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Professional Peer Group Program (VIC)

This program aims to bring together professionals (minimum three years’ industry experience) in a small group environment with the intention of providing members with dependable peer support.

In practice, group members become confidantes to and for one another, with a typical group meeting being a forum to hear professional or personal concerns raised by individual members (such as how to deal with an issue involving a problematic colleague or manager in their workplace, or a professional challenge for which members have no other forms of support or guidance from their employer) and then together workshopping solutions for addressing the issue that the individual member can take away and apply to their situation. As the old adage goes: a problem aired is a problem shared.

Benefits of being in a peer group:
• Insights from your peers’ background and experience - it may be very different from your own;
• Satisfaction in sharing your counsel and expertise with others;
• Reassurance that you’re doing the right thing in attempting to address a problem;
• Learning about other areas of expertise;
• Development of confidence and enhanced self esteem.

We are particularly interested in receiving expressions of interest in joining specific peer groups relating to certain professions. For instance, we are currently assessing the level of interest in establishing peer groups specifically for:

• The not-for-profit sector;
• Internal communicators;
• Corporate affairs practitioners;
• Sole practitioners – whether you are the lone communications person within your organisation or run your own small consultancy;
• Government communications practitioners (all levels/departments of government).

To learn more or to register your interest in joining a peer group, email vic@pria.com.au with “Peer Group Program” in the subject line (together with your CV - important so we can endeavour to match you to the most appropriate group).

Alternatively, you can phone peer group program co-ordinator Simon Mossman on 0451 660 980 to discuss your peer group requirements. We are also seeking expressions of interest from members who would like to establish their own professional peer group, fully supported by program administrators and the state council.

Last Updated: May 4, 2011