Deregulation of the hairdressing industry
The hairdressing industry will soon be deregulated and involves:
- repeal of the Hairdressers Registration Act 1946; and
- wind-up of the Hairdressers Registration Board, which currently administers the registration scheme.
Update on the proposal for the hairdressing industry
From 1 November 2010:
- Hairdressers operating in any part of the state will not be required to be registered to practice; and
- an Administrator will commence winding-up of the Hairdressers’ Registration Board
Consumers, who are unable to resolve problems with their hairdresser about the quality of the services they have received, can direct any complaints to Consumer Protection. Similarly, workplace safety and health concerns can be raised with WorkSafe.
Regulation changes
Hairdressers’ registration system was reviewed at a national and state level. As a result, a number of good reasons to deregulate the hairdressing industry have been highlighted:
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Since the Hairdressers Registration Act 1946 was introduced, a range of consumer protection, education and training and occupational health and safety laws have been enacted to provide a sufficient regulatory framework for the hairdressing industry.
- The current regime in Western Australia is inequitable because it does not apply to all areas of the State.
- Western Australia is the only State or Territory that has a separate registration scheme for hairdressers and a statutory board to administer that scheme.
- Repealing the HR Act would reduce red tape by removing barriers to entry into the industry, reduce costs to small business and would assist in addressing skills shortages.
Further Information
Frequently asked questions for:
If you have any further queries, please contact Consumer Protection’s Advice Line on 1300 30 40 54.