24/08/2025
✂️ Hairdressing is a skilled profession, not a hobby. 💯
This week, the Australian Hairdressing Council wrote to the Chair of the Productivity Commission to oppose suggestions to remove mandatory qualifications for hairdressers.
Removing qualifications would:
⚠️ Put client and worker safety at risk
⚠️ Undermine wages and career pathways
⚠️ Weaken TAFE and RTO training
⚠️ Risk a return to unskilled migration and cowboy training providers
“We cannot afford to go back to the days of back-door visas and low-quality training," says AHC CEO Fiona Beamish. "Hairdressing must remain a qualified, professional trade.”
During the pandemic, Australians realised the true value of their hairdresser - not just for a haircut, but for mental health, self-confidence, and community wellbeing.
That’s why the AHC is calling on government to:
✅ Uphold mandatory qualifications
✅ Protect safety and professional standards
✅ Respect small business costs and realities
✅ Ensure only skilled migrants join the workforce
Hairdressing is a proud trade that supports thousands of small businesses and millions of Australians every day. We will not see it undermined!
The AHC will continue to fight for our industry, our members, and the respect our profession deserves.
👉 Read an overview of our letter to the Productivity Commission on the AHC website:
https://theahc.org.au/why-hairdressing-qualifications-matter-more-than-ever/
