In important news for Australian salons, the National Retail Association has partnered with the Australian Government (Department of Education, Skills and Employment) for a federally funded program that addresses the national skills shortage in hairdressing. They are seeking support letters from members of the industry to direct the new talent to relevant vacancies around the country.
The project is monetised under PATH Business Partnerships funding and is at no cost to employers, with opportunities of subsidies for employers who employ a candidate in the internship component. The system will also include the referral and recruitment of national candidates to the program through employment services providers.
The initiative will include pre-employment readiness training for candidates to develop essential skills in hairdressing and barbering, and a 15 to 25 hour per week internship at a salon for two to four weeks. This training can lead to future salon employment as well as possible continuation onto a SHB30416 Certificate III in Hairdressing Apprenticeship or SHB30516 Certificate III in Barbering Apprenticeship.
“This will be wonderful news for many of you who are very keen to bring on Apprentices and new team members to your salon – we all know too well the increasingly challenging shortage of hairdressers and barbers nationally,” shared industry stalwart Sharon Blain in a letter to the hairdressing community.
The hairdressing community can encourage this program with letters of support that also indicate current vacancies, to facilitate the program by relevant locations.
“Together we can ensure this program moves forward quickly and helps address this industry-wide issue,” Sharon said.
For more information contact Sushila Richardson on s.richardson@nra.net.au
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