The Minns Labor Government is backing essential services and their employees with a $1 million commitment to upgrade hairdressing and beauty training facilities at TAFE NSW Taree, boosting the region’s skilled workforce and improving access to training on the Mid North Coast.
The upgraded facilities, which stimulate real workplace environments and provide students with hands-on industry experience, include dedicated hairdressing salon spaces, beauty therapy treatment areas, nail technology workstations, and professional client consultation spaces.
The new facilities are helping address workforce shortages in the hair and beauty sector by increasing local training capacity and reducing barriers to vocational education and training – as apprentices no longer need to travel to Port Macquarie to complete their training.
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:
“Hairdressers, barbers and beauty therapists provide essential services in every community, and this $1 million investment means more people on the Mid North Coast can train locally in modern, industry-standard facilities.
“By upgrading these facilities and expanding training in Taree, we’re making it easier to train locally, supporting local apprentices and helping address workforce shortages identified by the industry.
“This is part of the Minns Labor Government record $3.46 billion investment in skills, training and TAFE NSW, because we know strong regional communities like in Taree rely on a skilled local workforce.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Small Business Emily Suvaal MLC said:
“Small businesses across regional NSW rely on a pipeline of skilled and job-ready workers, and these upgraded facilities will play an important role in helping local employers meet their workforce needs.
“Giving students the opportunity to train closer to home makes vocational education more accessible and helps keep skills, talent, and job opportunities within the local community.
“This investment is not only benefiting students; it is also strengthening local businesses and supporting industry growth in the Mid North Coast economy for years to come.”
