The Hair and Beauty Award has different rates for employees who are studying, or have recently completed, a hairdressing or beauty therapy course through an institution-based pathway.

This training is accredited and generally at the Certificate III level or above. Combined with required workplace experience, it would lead to qualification as a hairdresser or beauty therapist.

You can check rates for trainees, graduates and other employees with our Pay Calculator.

Trainees

There are 2 types of trainees in the Hair and Beauty Award. Rates for trainees depend on whether they are undertaking accredited training on an institution-based pathway or employed under a registered traineeship.

• Accredited training on an institution-based pathway:
  • these trainees can be full-time, part-time or casual. This is the case even though the award refers to full-time only.
  • rates for trainee hairdressers are under clause 18.6 and depend on the number of hours of study they’ve completed. The award says this is full-time study.
  • rates for other employees including beauty therapy depend on the type of work they’re doing.

• Trainees who are employed under a registered traineeship are paid the National Training Wage rates. These rates are listed in the Miscellaneous Award. These trainees can be full-time or part-time depending on their training contract.

Graduates

A graduate is an employee who has completed accredited training by an institution-based pathway. A graduate can be full-time, part-time or casual, even though the award refers to a full-time graduate only.

They’re paid a graduate rate under clause 18.6 of the award for the first 12 months after completing this training. This rate is a percentage of the standard rate which is set out in the award.