NACC180282 - Career Taster: Hair and Beauty Skills

Version Effective: 13th of February, 2026
Course Details

Course Summary

Explore hairdressing, beauty, and makeup in this multi-day Career Taster, where you’ll gain hands-on experience with industry tools, safe work habits, styling skills, and makeup techniques for everyday and special occasion looks.
You’ll work in CQUniversity’s simulated hair and beauty salons, learn salon protocols and hygiene, and rotate between the roles of stylist/make-up artist and model so you can design, apply, and present your work.

Requirements - To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.

Entry Requirements

Students must be 15–17 years old and meet one of the following:

  • a Year 10 student currently enrolled in a mainstream Queensland school; or
  • enrolled in a Special Assistance School; or
  • disengaged from school; or
  • in youth detention or a Youth Justice school.

Students participate by completing one Career Taster at a time, and may take part in a maximum of two Career Tasters in total.

Course Details

Course Type Short Course (Non-accredited)
Student Availability
  • Domestic
Fees For detailed information on Course Fees, visit www.cqu.edu.au/fees
Application Mode
  • Direct To University
How to Apply Please Enquire
Study Area
  • Hospitality and Beauty
Skill Area
  • Beauty
  • Personal Services

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

Students will learn the basics of hair styling, makeup, salon hygiene, and customer service in a salon-style environment. This taster helps build practical skills in personal care as well as creativity, confidence, and communication. While these skills are important for jobs like hairdressing, beauty therapy, or salon assisting, they can also be useful in areas such as fashion, retail, photography. The taster encourages students to explore their interests and discover how creativity and working with people can lead to different career pathways. 

Course Structures
Career Taster

This non-accredited Career Taster program is delivered face-to-face over five consecutive days at your enrolled CQUniversity campus.

Students will participate in supervised, practical activities within simulated learning spaces that introduce them to key concepts, safe work practices and fundamental techniques used across both hair and beauty environments. Learning experiences will explore areas such as general salon orientation, safe use of tools and equipment, basic styling principles, client preparation, and essential hygiene and infection-control practices. Students will also take part in guided activities that involve creating simple looks, following planned design ideas, and developing an understanding of how presentation and visual documentation support work in hair and beauty settings.

  • On-campus
Units
NUCRT282A WHS and Introduction to Hair and Beauty Skills More Information Training.gov Details
NUCRT282B Hair & Styling Basics More Information Training.gov Details
NUCRT282C Makeup for Photography More Information Training.gov Details

Unit Sequence

Unit Code Unit Name
NUCRT282A WHS and Introduction to Hair and Beauty Skills
NUCRT282B Hair & Styling Basics
NUCRT282C Makeup for Photography

Course Learning Outcomes

Students gain practical confidence with salon safety, hair styling and finishing, infection control for make-up, client preparation, and look development from plan to final image. This non-accredited Career Taster helps you understand workplace expectations and the flow of a live-work salon session, building a foundation for future vocational study or an apprenticeship/traineeship. Pathway insights include multiple avenues across Hairdressing, Beauty and the Cosmetic Industry.  

Upon completion of this non-accredited course students will receive a Statement of Participation acknowledging their engagement and the skills areas covered.

Where and when can I start?

More Details