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We need Mental Health Training!

August 24, 2021 8:52 am

Our clients often open up to us about their personal lives while in the salon chair. From relationship issues, grief and loss, family violence, mental illness, and trauma – we hear it all. Hair stylists often play the role of counsellor, but with no training, advice or support.

That’s why HSA is calling for mandatory understanding mental health training to be included as part of a hair stylist’s apprenticeship.

Hair stylists desperately need support to manage difficult conversations, and to help our clients seek professional help from experts. And we need better safeguards for ourselves, so we can manage our own exposure to vicarious trauma.

What can we do? 

HSA is working collaboratively with industry stakeholders, like AHC, to conduct a full review of the current apprenticeship training package for hair stylists. 

We are pushing to include a mental health module as part of an apprentice’s Certificate 3 course, alongside perms, cuts, colours, etc. Our mission is to make sure hair styling apprentices are provided with the relevant skills and training to succeed in the industry! 

That’s where you come in. 

When the news first broke that we were looking at this, HSA received a huge outpouring of support from hair stylists across the country – from veterans who left the industry to emotional stress to apprentices just starting out and looking for advice.

It’s time for us to gather up all that energy and take action. We need to show that the industry backs mental health training.  The more hair stylists and apprentices who support our campaign, the louder our voice will be!

Are you able to go the extra mile?

We’re on the lookout for activists who can help share our campaign online, spread the word in the industry and help us plan our next steps. Our activists are the heart and soul of HSA, and we couldn’t do it without them! 

We also need your stories and experiences. If you’ve ever been in a situation with a client where you think training would have helped, please reach out to us! These can be completely confidential if you prefer. 

Be a part of our community.

Join HSA

Stronger together.


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