Some at the cutting edge in Canberra's hair salons have partnered with TAFE NSW to 'upstyle' their workforce at the Queanbeyan campus.
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It's a timely transition; the National Industry and Skills Commission predicts the sector will grow from 54,000 to 58,000 Australia-wide over the next three years.
Owning three businesses in the ACT means Sassy Hair's Rebecca Guymer and Daniel Allen are advocates of how TAFE NSW does business with businesses.
The point of difference driving the cross-border arrangement is what TAFE NSW hairdressing teacher Mark Cole describes simply as flexibility.
A member of the Australian Barbering Association and Australian Hairdressing Council, Mr Cole said the way TAFE NSW delivered training had evolved as businesses had evolved. "I work in industry every week," he said.
"I've been in the industry for 40 years and I know things change frequently. It's about keeping current with trends. TAFE NSW is successfully tailoring our course delivery.
"We train staff at some of the ACT's most respected, professional and busy salons. Their owners treat training as an integral part of their business. It must be efficient and it must dovetail with their operations."
The closest facility to the ACT is TAFE NSW Queanbeyan, where students attend classes every week; and study through a blend of workplace, online and campus learning.
Ms Guymer and Mr Allen have 20 staff and a young family of three children. Their life is busy and their time is limited.
Ms Guymer said they were after a training provider who could work in-house.
"For us, TAFE NSW offers that flexibility, offers us the chance to have staff trained in a way that works in with our business," Ms Guymer said.
"We have totally work-based training where all assessments and learning is done in the salon.
"It works well and is how we would continue with training in the future."
