Major changes to the state Hairdressers Award commence on 1 January 2025. This WA award has been updated by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission. The changes apply to employers and employees in the state industrial relations system.
The changes commencing from 1 January 2025 are:
- Significant updates to the award provisions including new classifications and updates to working hours arrangements (see the updates to award provisions section below for details).
- Changes to the scope of the Hairdressers Award that extend coverage of the WA award to the beauty industry (see the Expansion of coverage of the award to the beauty industry section below).
To reflect these changes, the award will be renamed the Hair and Beauty Industry (WA) Award.
A new WA award summary for the Hair and Beauty Industry (WA) Award will be available in December 2024.
Updates to award provisions
Show moreUpdated provisions will now better reflect contemporary arrangements and many outdated and obsolete provisions will be removed to make it easier for employers and employees to understand and comply with the WA award.
The key changes to the provisions of the Hairdressers Award / Hair and Beauty Industry (WA) Award include:
- new classifications for hairdressing salon assistants and trainees (positions that are currently award free in the state industrial relations system);
- new classifications for beauty industry employees;
- changes to provisions dealing with paid and unpaid leave, notice of termination, and employers record keeping obligations to be consistent with relevant state and national laws that apply to employees in the state industrial relations system;
- updates to the hours of duty to enable ordinary hours to be worked on Sundays and weekday evenings (Monday to Friday), recognising that hairdressing salons can now trade at these times under the Retail Trading Hours Act 1987; and
- updates to definitions and re-organisation of the structure of the WA award so like clauses are grouped together under functional headings for ease of reference.
The Changes to the Hairdressers Award (PDF, 257.06 KB) publication provides a detailed overview of the updates to the award provisions which come into effect on 1 January 2025.
Expansion of coverage of the award to the beauty industry
Show moreCoverage of the award will be significantly expanded and will apply to all employers and employees in the state industrial relations system in the “hair and beauty industry”.
From 1 January 2025, employers in the hair and beauty industry need to provide employees with the pay rates and employment conditions in the Hair and Beauty Industry (WA) Award.
The hair and beauty industry will be defined as carrying out any of the following activities:
- hair cutting, hair dressing, hair trimming, hair curling, hair waving, shampooing, hair working, hair colouring or dying, chemical reformation and hair extensions
- shaving, beard trimming
- any other process or treatment of the hair, head or face carried out or performed in a hairdressing salon, including the sharpening or setting of razors
- wig-making
- facial or body waxing
- face or head massaging
- eyebrow waxing, eyebrow tinting, eyebrow arching, eyelash tinting, eyelash extending
- body hair removal including waxing chemical methods, electrolysis and laser hair removal
- manicures, pedicures, nail enhancement and nail artistry techniques
- make-up application, skin analysis, development of treatment plans, facial treatments including massage and other specialised treatments such as lymphatic drainage
- high frequency body treatments including full body massage and other specialised treatments using machinery and other cosmetic applications and techniques
- aromatherapy and the application of aromatic plant oils for beauty treatments
- using various types of electrical equipment for both body and facial treatments.
