In this episode, Sam Street talks with Brendan Gale from EV Safe Australia about Electric Vehicle (EV) safety.

We begin our discussion with Brendan's journey into EV safety consulting, exploring the current state of EV safety in Australia, and the variance in information between states and businesses. Then, we delve into the different approaches to EV safety, the range of services businesses may provide, and how following OEM procedures is crucial for direct repairs, while standards like AS5732 offer broader guidelines covering site safety and emergency response. We also examine the complexities surrounding training and equipment and sourcing appropriate EV-specific PPE.

We wrap up by reviewing government support options through grants like the DRIVEN Program (Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally), offering rebates on eligible EV safety equipment and processes.

Links & Resources:

EV Safe Australia

https://evsafeaustralia.com.au/

Body Shop Australia

https://www.bodyshopaustralia.com.au/

EV Repair Services (EV battery specialists)

https://evrepairservices.com.au/

Bell Automotive Group

https://bellautomotivegroup.com.au/

Government's DRIVEN Program

https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/driven-charger-rebate-stream

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The Edge Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Paint and Panel, owned and published by Yaffa Media.

Hosts: Sam Street & Grant McHerron
Editor: Chris Visscher
Producer: Steve Visscher

Paint and Panel - © 2026

In this episode, Sam Street travels to the Collision Repair Expo in Melbourne where she interviews representatives from 3M about their new products.

We begin our discussion by exploring 3M's new Performance Spray Gun, a carbon composite offering enhanced ergonomics, comfort benefits, high transfer efficiency to save paint, and the ability to switch between fine finish and conventional spray modes. Our discussion also gives us an insight into 3M™ Cubitron™ Abrasives, specifically the re-engineered Cubitron™ 3 range which can provide up to a 50% increase in performance over the previous model. We highlight its cost-effective use through its longer life, whilst it has a higher initial cost, it is recovered through its superior quality and productivity gains.

We wrap up by reviewing the new 3M™ Hookit™ Blue Net Abrasive Discs, which feature improved dust extraction capabilities compared to standard paper discs, enhancing workshop health and reducing cleanup time for better overall productivity.

Links & Resources:

3M Abrasives for Collision Repair

https://www.3m.com.au/3M/en_AU/p/c/abrasives/i/automotive/collision-repair/

3M™ Performance Spray Guns

https://www.3m.com.au/3M/en_AU/collision-repair-au/paint-preparation-system/

3M Stand at the 2026 Collision Repair Expo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVjCOEeTh_E

James Lawson - Collision Repair MSO Specialist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-lawson-123415160/

Jason Nagy - Application Engineer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-nagy-982210360/

Contact 3M

https://www.3m.com.au/3M/en_AU/collision-repair-au/support/

3M Customer Service: Dial 1-3M 1-3M (136-136)

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The Edge Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Paint and Panel, owned and published by Yaffa Media.

Hosts: Sam Street & Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Editor: Chris Visscher

Paint and Panel - © 2026

In this episode, Sam Street meets with Australia's automotive repair representatives for the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 event.

We begin our discussion by reviewing WorldSkills' origins as a not-for-profit charity for the last 40 years, and its role in promoting trades to students with Brigitte Collins. We speak to WorldSkills experts Paul Poverino and Cameron Killen along with our Skillaroos Sam Sheddon and Jack Richards about their roles and journeys to Shanghai, the pathways and standards involved in international body repair, and their experiences with global trainers, employers, and competitions. Our discussion gives us a behind the scenes look at industry partners like Axalta and Glasurit, and what it's like going from competing at local and then international competitions.

We wrap up by reviewing how WorldSkills Australia encourages industry involvement and highlights young talent.

Links & Resources:
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
https://worldskills.org/what/competitions/worldskills-shanghai-2026/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldskills-australia/

https://www.facebook.com/WorldSkillsAU

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The Edge Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Paint and Panel, owned and published by Yaffa Media.

Hosts: Sam Street & Grant McHerron
Producer: Steve Visscher