One of the biggest challenges is staying up to date, says Dora Erdossy of Advanced Cosmeceuticals,.
What does it mean to you to be an educator?
I have been in the industry for more than 25 years and have spent most of my career as an educator. I guess you could say I am a student for life as I love ongoing learning and development but being an educator means I can impart my knowledge and help in the development and growth of therapists and clinicians.
My goal has always been to help make a difference in the industry and l believe as an educator I have this opportunity when I conduct training workshops with a large group of people to one on one training sessions. Nothing gives me more pleasure as an educator than when I see ‘light bulbs’ turning on in therapists and clinicians minds when they have those ‘aha’ moments after having connected the dots.
I certainly don’t profess to know it all which is why I continue to develop and grow as a dermal clinician and as an educator. I have always and continue to take my role as an educator
very seriously and I feel honoured that I continue to have the opportunity to make a difference.
What is the biggest challenge when it comes to education?
The biggest challenge I would say is staying up-to-date and relevant in an industry that has changed so much in the time that I have been in it.
With the introduction of high-tech equipment and ongoing research and development of new ingredient technology, it is important to not only provide a certain amount of education in these new technologies so that new graduates into the industry have an awareness of what is available but they should also be given a certain amount of knowledge and understanding of product formulations and ingredients.
It is then the responsibility of product and equipment companies to provide in-depth and thorough knowledge and education to ensure that therapists and clinicians, nurses and doctors are confident and comfortable in their understanding of what they are using in their salons and clinics. Another challenge would also be to educate in a way that the interest of the student is maintained. We live in a world where we are so easily distracted and hence our concentration spans are not maintained.
I see it often when I am teaching so it’s important to me to not only provide the required knowledge of what I am teaching at the time but to also provide it in an enjoyable way…so that I don’t lose anyone along the way.
How important is it for members of the beauty industry to stay updated and further their education?
As mentioned above, the industry is evolving and changing and if you have an interest that extends beyond traditional beauty therapy treatments, then it is very important to further your education. This may be completing a Dermal Science Degree or an equivalent course or perhaps completing a course in nursing or nutrition. What is taught in a beauty therapy course is a very important foundation that one can grow from if they want to stay updated and relevant. What is so incredibly wonderful is the various options we have now as to which way we want to take our journey within the skin industry.
I made the decision at 37 to begin a Health Sciences Degree at Victoria University. My reasoning was to obtain and expand my knowledge in an industry that had grown and changed from
when I completed my beauty therapy course so many years earlier. It was important for me to stay relevant as an educator. It took me 4.5 years to complete but I am grateful that I did and now I am deciding as to what I will study next but still within the industry. As I said…I am a student for life.
Have you had any experiences (work, travel, health, relationships) outside of the beauty industry that you believe makes your training different (better)?
Hmmm…I believe my life in general has helped me become the educator I am today. I know the question pertains to outside of the beauty industry, but my career has had me travel all over the world and in fact spent 3 years in Los Angeles as an educator for Dermalogica, working in their head office.
Working and living in another country was a huge eye opener for me, not just in relation to the industry but life and people in general. Learning to be patient, open minded, flexible but also, as I was on my own, learning how to stand on my own two feet! I would encourage any young therapist to travel and step out of their comfort zone as it helps you grow not just as a therapist but as a person. Not only do you learn so much about people and cultures, you learn so much about yourself.
Apart from the ‘skills and facts’ in your training courses, what else (values, goals, ambitions) do you try to instil / develop / encourage in therapists? Why?
I am always training on the ‘skills and facts’ but I always emphasise the importance of remembering why we joined this incredible industry. I would like to believe that we are in this industry because we like people. I always say we only need two things to do what we do and that is our hands (touch) and our minds (knowledge) and also our hearts.
FAST FACTS
Training accreditation
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Dermal Therapies) Certificate IV in Training & Assessment Associate Diploma of Health Sciences
(Beauty Therapy)
Years in the industry
26 years
Educational areas of specialty
Skin knowledge and product ingredients
What do you love most about your role?
There are many reasons as to why l do what l do but my greatest love for my role is the opportunity to make a difference in the growth and development of therapists and clinicians. I have been in the industry a long time and believe l have a lot to share so if l can be given the opportunity to educate, mentor and help a therapist or clinician be even better than they already are…l have achieved my goal.
Dora Erdossy is the National Educator at Advanced Cosmeceuticals. Visit www.advancedcosmeceuticals.com.au
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