Fashion focus

Trainer Julie Deering advises student Kasey Hansen on braiding technique. Looking on are students Christie Vit, Kim de Groot, Kayla Claydon and Bek Stirman.Trainer Julie Deering advises student Kasey Hansen on braiding technique. Looking on are students Christie Vit, Kim de Groot, Kayla Claydon and Bek Stirman.

By Kath Gannaway
EVER had a flair for fashion or want a career make-over?
Want to study hair and beauty but don’t want to travel down the line? Well, this year you can study in your own community to achieve your dreams.
It doesn’t even cost you a small mortgage to study.
In the next year, the Healesville Living and Learning Centre will be establishing a new enterprise setting up a Hair and Beauty Training School at their Badger Creek Road site.
The centre will be kicking off this new initiative in term 1 with Certificate II in Make-up Services, Certificate II in Nail technology and Certificate III in Hairdressing alongside Certificate II in Hairdressing that the centre has been delivering for some years.
“Our trainer has spent many years working in the hair and beauty industry starting off as an apprentice working up to manager of her own salon,” program co-ordinator Darren Grainger explained.
“Her expertise has produced participants able to create spectacular hair designs in our Certificate II in Hairdressing course.”
Students doing Certificate II in Make-up Services will learn to apply make-up to different skin tones and for different occasions, while those studying Certificate II in Nail Technology will be able to apply acrylic and gel nails as well as providing manicure and pedicure services.
“The beauty of these two courses is that they can be delivered together so participants come out with make-up service and nail technology skills,” Mr Grainger said. “This will increase their skills to get a job.”
For people interested in Certificate II in Applied Fashion Design and Technology, the course will give participants basic skills in designing and producing garments.
The skills learned in this course could be used to set up a home-based business in clothing production or performing repairs and alterations.
“In this economic climate, a skill such as this can provide an income,” Mr Grainger said.
Mr Grainger said the course achieved results thanks to the trainer who he said used her many years in the fashion industry to guide her students through the process of creating unique and stunning outfits.
“Past students have used this training to gain access to courses such as fashion design at Box Hill TAFE, Textile Design and Development at RMIT and Costume diploma at Swinburne,” he said.
There are some grants available such as ‘Productivity Places Program’ and ‘Parents Return to Earning’ that can cover training costs depending on the course.
These grants can also be applied to many of the centre’s other programs on offer this year.
Mr Grainger is happy to provide guidance on course selection and grants.
For further information call Healesville Living and Learning Centre on 5962 5982.