澳大利亚美发行业面临严重的培训缺陷，许多美发师缺乏为卷发和纹理发质客户提供专业服务的能力[1]。目前美发教育中关于卷发和非洲式发质的培训为可选课程，导致许多学徒完成学业时几乎没有实践经验[1]。
为改善这一状况，澳大利亚创意技能委员会（SaCSA）于2025年3月启动了对美发和理发资格标准的审查与更新[1]。该审查提议增加三个新单元，专门针对卷发和紧密卷发的切割与染色技能[1]。这一举措源于行业长期存在的问题——2022至2023年期间，仅45%的美发职位空缺被填补，其中85%的申请者被认为不适合该岗位[1]。
这项改革的呼声由来已久。2020年，美发师Chrissy Zemura发起在线请愿，要求强制实施卷发和非洲式发质培训模块，获得超过42,000个签名支持[1]。不过，SaCSA首席执行官Natalie Turmine表示，目前行业需求不足以使这些单元成为课程的强制部分[1]。澳大利亚美发委员会首席执行官Fiona Beamish则表示希望这些单元最终能成为强制性培训[1]。
Australia's hairdressing industry is grappling with significant training deficiencies that leave many stylists unprepared to work with curly and textured hair.[1] Currently, training in curly hair and Afro-textured hair care is optional rather than mandatory in hairdressing education, with many apprentices completing their qualifications with minimal hands-on experience in these areas.[1]
Recognizing this gap, Australia's Creative Skills Council (SaCSA) initiated a review of hairdressing and barbering qualification standards in March 2025, proposing three new specialized units focused on cutting and coloring curly and tightly coiled hair.[1] The proposed changes come at a time when the industry faces persistent recruitment challenges—in 2022-23, only 45 percent of hairdressing vacancies were filled, with 85 percent of applicants deemed unsuitable for available positions.[1] This push for reform has gained momentum from grassroots advocacy; in 2020, hairdresser Chrissy Zemura launched an online petition demanding mandatory training modules for curly and Afro-textured hair, which accumulated over 42,000 signatures.[1]
However, the path to mandatory training remains uncertain. SaCSA Chief Executive Natalie Turmine stated that current industry demand is insufficient to make these units compulsory components of the curriculum.[1] In contrast, Fiona Beamish, Chief Executive of the Australian Hairdressing Council, expressed hope that these units will eventually become required training.[1]