Advice and Instructions

Work and training arrangements in the hairdressing and beauty therapy trades

Issued: 21 December 2007

Section 25 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 prohibits the employment of a person under 21 years of age in a recognised trade vocation such as hairdressing and beauty therapy, unless they are an apprentice or a qualified tradesperson (as defined in the Act) in that vocation.

As a consequence to this requirement, anyone under 21 years old, who may have completed the nationally recognised qualifications of Certificate III in Hairdressing or Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy through a non-apprenticeship pathway, was unable to work in those trades in New South Wales.

After consulting with industry it was agreed that the 21 years of age rule should be changed to exempt holders of these qualifications from having to establish an apprenticeship in New South Wales.

Hairdressing

In accordance with the NSW Hairdressers Act 2003, regardless of age, a person can work as a hairdresser in New South Wales if that person has gained the nationally recognised qualification - Certificate III in Hairdressing.

In December 2006, a regulation was made to allow an employer to employ a person under the age of 21 years as a hairdresser, if they had successfully completed the Certificate III in Hairdressing through a non-apprenticeship pathway.

For full details of the regulation, see the NSW Government Gazette Number 183, page 8592 at www.advertising.nswp.commerce.nsw.gov.au

Should a person who has gained this qualification wish to undertake an apprenticeship in the trade, the Commissioner for Vocational Training will give favourable consideration to at least 18 months credit towards the nominal term of the apprenticeship and will exempt the apprentice from attending the trade course.

Beauty therapy

In November 2007, the above regulation was amended to also include that an employer be allowed to employ a person under the age of 21 years as a beauty therapist, if they had successfully completed the Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy through a non-apprenticeship pathway.

For full details of the amended regulation, see the NSW Government Gazette Number 172, page 10752 at www.advertising.nswp.commerce.nsw.gov.au

Should a person who has gained this qualification wish to undertake an apprenticeship in the trade, the Commissioner for Vocational Training will give favourable consideration to at least 24 months credit towards the nominal term of the apprenticeship and will exempt the apprentice from attending the trade course.

Approved by the Commissioner for Vocational Training