Piercings

Morag Draper, professional body piercer has worked in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and of course The Tattoo Gallery. As an experienced piercer Morag has extensive knowledge in all general and exotic piercings and has worked with local Council and the Health Commission in maintaining and improving industry standards in best practice with skin penetration. A voluntary process of course, but it’s about skill, safety and protection of the craft. Morag has worked closely with consultants in developing workshops for both the tattoo and body piercing industries in South Australia, so that operators can stay skilled and up to date with best practice in aseptic procedures:-

Guest Speaker: Environmental Health Officer State Conference, Hahndorf South Australia - 1999
Guest Speaker: Royal Adelaide Hospital - Cross Contamination & Sterilisation Procedures - 1999
Member: Skin Penetration Guidelines Update, Health Department Workshop – 2002 to 2003
Speaker: Select Committee, Enquiry Tattoo & Body Piercing Industry, SA Parliament - 2005
Advisor: Safe Body Art: Survey and Report prepared by the Noarlunga Health Service - 2006
Guest Speaker: Parliament, Legislation Introduction in SA with regards to piercing age limits - 2007
Guest Speaker: Healthy Body Art for Young People, product launch, Civic Centre, City of Onkaparinga, November 2007
Advisor to author, Angela Llewellyn-Sare on her book “Puncture Kit”, 2007 and 2008
Working Party Member ‘Infection Control for Body Piercers’ Workshops, May 2009
Working Party Member ‘Infection Control for Tattooists’ Workshop, June 2009

In addition to the above, the occasional guest speaking gig on radio and media publications has given Morag the opportunity to educate and promote, in both a social commentary, industry informative and legislative angle with regards to body piercing and tattooing.

Piercing at the Tattoo Gallery is also undertaken by Sarah and Charz, both experienced in all mainstream piercings. Both Sarah and Charz have certificates in infection control and are available to handle any piercing or body jewellery requirements. Morag is available by appointment.

Training is also undertaken at The Tattoo Gallery through Inner Steel Professional Body Piercing Training. All individuals are interviewed by Morag and selective training programs are structured for trainees who are looking to advance an existing piercing career, expand an existing business with the service of body piercing or beginners who have already gained work experience in an existing piercing studio or salon.

Training covers comprehensive and practical piercing theory plus supervised piercing of all mainstream placements. Each piercing is documented so that the trainee can go back and remember all aspects of the procedure thus making it easier to create and develop techniques.

Morag's one-on-one courses are four day intensive in studio with a following 12 weeks of online or telephone support. If you are interested in finding out more about these courses, please email Morag at pierceme@tattoogallery.com.au with the following information: name, mobile, age, what you are currently doing for work, why you want to be a professional body piercer, any qualifications you have and what you have undertaken to secure work in the piercing industry.

A snapshot of basic beginner training is as follows:

Introduction	Tools, Jewellery, Supplies, Piercing sites [anatomical], Piercing Room set up, Health and Hygiene
Sterilisation and Disinfection	Ensuring a sterile field, Avoiding Cross contamination, Products and disposables, Cleaning and Maintaining Workstation, Equipment Cleaning Flow-through Sterilisation processes
Customer Care and Moral Obligation	Conducting Client Consultation Aftercare Age requirements in SA Moral obligations Legal position in South Australia for the Piercing Industry
Piercing Theory	Setting up for a piercing, what equipment to use, how to prepare your client for eyebrow, nose, lip, labret, tongue, ear lobe, tragus & cartilage, nipple, navel piercings
Practical Piercing	A step by step supervised process covering all the piercings above and each piercing documented by the trainee
Course Certification	Training Outline

Please note that in order to complete an Inner Steel Professional Piercing Course you must first find work experience [or be an existing business owner/commencing a new business venture], as it is important to utilize new found skills immediately after certification in order to develop techniques and gain confidence.

If you have a question about a piercing or want to share an experience about a piercing - or even if you want to share a pic of your piercing, feel free to share.

Drop Morag a line on pierceme@tattoogallery.com.au [remember some may be placed on the website - please state if YOU DO NOT want this to occur].

Jimmy's ear with Daith/Conch piercings - pierced by Morag

Charz and Sarah, In-House Piercing