Information on this page is for Australian residents
Course not available to international students
Duration:
1 year full time
Delivery mode:
Face to Face with eLearning
Location: 
City Campus
Industry
Start dates:
3 February 2025
10 February 2025
Study off-campus:
Available for Apprenticeship.
Contact VU Polytechnic for more information
Application due dates:
Applications for this course are currently being accepted.
Apply

Overview

Become a qualified barber and learn the full range of barbering skills and hairdressing techniques when you study the Certificate III in Barbering SHB30516.

You will develop traditional barbering techniques and specialist urban barbering skills.

Learning from industry experts, you will also learn how to consult clients and promote products and services.

The course equips you with practical skills in:

  • designing and styling men’s hair, including fades
  • hair and scalp treatment techniques
  • relaxing and straightening hair
  • men’s grooming
  • foundation cutting, combination mens’ cutting, scissor and clippering techniques
  • head and face shaving.

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 student-run hairdressing and beauty salon at our City Campus. This industry-standard facility is fitted with the latest equipment. The salon provides the ideal training environment to practice your skills while expert trainers teach, supervise and guide you. You’ll also gain valuable experience arranging bookings and in customer service.

VU's Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.

Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.

We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.

Our programs include:

  • workshops
  • drop-in sessions
  • peer mentoring
  • maths and writing resources
  • resume and career guidance.

We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for 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:

As part of Victoria University, Victoria University Polytechnic believes in inclusivity, diversity and opportunity. Studying with us means you’ll be learning in an environment that values community empowerment.

Victoria University received the highest rating of five stars for cultural diversity by the Good Universities Guide. Our students feel fortunate to learn in a setting that has such a rich representation of cultures.

VU also works to address refugee issues, tackle diversity and social inclusion issues and improve the health and social wellbeing of the region. We are proud of our cultural diversity initiatives and projects with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Indigenous communities.

Need some advice?

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

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TAFE resources

Careers

This course is designed to provide students with the ability and knowledge to work within the contemporary barbering industry. Upon successful completion students are job-ready and recognised within the hairdressing industry as a fully qualified barber and hairdresser.

Nationally recognised training

This course is nationally recognised training.

Course structure

To be awarded SHB30516 Certificate III in Barbering qualification, 26 units consisting of:
- 21 core units
- 5 elective units, of which:
- 3 units must be selected from the electives listed in the SHB30516 Certificate III in Barbering qualification
- 2 units may be selected from the electives listed in the SHB30516 Certificate III in Barbering qualification, elsewhere in the SHB Training Package, or any other current training package or accredited course.

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).

Core units

Elective units

Elective Unit for Continuing Students Only

This qualification reflects the role of barbers who use a range of well-developed sales, consultation and technical skills and knowledge to provide a broad range of barbering services to clients. They use discretion and judgement to provide client services and take responsibility for the outcomes of their own work.

Students will learn technical skills and knowledge to provide a broad range of barbering services to clients. They use discretion and judgement to provide client services and take responsibility for the outcomes of their own work.

This qualification provides a pathway to work as a barber in any industry environment. Work is typically conducted in a barbershop or salon as a men's stylist, but services may also be provided in a self-employed or freelance capacity.

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 $7,920 (non-apprenticeship/traineeship) and $11,440 (apprenticeship/traineeship). If eligible, you will pay:

  • Tuition: $2,800*
  • Materials (on-campus): $838
  • Materials (off-campus): $1,110
  • 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: $13,200.

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
- must be at least 16 years of age or older.
Apprenticeship applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
- Literacy and numeracy assessment
- must be employed as an apprentice
- must have an active Epsilon number prior to commencing the course
- must be at least 15 years of age or older.

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
  • 10 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

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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.