The Australian Academy of Beauty and Spa Therapy in Sydney has recently been approved to offer VET (Vocational Education and Training) FEE-HELP to its students.
The financial assistance is available for all qualifying students in the Diploma of Beauty Therapy and for upgrade courses from Certificate IV to the Diploma and upgrading old Diplomas to the latest accredited Diploma.
Academy Principal, Suzanne Campbell, feels VET FEE-HELP funding for students will be of great benefit to the industry as a whole, as there are not enough students to fill the many positions in the growing beauty industry. “This will open the door for many people who have a passion for beauty therapy, but have been unable to afford the training fees,” Campbell said.
VET FEE-HELP is an extension of FEE-HELP, part of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). Students repay the loan to the Australian Government through the tax system once their income is above the minimum repayment threshold level for compulsory repayment, which for 2009-10 is $43,150.
In addition to implementing VET FEE-HELP the academy is preparing for the new Beauty Training package, SIB10, which is soon to be endorsed.
“Units such as hot stone massage, Indian head massage, specialised spa treatment, tanning and intimate waxing are all new units and ensure that students are up to date with the direction our industry is taking,” Campbell said.
The academy has a fully operational student day spa, where students learn all aspects of salon and spa management and treatments in a real work environment.
Visit www.australianacademyofbeautytherapy.com or phone (02) 9634 6416 for further details.