How to Get Into Beauty and Fashion Through VET
By
Year13
When it comes to beauty and fashion, the visual and practical side of things is huge. Whether you want to design clothes, apply make-up or run an ad campaign, it’s important to have a first-hand understanding of the trades and the tools that are fundamental to the industry. This is where VET comes in – offering courses that focus on providing the practical and theoretical training that’s necessary for a career in the industry.
What is VET?
VET stands for Vocational Education and Training, which is an education pathway that’s focused on gaining practical skills and providing you with a nationally-recognised qualification, ranging from a Certificate I to Certificate IV, to a Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate.
A VET course is similar to a university degree in that you spend a chunk of your time getting qualified for a real-world career, but it’s generally shorter, less theoretical and more hands-on, and more work-focused. You can complete a VET course at TAFE or another registered training organisation (RTO). Statistically, those who complete a VET course, have higher rates of employment and, on average, get paid slightly better than university graduates.
Why is VET relevant to the industry?
VET courses offer a whole bunch of very specific training courses for those with niche career aspirations within the fashion and beauty industries, whether it’s fashion design, beauty therapy or merchandising. For those with a bit of style, a bit of personality and a lot of passion, there are plenty of pathways in fashion and beauty that can be pursued as a long term, stable career.
Universities offer bachelor’s degrees fashion design but VET courses tend to be more specified to the wide-ranging and various job titles within the industry. VET courses also tend to have more variety in length, taking anywhere from a couple of weeks to four years for an apprenticeship. In considering VET, you want to ask yourself how long it will take, how much it will cost, how practical it is and the employment outcomes afterwards.
What are some courses that I can do?
One of the most appealing parts of VET is that the courses are generally shorter and cheaper than a bachelor’s degree. Rather than doing a 3- or 4-year degree, the tendency is to do a short course in order to get qualified and then learn more while on the job. As you progress through your career, you can then upskill with more VET training. Alternatively, many people turn to a VET course before or after they’ve completed a university degree in order to enhance their skills and gain more practical experience. Here are a few examples of training courses, from entry level to advanced:
- Certificate II in Applied Fashion Design and Technology (Entry Level)
This course is designed to be an introduction to the fashion industry, showcasing a whole range of different skills that are used in the modern workplace. It’s a 25-week, entry-level program that covers everything from the design and production of garments and millinery to the development of the unique textile designs used in Indigenous Australian culture. Over 90% of those who complete the course are satisfied with it and 64% receive job related benefits from training.
- Certificate III in Beauty Services (Trade Level)
This course is all about the intricacies of working as a beautician and the fundamental skills of the trade. It’s a seven-month program that’s both technical and customer-service based, covering nails, waxing, lash and brow and make-up application. More than 87% of graduates are satisfied with this course and it’s expected that there will be between 10,000 and 25,000 job openings within the industry in the next 5 years.
- Diploma of Beauty Therapy (Advanced Level)
This course covers a massive range of beauty-based skills, including facial massage, body massage, hair removal, cosmetic tattooing, spa treatments, lash and brow treatments, nail technology services, make-up and aromatherapy. It’s a year-long program that will equip graduates with the skills to work autonomously as a beauty therapist in a spa or salon. With more than 50,000 job openings expected over the next 5 years it’s set to be a growth industry with good job security.
What are the career outcomes?
The job titles associated with fashion and beauty are many and far reaching. Here are a couple of examples to kick start your imagination.
Beautician, beauty therapist, masseuse, skin therapist, aromatherapist, reflexologist, fashion designer, stylist, cosmetic tattooist, make-up artist, spa therapist, nail technician, cosmetic assistant, retail assistant, fashion photographer, fashion journalist, fashion stylist.
For more info on courses and career paths, check out the My Skills website.
If you’re keen on getting into the Fashion and Beauty industry, check out Lily’s story here. Lily’s killing it in the industry as a beauty therapist and is the perfect example of how far you can go with Fashion and Beauty through VET.
