Taneesa Williamson A leading move from one of Australia’s leading dermal education providers.
With an identified lack in accredited credentials in the dermal sector, leading dermal education provider Australasian College of Health and Wellness (ACHW) has stepped in to provide a solution.
The Australasian College of Health and Wellness (ACHW) is Australia’s leading provider of higher education in clinical aesthetics and dermal therapy. Our unique delivery mode ensures students can balance study with the other commitments in their life. Students learn the theory of dermal therapy and health science through our online learning platform, before attending dedicated clinic blocks that provide hands-on expertise with real clients.
SPA+CLINIC caught up with Candice Heskey, Executive Director at ACHW to learn more about this newly-released undergraduate certificate.
What drove the idea for ACHW to introduce a certificate like this?
Our undergraduate certificates were born from the need for industry to have staff who have the rich theoretical knowledge and practical expertise needed to confidently deliver the in-demand dermal intervention modalities used in industry today. The growth of our industry and evolution of treatments and technologies has left capability gaps which are not being addressed by existing vocational programs. As a higher education provider, we were able to create highly impactful 6-month programs that have all the necessary education and training needed in modern dermal industry.
The Undergraduate Certificate in Dermal Interventions provides degree level learning on all current modalities used in skin and laser clinics today, the graduates will understand the science behind what they are doing and be able to ensure their clients’ safety is paramount, whilst providing exceptional results.
How do you think this will benefit the skills shortage and demand for more educated clinicians within the dermal & aesthetics industry?
In just 6 months, students will learn all the practical techniques needed to work in a skin and laser clinic, such as chemical peels, lasers for hair reduction, skin and tattoo removal, skin needling and plasma pen technology.
The units within the Undergraduate Certificate are degree level units specialising in the areas that the industry has a skills shortage of educated staff. This means the students have degree quality theoretical and practical learning and are ready to safely work within a clinic. They can then continue on to the Bachelor of Applied Health Science (Clinical Aesthetics) whilst they work and build on their knowledge as the units are directly from that program which is the highest qualification in Higher Education for our industry.
What will be your point of difference for career outcomes with this Undergraduate Certificate versus the Bachelor Degree?
This Undergraduate Certificate will assist the industry in filling the gap of skills shortages in laser and skin clinics by having graduates experienced and trained in the most current modalities. Currently the industry often uses the Beauty Diploma as an entry level to work in a skin and laser clinic however, the Beauty Diploma does not cover any areas that are being treated within these clinics which can put clients at risk.
In the year it takes to complete the Diploma only basic beauty treatments are covered, and these are becoming much less popular in the skin and laser space. The Undergraduate Certificate career outcomes are for entry level positions in skin and laser clinics where there has previously been a lack of education and training. The graduates can then articulate straight into the Associate Degree in Applied Health Science (Dermal Therapy) or the Bachelor of Applied Health Science (Clinical Aesthetics) with the recognition of the Undergraduate Certificate to continue working towards becoming a full Dermal Clinician and advancing their career further in a more medical space.
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