Information on this page is for Australian residents
Course not available to international students
Duration:
0.5 years full time
Delivery mode:
Face to Face with eLearning
Location: 
City Campus
Other
Start date:
3 February 2025
Application due dates:
Applications for this course are currently being accepted.
Apply

Overview

Gain the skills to start your career in the beauty services industry with a Certificate III in Beauty Services SHB30121 at Victoria University Polytechnic.

In this course, you will develop the skills and knowledge to start your beauty career. Our team of professionals will teach you how to provide treatments and ensure a safe work environment.

You will learn a range of beauty services which may include:

  • make-up including makeup for photography
  • eyelash extensions
  • waxing
  • manicure and pedicure
  • lash and brow treatments
  • nail art
  • spray tanning
  • demonstrating and selling retail skin care and cosmetic products
  • safe hygiene and work practices
  • environmental sustainability.

The combination of classroom and practical exercises means you will graduate with skills needed to work as a competent and work ready beauty therapist.

For students undertaking this course as part of a VCAL program, across both Intermediate and Senior VCAL, the course will be delivered over two years on a part time basis.

Everything you learn at Victoria University Polytechnic has direct links to the real world. You’ll develop practical skills through hands-on learning so you’re job-ready when you graduate.

You’ll get real-life work experience at Aura at VU, our City Campus student-run hairdressing and beauty salon. This salon provides the ideal training environment, where you can practise your skills while providing a wide range of beauty services to the public.

You’ll also gain valuable experience arranging bookings and greeting clients. You’ll learn from expert trainers and work under their guidance.

Victoria University Polytechnic hair, beauty and make-up students won seven awards at the 2019 Hair & Beauty Industry Association (HBIA) Awards These awards provide an opportunity for industry leaders to recognise young achievers in the industry.

Victoria University Polytechnic is a supportive place to study. We have a range of academic support programs that can help you if you're struggling with your studies.

We can help you with your assignments and assessment tasks, maths, writing skills and English language support, as well as showing you effective ways to study and manage your time and preparation. Our study support programs include:

  • workshops and study groups
  • student mentors and peer learning
  • maths and writing resources.

We also have disability support services and counselling services available to all students.

Our campus libraries have photocopying, computing and printing facilities as well as electronic and print resources.

You'll also have access to a rich collection of online resources at any time of the day or night, including:

  • databases
  • e-learning content for courses
  • student email
  • student software packages
  • social networking tools.

On campus, we make sure that all of our students have access to digital resources. We offer:

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

Request a call back

TAFE resources

Careers

A Certificate III in Beauty Services SHB30121 will qualify you to work as a beautician. Studying at Victoria University Polytechnic will help you get a foot in the door of this growing industry. Work is typically conducted in beauty, waxing, brow and nail salons.

The course will prepare you for employment in the following roles:

  • make-up artist 
  • cosmetic consultant in department store or pharmacy
  • nail technician 
  • waxing technician
  • spray tanning specialist
  • beautician
  • manicure and pedicure specialist
  • freelance beauty consultant 
  • cosmetic or beauty equipment sales representative.

Award-winning students

Victoria University Polytechnic hair and make-up students won two awards at the annual Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Association (HBIA) Apprentice, Student and Educator Awards. These awards provide an opportunity for industry leaders to recognise young achievers in the industry.

Gain knowledge in all areas of the Beauty Services industry at Victoria University Polytechnic.

Nationally recognised training

This course is nationally recognised training.

Course structure

To be awarded SHB30121 Certificate III in Beauty Services, 18 units must be completed consisting of:
- 14 Core units
- 4 Elective units, consisting of:
- 1 unit from Group A: Infection control
- At least 2 units from Group B: General electives
- Up to 1 unit from the SHB Training Package, or any other current Training Package or accredited course.

2024 VDSS Delivery:
VU offers the VET Delivered to Secondary Schools (VDSS) Program Structure as a partial completion of Certificate III in Beauty Services over two years.
Students are scheduled to undertake 6 units of competency for each year totalling 12, during this 2 year program.
Students who complete the VU program will be eligible for credit in VCE or Senior Secondary Programs: recognition of up to four units at Units 1 and 2 level and a Unit 3 and 4 sequence.

On successful completion of units, you will be issued a Statement of Attainment.

VU Polytechnic delivers the electives listed in the ‘course structure and units’ below. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback. Alternative suitable electives are only available via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT).

Standard Program

CORE UNITS

ELECTIVE UNITS

Group A Infection Control:

Group B General Elective Units:

VDSS Program Partial Completion

Year 1

Year 2

This qualification reflects the role of individuals employed as beauticians to provide a range of beauty services including nail, waxing, lash and brow and basic make-up services. These individuals possess a range of well-developed technical and customer service skills where discretion and judgement are required and are responsible for their own outputs. This includes client consultation on beauty products and services. Work is typically conducted in beauty, waxing, brow and nail salons.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type for this course: VET

Fee type definitions

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full fee-paying place.

Students who enrol in a:

  • government subsidised place pay subsidised tuition fees (the government contributes the rest), and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee along with any material fees
  • full fee-paying place pay the full fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).

Calculate your VET course fees.

Find out more about:

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Skills First (subsidised) indicative fees

The Skills First government contribution in 2024 towards this course is $5005. If eligible, you will pay:

  • Tuition: $3,815*
  • Materials: $1992
  • Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF): maximum per year $175.50**

*A concession rate of 20% of the standard Skills First subsidised tuition fee is available if you are eligible for a concession. Learn more about concessions.

**May be subject to change.

Full-fee place total indicative fees

  • 2024 full-fee place: $9,870.

Admission & pathways

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Entry requirements

Standard applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
- Literacy and numeracy assessment.
VDSS applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
The suitability, literacy and numeracy levels of applicants will be assessed through consultation with the relevant secondary school.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.

Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.

Available start dates:
  • 3 February 2025

Before you apply

Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

Apply direct to VU

Direct applications are due on 24 February 2025 for our next intake which starts on 3 February 2025.

Apply direct to VU

Already a VU student?

If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

After you apply

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

Enquire now – TAFE

Please fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you shortly.

Information marked with an asterisk "*" is required.

Refer to our privacy policy and data collection notification statement for more information.

Get help

Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.