News

“You could come to my room and I’d lock you in” Hair stylist shares her story
Many hair stylists are subject to unacceptable levels of bullying and harassment, and often feel as though there is no support when they need help. Today, we’re sharing a story from one of our members, told in her own words, after she was sexually harassed by a client at work. – I had been working […]

Taking care of your mental health at work
When we think of hazards at work, our minds usually thing of physical risks: like slippery floors, dangerous chemicals, or tools that could injure us. But there are many potential risks to our mental health, too — and all employers have a legal obligation to provide a workplace for you that is psychologically healthy and […]

How to recognise burnout – and what to do if you have it
The hair and beauty industry is fast-paced, physically strenuous, and requires an extremely high level of emotional care and empathy. So it’s no surprise more hair stylists than ever are coming to us feeling mentally exhaustedand frustrated. Our mental health and our jobs are strongly linked – if you’re struggling at work, it can lead […]

Mythbusting Paid Parental Leave
Last week, we talked about your rights when it comes to unpaid parental leave. But most Australian workers are also eligible for paid parental leave, which is 18 weeks of the national minimum wage. In order to claim paid parental leave, you need to: be the primary carer of a newborn or newly-adopted child have […]

We Answer your Questions on Parental Leave
As an industry dominated by women, parental leave is especially important for us. Most workers, both permanent and casual, who have been employed for at least 12 months, are entitled to 12 months’ unpaid parental leave in the event of a birth or adoption – when you become the primary carer for a child. (If […]

What you need to know about contracts and sole traders
We know a lot of senior stylists are ready to spread their wings, but starting a fully-fledged all on your own business is a serious commitment. Becoming a sole trader seems perfect, right? You get to make your own rules and hours, look after your clientele, and be your own boss, without the commitment of managing staff or running […]

Time to rebuild: Nicole’s open letter to the industry
As a hair stylist, it can feel like we’re taking care of everyone EXCEPT ourselves. From day one of our apprenticeship, many of us are thrown in head-first into the industry, and it feels like we never get the chance to just slow down. Our HSA ambassador, Nicole, has been the industry for over thirty […]

New Beginnings: Jess shares her apprenticeship story
What do you do if you’re in an apprenticeship, but falling behind? We recently spoke to Jess, who managed to turn her difficult apprenticeship around with the help of HSA, and is sharing her story in the hopes it will inspire others. “It was fine – at the start,” Jess says. “She was professional and […]

5 ways to fight workplace bullying
Previously, we’ve talked about the warning signs of bullying, and of toxic workplace culture, too. But how can we actually stop bullying in the workplace, if we see it or if it happens to us? At HSA, we’re all about making change, and we know that change starts from the ground up, which is why […]

New research tackles the emotional labour of hair styling
At HSA, we talk a lot about mental health and well-being, and the emotional workload that just gets accepted as part of the job. For a lot of our clients, they’re dealing with issues at home, like family violence, mental health, that they can’t tell their friends or workmates — so they tell us, their […]
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