In collaboration with the Australian Hairdressing Council, TAFE NSW is upskilling qualified hairdressers in barbering, as part of an exciting new initiative to meet growing skills needs.
According to the Australian Hairdressing Council, the hairdressing and barber industry contributes more than $3 billion in hairdressing services to the Australian economy per year. As the industry continues to grow, there’s a greater need for a more versatile workforce that’s able to cater for barbering, focused on men’s grooming needs, as well as traditional hairdressing.
In response to the skills gap, TAFE NSW and the Australian Hairdressing Council have delivered Project Barber, a pilot initiative to provide hair professionals who already hold the Certificate III in Hairdressing with the opportunity to gain a Certificate III Barbering.
Surry Hills stylist Chris Cheng completed the 10-week course at TAFE NSW to build his confidence and expand his skill set.
“I’ve worked in a hair salon for a while now but always felt nervous cutting anything shorter than a bob. I wasn’t confident doing shorter haircuts involving clipper work, fades and precise blending because it’s a completely different approach,” said Chris.
“The training I did with TAFE NSW during Project Barber made me fall in love with the craft. The hands-on learning really resonated with me and gave me the confidence to put my skills into practice. I’m excited to start taking on more male clients.”
TAFE NSW Hairdressing Teacher, Trish Habon, recognises the importance of collaborating with industry. “Delivering Project Barber demonstrates how our training reflects the needs of industry and skills our students to cater for a more diverse clientele. It’s an important path to upskilling our existing hairdressing workforce so the industry can continue to thrive,” said Trish
Melissa Kalan, CEO of the Australian Hairdressing Council, expressed pride in the successful collaboration between TAFE NSW and the AHC, highlighting its pivotal role in nurturing talent and fostering skill development in the hairdressing industry.
“We are immensely proud of our collaboration with TAFE NSW, which plays a crucial role in equipping hair professionals with the skills they need to excel in their craft. Programs like Project Barber not only enhanced technical abilities and career opportunities but also delivered tremendous value both professionally and personally,” said Melissa.
