When Lisa Fowler heard the NSW Government were planning to deregulate hairdressing, she instantly felt insulted and devalued.
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News broke this month that the government were reviewing their laws, including the Hairdressers’ Act 2003.
It meant “any cowboy” could start up a hairdresser business without needing the certification currently required to become an industry professional.
“After 27 years of my craft that has been my passion and something I am so proud of, to hear that they were planning to remove the act so you did not have to be qualified to cut hair really shocked me,” Ms Fowler said.
“I felt like they were basically telling us we weren’t worthy of having a trade any more.”
The Newcastle hair stylist and in-salon educator was one of thousands to sign a petition created by the Australian Hairdressing Council to lobby the government.
It was the first Ms Fowler had heard of the proposed changes.
“They’ve already devalued the profession by taking a year off the apprenticeship – it is now only three years instead of four – and then they tried to do this,” she said. “No one could believe it.
“We are professionals but this made us look like we are not considered in that manner at all.
“We’re a trade, just like other trades, and you can’t just take that away.”
Last Wednesday, the state government chose to keep the Act in place after discussions with the Australian Hairdressing Council.
The news was met with a collective cheer from hairdressing professionals across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
“The overwhelming support against the deregulation just shows how passionate we all are about retaining the quality and professionalism of our industry,” Ms Fowler said.
“The industry has been under a bit of attack in recent years around Australia … but to keep the standards is so important, to have all hairdressers qualified.
“We are working with sharp objects and with chemicals and we are working on people’s pride and joy; people are really passionate about their hair, they don’t want any cowboy without qualifications doing it.”
Ms Fowler owns Lisa Fowler Hair and Make-up and is now a bridal specialist and in-salon educator in the Newcastle and the Hunter Valley region.
“I am not certifying people, I am a tutor or coach and my job is to help the standards be lifted,” she said.
“My husband is an electrician by trade. To me we both have trades and need to be qualified to ensure we do our jobs professionally.
“But would they ever consider electricians do not need to be qualified?”
