicles. These include motorcycles and cars to coaches and heavy vehicles ( R – HR). Laurie has a wealth of knowledge and experience that has been gained from many years of training and assessment across the whole of Australia. The Defence Force is widely recognised as the premier training organisation in the country and its high standards are reflected in Laurie's capabilities not only as a first class driver, but also as a highly skilled instructor/assessor.

Qualifications
Laurie’s qualifications include; Diploma in Transport and Logistics, Cert IV workplace training and assessment, Cert IV Frontline Management, Cert IV OH&S, Accredited Workplace Mediator and “EFT Practitioner (Anxiety, fear and panic relief)”. Laurie is a NSW Qualified Driving instructor in “ R, C and HC” class vehicles. Laurie has also undertaken the compulsory Child Protection seminars, and is Senior First aid Qualified.

Driving Experience:
Laurie was employed by the Department of Defence in 1980 initially as a driver. In this capacity Laurie has driven a wide variety of vehicles from motorcycles and cars through to coaches and semi-trailers. He was required to drive these vehicles in all types of terrain, whilst carrying a variety of loads including dangerous goods, ammunition, general cargo and personnel, through most states of Australia.

Driving Instructor:
Laurie became an assistant driving instructor in 1983, qualified in all terrain vehicles, as well as on-road light rigid and heavy vehicles.
In 1993 Laurie became a Commonwealth accredited Defence B Vehicle Driving Instructor / Assessor. This enabled Laurie to plan and conduct training courses, as well as issue licences for the Defence Force, which are recognised by each state of Australia. During the ensuing years to his retiring in 2002, Laurie trained and issued licences for scores of personnel in many different vehicle configurations.
Retiring from the Defence Force, Laurie has utilised his skills and qualifications to establish his driving education school to train people of all ages in all facets of driving, from learner drivers and motorcycle riders, through to heavy vehicle competency based assessment, and training new driving instructors.

Peter Movsesian (Director, PVET Institute. Trainer & Assessor)

Early in his career, Peter has worked in the fields of Electronic Engineering and computers. He has been production and sales manager in a number of Electronic and computer companies; among some of his strengths were in the area of staff training. In the late 1980's Peter moved from engineering, working from an employer, to self-employment. His keen desire to continue in the areas of training led him to start a Driving School, hence he established Peters Driving School, to train novice drivers. Over the years, the driving school expanded and for the need of quality trainers for his school, he sought to expand the driving school to include training for driving instructors. At this point, the company that Peter owned was called North Shore Peters Driving School. Peter has also established The PVET Institute, which is a registered training organisation with VETAB ( N.S.W. Vocational Education and Training Board), and runs a number of national accredited courses. Peter is the director of PVET Institute, which is also an RTA approved course provider for Certificate IV Driving Instructor´s course and Heavy Vehicle Instructor´s course.

Sherif Abdelmalek (Trainer & Assessor)

Sherif has completed Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1984. He has successfully completed Induction Training in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in 2003 and obtained Certificate IV in Business Management in 2005. Sherif currently holds the Certificate IV in Driving Instruction and is a qualified Driving Instructor and Senior Trainer for Driving Instructor courses.

Robert Kattan (Trainer & Assessor)

Robert´s qualifications include a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma of Education (Secondary) from the University of Sydney. Robert is a very experienced secondary mathematics teacher. He is a member of the Teachers Federation and classified as an approved member of the Catholic Education Office by the NSW Department of Education. In addition, he is accredited as a proprietor / examiner by the Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers. He is a highly valued to our organisation not only for his knowledge and skill as a trainer and assessor but also for his enthusiasm and dedication.

Zoe (Trainer & Assessor)

Zoe has an extremely professional approach to training. Previously, Zoe has extensive experience in the Medical Science field. She has the latest RTA approved driving instructor license as well TAA and TAE qualifications. She is very passionate and confident with her teaching as she has long teaching experience earlier in her life. She is continuing her efforts to be actively involved with the Keys2drive program of the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) and further training to improve her license and her professional driving experiences.

Peter O´Neill (Trainer & Assessor)

Peter O´Neill is a qualified and RTA approved driving instructor with exceptionally high communication, and training skills. He has had 20 years of Army experience followed by employment with one of Australia's largest coach companies as the Senior Driver/Trainer. During his time in the coach industry, he was responsible for the initial and on-going training of drivers, the planning and implementation of training both in driving and commentary covering all parts of Australia. Peter has further completed a 'Train the Trainer' Course, Certificate IV in Driving Instruction, Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training BSZ98 and Certificate in Workplace Assessment and Training TAA04. Peter also currently holds a Heavy Combination and Unrestricted Motorcycle Licence.

Damian Humphries (Trainer & Assessor)

Damian has a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) and has taught for 17 years holding a number of coordinator positions. These involved coaching sports, teaching road safety and drug and alcohol education. He has also marked the Higher School Certificate for the past 5 years. From 1990-1994 he was the Northern NSW Development Manager for the NSW Australian Football League. His duties included promotion, coaching, conducting school clinics and resource development. Currently he runs Coast Driver Training in Coffs Harbour. He is also a member of the Australian Driver Trainers Association (ADTA).Driving instructor qualifications: Certificate 1V in Driving Instruction 91000 / Certificate in Workplace Training and Assessment TAA 40104.

Jamie Robertson

Jamie prides himself on being a patient, tolerant and easy-going driving instructor. Canadian born, Jamie has a bachelor in Administrative Studies and Law, allowing him to develop necessary communication skills that are fundamental in being an efficient instructor. Overall, his passion for driving and life experience through travelling has equipped him with ideal traits relevant to excelling as a driving instructor.