Ambitious young hairdresser has sights set on national gold

Today Jasmine Gardner, a 20 year old hairdresser from Gerringong, NSW, becomes our 11^th revealed national competitor set to compete against other young champion hairdressers from up to 31 regions across Australia at the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition this September in Perth.

Jasmine will be required to complete a series of technical and skill based tasks to then be judged by industry experts, all in the pursuit of a gold medal and the title of – ‘Nation’s Best’.

Jasmine, who attended the Wollongong West Campus of TAFE NSW’s Illawarra Institute, is currently employed by Angels Hair Salon and will also be vying for a coveted position on the 2015 Team Australia Skillaroos who will head to São Paulo, Brazil for the 43^rd WorldSkills International Competition, the culmination of WorldSkills competitions.

“Winning gold at the Regional Competition was an amazing feeling but it was my score that I was really happy about. To know you are good at what you love is a wonderful feeling. It was a big confidence booster,” says Jasmine on her recent win and her almost perfect score of 98%.

“I feel so honoured to be able to represent my region for hairdressing. I’m so grateful that I have this opportunity to develop my skills and put them to the test. It is going to be an amazing journey and I’m sure I will meet some amazing people that will inspire me and be able to teach me a few things along the way, I’m just so excited,” says Jasmine about progressing to the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition in Perth.

In the lead up the event Jasmine will be working hard to prepare and refine her skills. “I’ve already started collecting pictures out of hairdressing magazines that might help me, and once I have my project for the competition I’m sure it will be all I can think about. I’ll be asking my old TAFE teachers for ideas and opinions and I’m also in contact with a previous competitor who will be helping me out with some training. I certainly couldn’t do it without all the help and support of everybody especially my sponsors, East Beach Caravan Park and Parlo from the Brooding Italian Café in Kiama,” says Jasmine.

Image source: TAFE Illawarra