Granville TAFE’s upgraded barbering training facility opens

A demand for more barbers is driving more trainees to pick up their scissors and take up the trade.

Granville TAFE student Khalid Nassor flexes his skills on Esho Dawood at the upgraded facilities. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

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The resurgence of men’s grooming is fuelling more trainees to become barbers and many are flexing their skills at Granville TAFE’s upgraded facilities.

Modelled on a salon, the spruced-up barber centre was unveiled on Wednesday during National Skills Week.

It is used for theory and practical workshops, as well as to function as a commercial barber shop.

Student Kyle Welsh grooms Kalvein Zimmer. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

Granville TAFE hair and beauty head teacher Antonia Urso said the Certificate III in Barbering was introduced in 2016 when the trade started to attract more trainees.

“Prior to 2016, barbers would study hairdressing,’’ she said.

“There’s a re-emergence around men’s grooming.

Trainee Beth Hepple works on Tim Miller’s tresses at Granville TAFE. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

“It’s the full shave, it’s also the men’s facial, it’s the head massage, it’s the whole personalised service where males are wanting a full service. It could be a 10-minute haircut but a lot of them want the full service.

“In other countries that didn’t phase out. It tended to phase out here.

“It really does tie in with wellness. It’s a fast-paced, ever changing market.”

The upgrades include “hands-on” features that give trainees a realistic idea of what it’s like to work in a salon.

Certificate III in Barbering students are equipped with all the tools of the trade. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

“They’re using barber chairs and the space itself is open and more inclusive,’’ Mrs Urso said.

“Barbering itself is a little bit different to hairdressing. Even the environment is very different and I think we’ve been able to complete that with the facility. Barbering is about the social aspect as well. There’s a lot of communication.”

She said most barbering students were men but women were also keen to specialise in the trade.

“At the end of the day we have a lot of people employing our graduates,’’ Mrs Urso said.

“The demand to study is the result of the industry demand for barbers.

“There’s more of a demand for men’s salons that cater for men and we’re seeing that everywhere.

“We’ve had a demand in Granville because there’s a lot of barber shops in this area.”

Last week, Skills and Tertiary Education Minister Geoff Lee opened the training facility when there was an industry gala event to celebrate the upgrade.

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