WA runs hairdressing competition in new region

Earlier this year, ‘Ahead of Time’ Salon Manager Anne Marie Ryan, worked with Stacey Warrener from Goldfields Institute and the Retail and Personal Services (RAPS) Industry Training Council to give Goldfields hairdressing apprentices the chance to go for gold in a WorldSkills Australia Regional Hairdressing competition.

It’s the first time in years that the competition has been run locally. In the past, competitors have had to travel to Perth to compete. This year though, the state judges travelled to Kalgoorlie to assess the talent. The competition was held at Goldfields Institute of Technology on August 11^th. The event saw 11 competitors from three different salons go ‘head-to-head’ in the battle for gold.

WorldSkills State manager, Fiona Johnson could not be more delighted at the increase in regional participation. “This year, we have specifically identified funding to help support regions to run these competitions locally. We have also assisted both the North West and South West WA regions to set up their own committees and as a result, we have seen an increase in participation.”

“I am so excited that Goldfields has been able to establish a competition. I am hoping now that interest will build and we may get some more competitions happening in the area” said Fiona.

WA traditionally does very well in the Hairdressing competitions. The regional areas also have an excellent track record in producing talent. In July this year, Jessamy Mooney represented Australia as part of the 2013 Team Australia Skillaroos at the 42^nd WorldSkills International Competition in Leipzig. Jessamy, the youngest member of the team, trained at the same salon as the 2011 Skillaroo Alexis Scott, who took home the bronze medal at the 41^st WorldSkills International Competition in London.

Jessamy was awarded a Medallion of Excellence for her performance on the international stage and is now back home in the South West town of Boyanup, where she got the opportunity to help judge the South West Hairdressing Regional Competition on August 18^th.

Winners from both regional competitions will be extended an invitation to attend the metro competition, which will be held at the Skills West Expo in Perth on September 14^th.

WorldSkills WA would like to take this opportunity to thank Norma Roberts, the Retail and Personal Services Training Council’s Executive Director, who was instrumental in helping to set up the competition to give regional apprentices a chance to shine.