26 September 2022

A growing population and increased demand for hairdressers and barbers in the Southern Highlands has prompted TAFE NSW Moss Vale to offer a hairdressing and barbering trade course for the first time ever.

Local industry has welcomed the news that from semester one 2023, TAFE NSW Moss Vale will open enrolments for local apprentices in a Certificate III in Hairdressing and Certificate III in Barbering.

In March this year, Wingecarribee Shire Council tabled a report predicting the shire’s population would increase to 65,275 resident by 2041, a significant increase on pre-COVID projections.

There are now more than 60 hairdressers and barber salons in the Southern Highlands and the decision to launch the new course came after extensive consultation with industry.

To ensure students receive the industry-leading, practical skills to make them job ready, the existing hairdressing training area at TAFE NSW Moss Vale has been fitted out to include new work stations, shampoo basins and flooring.

TAFE NSW Moss Vale hairdressing and barbering teacher Mark Cole said the new course would help local salons better attract and retain staff.

“I visited about 50 salons in the Highlands and in Wollondilly to see what industry needed and the response was overwhelming,” Mr Cole said.

“It’s really about TAFE NSW meeting the industry needs of now, rather than doing it 10 years down the track.

“Highlands salons have always been at the forefront of the industry and always across the emerging trends.

“This new course will mean apprentices, some of who don’t have their driver’s licences yet, won’t have to travel to Wollongong or Goulburn to get the modern skills they need to thrive in their roles.”

He said the inaugural Certificate III in Hairdressing class was expected to run at capacity.

Mr Cole has more than 40 years’ experience as a hairdresser, training almost 5000 apprentices during his 27 years at TAFE NSW.

Senior stylist at Freedom Hair Design in Bowral, Debbie Hills, is one of many industry participants to welcome the new course.

“It will have a huge benefit for the industry and will mean our apprentices don’t have to travel elsewhere to do their TAFE NSW training,” Ms Hills said.

“TAFE NSW Moss Vale has been doing a great job training TVET students in hairdressing in the past and the teachers do a fantastic job.”

Media contact: Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, mobile 0477 722 428