Beauty Training Package Products: Approved

SkillsIQ, under the direction of the Personal Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC) and the Skin Therapy and Cosmetic Tattooing Technical Advisory Committees (TACs), is undertaking a comprehensive update of the SHB Beauty Training Package Products.

Background

SkillsIQ, under the direction of the Personal Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC), is undertaking a comprehensive update of the Beauty Training Package Products included in the SHB Hairdressing and Beauty Training Package to increase the level of nationally recognised training in the skin therapy, cosmetic tattooing and spa industries, as well as to reflect the requirements of contemporary job roles.

The key drivers for this review of the Beauty Services training package products were to ensure the qualifications meet the current and future demand of beauty industry roles. The technologies used in beauty treatments have advanced rapidly, and this has meant that technologies and practices are changing even as the training package is being reviewed. Careful attention has been given to skills and knowledge in the areas of:

• modern treatment modalities
• machinery
• advancement in chemical treatments used across all services
• underpinning knowledge of skin and wound healing
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
• laser skin treatment
• specialised customer service for the beauty and spa industry, and
• after-treatment care.

The following qualifications have been updated:

• SHB20121 Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics
• SHB30121 Certificate III in Beauty Services
• SHB30221 Certificate III in Make-Up
• SHB30321 Certificate III in Nail Technology
• SHB40121 Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy
• SHB50121 Diploma of Beauty Therapy.

The following new qualifications have been developed to meet current and emerging practice in industry:

• SHB50321 Diploma of Cosmetic Tattooing
• SHB60221 Advanced Diploma of Skin Therapy.

Project Status – Approved

The AISC considered and approved the proposed training package products at its meeting on 19 August 2021.

The Qualifications and Units of Competency were approved and have been endorsed by the State and Territory Skills Ministers. They are now available on training.gov.au. 

Inclusion of SHBBNLS011 Use electric file equipment for nail services as a prerequisite for the nail units

Feedback indicated that a graduate of the Certificate III, Certificate IV and Diploma of Beauty would reasonably be expected by an employer to be able to provide services to clients across a broad range of services provided in a salon. This may include:

• facials
• massage
• nail services
• lash and brow services
• waxing
• make-up services.

By the time a learner graduates from the Diploma of Beauty, the expectation would be that the graduate would have the capability to provide any or all of the above services.

As such, units relating to the above services (including the manicure and pedicare unit) are among those included in the core of these qualifications. Therefore, the prerequisite unit for the manicure and pedicare unit is also included in the core of the qualifications.

The addition of the unit SHBBNLS011 Use electric file equipment for nail services as a prerequisite for the unit relating to manicure and pedicure services is correct. This change was included in the final draft that was circulated for consultation with and sign off by the State and Territory Training Authorities, prior to submission.

It was added when reviewing the feedback from draft 2, as a result of industry feedback that learners were graduating without an understanding of the correct use of electric file equipment – when and how it should be used and also (importantly) when it should NOT.

SkillsIQ and the IRC received feedback that therapists were using electric files to trim cuticles during manicures, to remove shellac polish and so on and this was seen to be a major WHS risk and also a risk to the client, in terms of damage to the nail and nail bed etc. Incorrect use of this equipment is very damaging and learners must understand the appropriate and correct use of this equipment.

As such the IRC unanimously agreed to list this unit as a prerequisite for all of the nail units as listed in the updated qualifications. RTOs are able to deliver the unit as a stand-alone unit, or co-deliver with another unit as long as the learner is assessed as competent in the prerequisite prior to being assessed as competent in the subsequent unit. This is outlined in the Training Package Products Policy as below:

2.2 Units of Competency - pre-requisites

2.2.1. A pre-requisite unit is a unit of competency in which the learner must be assessed as competent prior to the determination of competency in the subsequent unit.

It is understood that some RTOs will not enrol learners in the subsequent unit until the prerequisite is complete, but this is a business decision of that RTO and as above, is not something mandated by the policy.

Project Governance

This project is being overseen by the Personal Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC). The membership of this committee is as follows:



To inform this review, Cosmetic Tattooing and Skin Therapy Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) were formed to guide the project. The membership of these committees is as follows:

Cosmetic Tattooing



Skin Therapy



Industry Support

The Personal Services IRC would like to thank industry stakeholders for their active engagement in this project and extend special thanks to the members of the TACs for their continued efforts on this project over the past two years.

Further information

For more information, or to discuss, please contact Melinda Brown at melinda.brown@skillsiq.com.au or via telephone at 02 9392 8100.