Do we live in looks-obsessed society? Perhaps. But beauty therapists have never been more in demand as people try to combat the signs of ageing and indulge in a little pampering to escape the pressures of modern living. The result is that the number of people who sign up to study beauty therapy courses in Australia is increasing and the market demands even more.
Beauty therapy is an industry that encompasses many specialisations. For example, you can study beauty therapy in general or you can register for specialist courses and become a hair stylist, nail technician, make-up artist or shiatsu masseuse.
Beauty therapy can be very rewarding. You’ll never be prouder of your make-up diploma than when you turn an introverted high school girl into the belle of the Year 12 ball and your assorted beauty therapy courses will be put to excellent use when you treat a grandmother to a full facial, head massage and make-over before her 80th birthday party.
Do it right and beauty therapy can also be a very lucrative career, especially if you open a chain of your very own salons.
There are many beauty courses and study opportunities in Australia with beauty therapy schools and online colleges dotted throughout the country, from beauty courses in Brisbane to Perth and Sydney to and Melbourne.
Beauty Therapy Associations in Australia
There are a few beauty therapy associations to which practising beauty therapists in Australia belong. For example, there is the Association of Professional Aestheticians of Australia (APAA), which was established in the 1950s to create a network of qualified professional beauty therapists in Australia. It’s worked tirelessly to raise the educational and training standards of beauty therapy in Australia, as well as the ethical standards and practices of those working in the beauty industry. It encourages continuous development and learning to ensure that beauty therapy professionals, whether they specialise in nails, hair or makeup, are always up-to-date with the latest methods, trends, products and health and safety regulations.
There is also the Advanced Association of Beauty Therapists (AABTH). The AABTh was established in 1974 to regulate and maintain the standards of beauty therapy in Australia. Therapists are certified once they have met certain stringent requirements. AABTh certified professionals are noted for their professionalism and the high quality of their services.
Beauty Therapy Courses in Australia
While it is possible to obtain a certificate in one area of beauty therapy or another, to practice as a beauty therapist you’ll need to study for at least three a three-year diploma, which will include theory but mostly practical course work.
The Australian Academy of Beauty and Spa Therapy offers students the chance to attend classes, engage in open learning (study from home) and take advantage of distance (online) learning courses. The qualification is nationally and internationally accredited.
The Queensland School of Beauty Therapy may be based in Brisbane, Australia, but it offers it internationally recognised diplomas to students from all over the country, indeed all over the world, thanks to its correspondence facilities.
These are by no means the only acclaimed and accredited beauty schools and colleges in Australia; there are many others that provide outstanding training and education in all fields of hair, beauty and spa therapy, including national certificates and diplomas.
National qualifications include:
- Certificate II in Nail Technology
- Certificate II in Retail Make-Up & Skin Care
- Diploma of Beauty
- Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy
International qualifications include:
- CIDESCO (Comite International d’Esthetiqueset de Cosmetologie), available in 35 countries around the world.
CIBTAC (Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology) - International Therapy Examination Council ITEC.
- International Health & Beauty Council (IHBC).
You have plenty of options if you want to study beauty therapy in Australia. You can, for example, register for a TAFE diploma of beauty therapy, which includes everything from massage therapy courses, waxing, hair and make-up to aromatherapy, first aid and spa treatments. You can complete beauty therapy diplomas part-time, full-time or online anywhere in Australia, from Sydney and Perth to Brisbane and Melbourne, not forgetting Tasmania, of course.
You can also adopt a semi-piece-meal approach and collect an assortment of courses that will build up to a respectable beauty therapy qualification, such as certificate courses for nail technicians or hair stylists.
Then there is the variety of short courses available, such beauty therapy TAFE statements of attainment or TAFE PLUS Statements for lash grafting and body waxing.
