4 Steps To Become a Beauty Therapist In Australia
Have you always wanted to know how to become a beauty therapist? Are you struggling with how to go about it? What type of work is involved in this job, future career opportunities or what qualifications are necessary? If these questions have been on your mind for some time, then this article might be just the thing for you! We’re going to give 4 easy steps that will help guide you through the process of becoming employed as a beauty therapist.
1. Meet The Personal Requirements
To begin your journey in becoming a beauty therapist, we first need to look at the personal requirements. How much experience you have and what training you’ve undertaken will determine how quickly and easily this job is going to be for you.
Age Requirement: 17+
Let’s start with age: You must be over 17 years of age to work in a beauty salon and provide most beauty services (including waxing and hair removal of intimate areas and advanced cosmetic procedures)
Interest & Passion For People
You’ll be dealing with many different people on a day-to-day basis, so you must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. As a beauty therapist, it’s critical to be able to make your clients feel at ease while providing them with aesthetic services, body treatments, product recommendations and beauty advice.
Qualification
For a career as a beauty therapist a Certificate III, Certificate IV or Diploma is usually required for this job. A Diploma of Beauty Therapy will not only give you practical hands-on skills in beauty services but also takes a deep dive into learning anatomy, skin science and body systems and how they’re affected by beauty services.
2. Sign up for a Beauty Therapy Course
With all this information in mind, the next step for aspiring beauty therapists is to study and complete a beauty therapy course.
What qualifications do you need to be a beauty therapist? There are many courses but some of the most popular accredited beauty therapy courses include:
- Massage and Body Treatments Short Course
- Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics
- Certificate III in Nail Technology
- Certificate III in Hairdressing
- Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy
- Diploma of Salon Management
- Diploma of Remedial Massage
- SHB50115 Diploma of Beauty Therapy
Why study the SHB50115 Diploma of Beauty Therapy?
The SHB50115 Diploma of Beauty Therapy is the most advanced qualification available in the beauty industry, covering all elements of the discipline and science of beauty, aesthetics, and wellness.
In this course, you will gain knowledge and practical skills in a wide range of beauty treatments and services for both face and body including:
- Specialised cosmetic treatments
- Facial microdermabrasion
- Skin science and skincare services
- Spray tanning
- Manicures and pedicures and other nail services
- Lash and brow treatments and enhancements
- Male and female waxing and hair removal
- Spa and wellness therapies
- Provide skin analysis and prescribe appropriate cosmetic retail products
- Salon management and business skills
At TrainSmart Australia, we offer the Diploma of Beauty Therapy qualification with flexible training options (online and face-to-face) to help you start your career as a beauty therapist. To find out more, click here.
TrainSmart Australia also offers beauty short courses for learners who want to specialise in offering a specific beauty service. Our short courses include;
- Aromatherapy and Stone Massages Shorts Course
- Beauty Massages and Body Treatments Short Course
- Facial and Microdermabrasion Short Course
- Lash, Brow and Full Body Waxing Short Course
- Tanning and Make-Up Short Course
3. Build Your Resume
Now that you’ve completed your beauty therapy course and have some experience under your belt, it’s time to get building your resume and explore your employment opportunities.
Start by making a list of all the beauty treatments you’ve done before. How many times have you waxed someone’s eyebrows? How long does it take for you to complete perform a spray tan? List how many manicures and pedicures you’ve done in total. Showcase before and after appearance results of your skin analysis and skincare services of previous clients. How many facials have you performed? How long does each one take?
This list will start to give your potential employers an idea of the service variety that you are capable of. Make sure to include as much detail as possible, such as how much experience and training you’ve had.
Boost Your Social Media Presence
Another great way to develop your resume is by offering free work and beauty treatments in exchange for testimonials and reviews from clients on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. This not only adds a personal touch to your professional profile but also builds momentum for possible new customers.
Use these testimonials and posts to contact beauty salons in your area, offering them a complimentary service of their choice if they provide you with an interview. You can even take this one step further by visiting local businesses such as cafes, restaurants and gyms where
Building out this portfolio of work will not only prove your skills but also helps you determine what areas of beauty you specialise in.
Don’t neglect this crucial step in finding a job as a beauty therapist!
4. Network and Contact Job Prospects
Once you have a resume and portfolio of work, it’s time to start networking for job opportunities. Your beauty therapy course may provide graduates with contacts in the industry but if not, there are plenty of ways to get listed on job boards such as Seek or Indeed.
You can also use social media to connect with beauty clinics and salons in your area. This way, you’ll be able to contact them directly about job openings or even offer your services for free as a marketing ploy!
Let everyone know that you’re looking for work by posting on Facebook groups such as ‘Beauty Jobs’ where you can network with people in your local community, or even advertise yourself by purchasing a classified ad on sites such as Gumtree.
Beautician Careers Expos
Careers expos are another great way to meet potential employers face-to-face. These are held regularly in various locations around Australia, allowing beauty professionals of all levels to network with local businesses and grab some free samples while they’re at it!
Popular Australian careers expos include Beauty Expo Australia and Perth Hair & Beauty Expo – both of which are fantastic opportunities to learn more about working in the beauty industry and make key contacts.
Once you’ve submitted your resume, cover letter and portfolio of work it’s time to sit back and wait for a response! Good luck with finding your dream job!
FAQS: Advice For Aspiring Beauty Therapists
What qualifications do you need to be a beauty therapist?
The beauty industry is not regulated in Australia, which means there are no minimum qualifications required to work in the field.
However, completing a nationally recognised qualification such as the SHB50115 Diploma of Beauty Therapy (available online blended and face-to-face) will give you an edge over your competition when searching for employment opportunities.
How much money do beauticians earn a year in Australia?
Employment in the Australian beauty industry continues to grow at a steady rate. As with most beauty jobs, the role is relatively flexible – allowing you to work full-time or part-time hours depending on your availability.
That said, salaries can vary greatly depending on your location, experience level and the type of industry you work in.
According to Payscale, the average salary of a beauty therapist in Australia ranges between $44,000-$62,000 per year.
What are some career options for beauty therapists?
Qualified beauty therapists can work in a range of settings including:
- Beauty Salons
- Cosmetic Clinics
- Sales Consultant for skincare and beauty products/equipment
- Retail beauty stores
- Lash Technician
- Waxing Salon
- Cruise Ships
- Home Business
Is being a beautician a good career?
There’s never been so much demand for creative, hardworking individuals to work in the beauty industry. Furthermore, there’s a lot of job fulfilment from making people feel good about themselves.
Head of department and beauty therapist professional at TrainSmart Australia, Rowena McLeish-Smith says her career gives her job satisfaction every day.
“I am a dynamic and social person, and love meeting new people from all walks of life. Everybody has a story to tell. In this job you always see results, take for example a cosmetic makeover. I really enjoy seeing someone’s facial appearance change with the application of make-up.”
Fellow TrainSmart Australia beauty therapist and trainer Tamara Hunter says her fascination with nails, massage and waxing made her drawn to this career.
“I had a passion for manicures, gel acrylic and nail painting -even though I was a tomboy I loved ensuring my nails looked good. Funnily enough, once I started the course, I realised that there were other treatments out there which I really enjoyed doing as well. My favourite is massage, as it’s relaxing, healing and lifts people’s spirits.
Monica Tsartsanidis, is also a qualified beauty therapist and a trainer who works alongside Rowena in the TrainSmart Australia beauty therapy department.
“I enjoy making people feel far more confident about themselves, if they’re happy with the facial and body treatments they receive, then I’m happy knowing that I’ve lifted their health and spirits.”
If you’re looking for work in the beauty industry, remember that experience is just as important as qualifications – so get started by getting your hands dirty!
