Australia's hairdressing and barbering qualifications are undergoing a significant review, led by Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA), the Jobs and Skills Council responsible for personal services training. The review covers four national qualifications, including Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416) and Certificate III in Barbering (SHB30516), with flow-on considerations for the Diploma of Salon Management (SHB50216).

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WHY THE REVIEW IS HAPPENING

The current qualifications have been in place for some time, and industry feedback pointed to areas where the training package could better reflect how modern salons and barbershops actually operate. The review is designed to streamline these qualifications, reduce that duplication, and align training more closely with current industry practice.

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WHAT THE UPDATE AIMS TO DO

The project is built around three stated goals: reducing duplication by identifying overlapping knowledge and skills to better align with industry practices while keeping essential repetition for competency, improving pathways by creating a more streamlined progression from Certificate III through to Diploma level, and enhancing practical skills through a more focused approach to foundational training so individuals are job-ready.

In practical terms, this has meant re-examining how much content sits in the current qualifications versus what's actually used day-to-day in salons and barbershops, and looking at where the two trades' training could be shared without diluting the specific skills each requires.

You can view the updated drafts and provide feedback directly on their website.

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WHY ONGOING SKILL DEVELOPMENT MATTERS FOR HAIRDRESSERS ALREADY IN THE INDUSTRY

While much of the current conversation in Australian Hairdressing centres on formal qualification reform, it is important to acknowledge the changing landscape of the Australian Hair industry. Upskilling is a core part of adapting within changing industries.

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