About Peta
Peta Shannon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Drama, Film and Creative Writing, an Associate Diploma in Speech and Drama Teaching and is currently studying her Master’s of Secondary Teaching at Flinders University.
She has taught the subject to various schools, including Mercedes & Scotch Colleges, Pulteney & St John’s Grammar, to students of all ages, for 20 years.
She has also examined and adjudicated in Mt Gambier, Orange, Balaklava and Gold Coast Speech and Drama Eisteddfods.
During her Master’s Degree, Peta has successfully completed two placements at Westminster School and Springbank Secondary College, worked for 5 weeks at Mercedes College as TRT for Dance and Drama subjects, and has been nominated for the Community Teaching Award, received recognition of Professional Learning for Pre-Service Teachers – Inclusion Modules and received the Chancellor’s Letter of Recommendation from Flinders University.
Peta has all relevant credentials such as first aid, mandatory notification, working with children, Lantite tests and professional learning of the Safe Environments for Children and Young People and Australian Childhood Foundation – Whole of School SMART practice workshop – Trauma Aware Schools initiative.
Peta is the founder, facilitator and educator of The Actors’ Studio Adelaide, with former head of NIDA, Tony Knight and Film Bugs and The Adelaide Film Academy with students winning the Adelaide Youth and StuffIt Film Festivals.
Peta is also an award-winning Producer, Writer, Actor, Dancer and with Screen Producers Association (SPA), Australian Writers Guild (AWG) and Media Resource Centre (MRC) memberships. Peta has produced a Children's TV Pilot - The Majestic Garden, Documentary Colebrook (Cannes Short Film Festival) and The Piccadilly (New Media Film Festival) and numerous corporate adverts and videos for various clients such as All State Pest Control (W3 Best in Show 2023), Second Chances (LIT Commercial Gold Award Winner 2023), TeleSeniors (LIT Commercial Gold Award Winner 2023), SCL Schumann, Gina Rinehart, Master Builders, Grandeur Wellington, Pura Tap, Barkuma, Oknalux and many more.
Her stage credits for major roles in various include; Salome in Salome, Nora in A Doll’s House, Wuthering Heights, Peggy in 42nd Street, Strangers on a Train, Play it Again Sam, Hope in Anything Goes, Amelia in Vanity Fair, All About My Mother, Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, various shows for Ding Productions, Liz in Chicago, Solange in The Maids and various roles in Shakespeare on Love and Shakespeare After Dark with director Tony Knight. Her television, feature and short film credits include: Selling Gold, Here to Heaven, To Be King, No More Like My Father, Lullaby, 2:37, The Lady, children’s TV pilot to which she also co-wrote and produced, The Majestic Garden, The Babadook, The Missing Years, August Watershed, I am What I am, Danger 5, Doomsdays, Raising the Bar, Dark Blue, Gymnastics Academy, The Tourist and The Stranger.
Qualifications
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Masters of Secondary Teaching Degree - Flinders University
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Bachelor of Arts Degree (Drama, English, Film Studies) - Flinders University
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Speech and Drama Teacher Associate Diploma - Adelaide University
Awards
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Community Teaching Award Nomination 2024 Flinders University
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Chancellor’s Letter of Commendation 2024 Flinders University
Certificates & Professional Development
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St John’s Full First Aid Certificate HLTAID001-3
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Driver’s License
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Working with Children Clearance – SRN 0046-5307
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Catholic Schools Clearance
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RRHAN-EC Fundamentals and Masterclass
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Safe Environments for Children and Young People
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ACER LANTITE - Completed
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White Card
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Recognition of Professional Learning for Pre-Service Teachers –Inclusion Modules Flinders University
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Australian Childhood Foundation – Whole of School SMART practice workshop (6hr) - Trauma Aware Schools initiative (TASi)
Executive Overview
Confident professional with exemplary skills in teaching, adjudication, organisational, communication, content knowledge, administration, and customer service skills. My strongest qualities are my strong work ethic, empathy, compassion, creativity, respect, loyalty, self-motivation, courtesy, dedication and commitment to being supportive and encouraging of others.
Previous job experiences include: teacher, examiner, adjudicator, OSHC worker, video producer, writer and actor.
Working with children of all ages, I have worked at Clapham Primary School, Pulteney Grammar, St John’s Grammar, Mercedes and Scotch Colleges, as a Speech and Drama teacher, and examining and adjudicating across the country, teach and direct with Hills Youth Theatre, gained work experience on placement at Westminster School under the mentorship of Head of Drama, Mr. John Doherty, and Springbank Secondary College under the mentorship of Head of Drama Ms. Anna Watt and Head of English Ms. Natasha Grundy, and run The Actors’ Studio, Film Bugs and The Adelaide Film Academy.
Ability and flexibility to adapt to any role and enjoy working with people.
With these transferrable skills, I am ready for the next career challenge to adapt to any new work environment.
Career Summary
Westminster College/Springbank Secondary College/Mercedes College
Temporary Relief Teacher
Current
Overview
Westminster School is a leading coeducational school for day and boarding students, offering an exceptional education from Early Learning to Year 12. Supported by an active global community, they incorporate our values of being brave, humble, kind, authentic, resilient and curious into everyday school life, along with the ethos of the Uniting Church and international ideals of Round Square.
Springbank College's specialty is adapting programs to suit the needs of students to make learning challenging and accessible to all. With the combination of small class sizes, maximum SSO support, and state of the art facilities, they endeavour to provide a broad range of authentic learning opportunities to prepare our young people for whatever lies ahead.
They operate on an inclusive model where all students, no matter their barrier to learning, can thrive. This approach means that the learning goals for students within the same class may vary greatly, but all are challenged and have the right to feel safe and included.
Mercedes College is a Catholic College located in Springfield South Australia, which offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) education, shaping confident compassionate and globally minded learners. Foundered by the Sisters of Mercy in 1954, Mercedes is inspired by the Mercy tradition with core values - Mutual Respect, Compassion, Integrity, Justice, Responsibility and Loyalty.
Responsibility
Teaching Year 7 - 12 a variety of subjects across the three schools whilst regular teacher was away.
Mercedes College
Temporary Relief Drama/Dance Teacher
July 2025
Overview
Mercedes College is a Catholic College located in Springfield South Australia, which offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) education, shaping confident compassionate and globally minded learners. Foundered by the Sisters of Mercy in 1954, Mercedes is inspired by the Mercy tradition with core values - Mutual Respect, Compassion, Integrity, Justice, Responsibility and Loyalty.
Responsibility
Teaching Year 7 - 12 Dance and Drama classes for 5 weeks at Mercedes College whilst regular teacher was away. This involved lesson planning, classroom management, content delivery including drama performances and dance choreography within the ACARA, IB and SACE Stage 1 and 2 Dance and Drama curriculums and conducting formative and assessments via SEQTA.
Hills Youth Theatre
Youth Tutor & Junior Production Director
2024 - 2025
Overview
Since 1986, Hills Youth Theatre, located in Stirling Community Theatre, provides students of all year levels the opportunity to perform in two productions throughout the year (a dramatic play and Musical/Pantomime). Managed by the local committee and parent/caregiver volunteers, the culture is supportive and inclusive of all young people.
Responsibility
Teaching performing art skills in acting, singing and dancing to four classes of students in Year Levels 4 – 9 as well as directing the Junior Production and End of Year Musical.
The Actors' Studio Adelaide
Manager & Teacher
2021 - Current
Overview
The Actors’ Studio Adelaide trains local actors to become industry ready through classes, voice demos, showreels and performances specialising in Film/TV and stage work throughout the year. Professional Industry teachers include former NIDA teacher, Tony Knight, Matt Shannon (Director/Cinematographer), Actors and Teachers, Brett Archer, John Doherty and Peta Shannon.
Responsibility
Teaching the Youth Program and private lessons (specialising in Speech and Drama). Coordinating and facilitating the running of the program. Web Development, Social Media Marketing and Sales, Coordinating Curriculum, Managing Staff and Students (some with diverse needs), Correspondence with students and staff, Booking Venues and Writing Programs and Managing Payroll.
Achievements
Many graduating students of The Actors Studio have been accepted into Flinders University, Howard Fine, VCA, WAAPA, NIDA, QT or Drama Centre.
Film Bugs & The Adelaide Film Academy
Manager & Teacher
2024 - Current
Overview
The program began this year for 7 – 11 year old students (Film Bugs) and 12 – 17 year old students (Adelaide Film Academy), with Term Classes and School Holiday Programs.
Responsibility
Planning of Business, Values, Web Content, Syllabus, Lesson Plans, Teaching Students of (some with diverse needs), Liaising with Parents, Organising Screenings
Achievements
2025 Nominations Adelaide Youth Film Festival – Middle School Film ‘Nuroflux’ & ‘We’ll Meet Again’
2024 StuffIt Film Festival Junior Short Film Award Winner ‘Lights, Camera, Kill’
2024 Adelaide Youth Film Festival Best Primary School Film Winner - ‘The Forgotten Suitcase’
and Nomination ‘Stuck’
Working under tight time constraints, multi-tasking & collaborating with staff, students and parents towards completing their short films.
SA Casting
Actor/Dancer/Singer
1996 - Current
Overview
Acting, Dancing and Singing in various TVC, Feature Film and Stage Roles around the world.
Responsibility
Creating authentic characters to suit the genre, style and story as a voice artist, dancer, actor or presenter. These productions gave me proficient knowledge in the requirements of working on film and television sets, in sound booths for radio advertising and on stage and more importantly, in how to collaborate with people from executives through to cast & crew.
Achievements (some of many)
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TV Series - ‘Gymnastics Academy’ Stage Productions - ‘The Maids’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Wuthering Heights’, ‘Strangers on a Train’, ‘Play it Again Sam’, Feature Film - ‘Second Chances’, ‘The Babadook’ Feature Film, Musicals - ‘Chicago’, ‘42nd Street’, ‘Anything Goes’, ‘Sweet Charity’
Scarlett Media
Producer/Writer
2017 - 2024
Overview
Scarlett Media is an advertising agency that specialises in video production.
Responsibility
Networking, Sales, Marketing, Conducting Strategy Sessions, Meetings with clients, Creating Briefs, Creative Writing for scripting of videos, Social Media and Radio, Scheduling, Risk Management, Communication, Crew management, Casting, Contract Writing, Payroll and all producing requirements to match client expectations in delivering documentaries, films and commercials.
Achievements
2025 Accepted into Paris Lift Off Film Festival Documentary – ‘The Piccadilly – Restoring Her Former Glory’
2024 Touchstone Independent Film Festival Best Documentary – ‘The Piccadilly – Restoring Her Former Glory’
2024 New Media Film Festival Best Trailer – ‘The Piccadilly – Restoring Her Former Glory’
2024 International Film Festival Australia – ‘Colebrook – A Place of Healing and Learning’ Documentary
2023 W3 Best in Show – ‘All State Pest Control’ Commercial
2023 LIT Commercial Gold Awards – ‘Gardening Gloves & Guiding Hands’ Commercial for TeleSeniors
2023 LIT Commercial Gold Awards – ‘Vanished’ Commercial for Second Chances
2023 Documentary – New Media Film Festival ‘The Piccadilly – Restoring Her Former Glory’ Documentary Trailer
2022 Cannes Short Film Festival – ‘Colebrook – A Place of Healing and Learning’ Documentary
Speech and Drama
Teacher, Adjudicator, Examiner & OSHC Care Worker
1999 - 2020
Overview
Teaching at Scotch and Mercedes Colleges, St John’s & Pulteney Grammar Schools and Clapham Primary School to students of all ages the Speech and Drama Curriculum as well as adjudicated and examined in various Eisteddfods across Australia.
Teaching dance to 18 month – 5 years olds for Theatre Bugs in 2024.
OSHC care worker at Clapham Primary School for 10 years.
Responsibility
Caring for Children of various needs, Behaviour Management, Sales and Marketing, Student Enrolment, Administration, Lesson Planning, Voice, Theory and Performance Teaching, Research, Script Writing, Directing, Coordinating productions, examining and adjudicating.
Achievements
High Achievement in Performance, Associate Diploma, Adjudicating in Orange, Gold Coast, Mt Gambier and Balaklava Eisteddfods & Examiner.
Referees
Please contact Peta should you wish to receive her full CV with referee contact details.