Course Overview
Step into the fast-paced hair and barbering industry with the SHB20216 Certificate II in Salon Assistant. This hands-on course builds essential skills in supporting stylists, maintaining a professional salon environment, and delivering great client service—giving you a strong foundation to move into hairdressing or barbering pathways.
Through nationally recognised units of competency, you will build practical industry skills in:
Professional shampooing, basin services, and relaxation massage techniques
Hair styling, blow-drying, and braiding techniques
Client preparation, salon customer service, and retail operations
Tool maintenance, workplace communication, and salon organisation skills
Pathways
This qualification provides a pathway into entry-level roles within the hair and barbering industry, including salon assistant and junior support roles in hairdressing and barber shops.
Further education pathways include SHB30416 Certificate III in Hairdressing and SHB30516 Certificate III in Barbering, leading to skilled, client-facing roles as a qualified hairdresser or barber, with opportunities to progress into senior stylist or barbershop management positions.
Delivery Plan
Year 1
BSBWHS201 Contribute to health and safety of others
SHBHIND001 Maintain and organise tools, equipment and work areas
SHBXCCS003 Greet and prepare clients for salon services
SHBHBAS001 Provide shampoo and basin services
SHBHDES001 Dry hair to shape
SHBHBAS002 Provide head, neck and shoulder massages for relaxation
SHBXIND002 Communicate as part of a salon team
Year 2
SHBXIND001 Comply with organisational requirements within a personal services environment
SHBHDES002 Braid hair
SHBXCCS001 Conduct salon financial transactions
SHBHIND002 Research and use hairdressing industry information
SIRRINV001 Receive and handle retail stock
SIRRMER001 Produce visual merchandise displays
Note: 1 additional elective
Assessment Methods
Assessment includes practical tasks, projects, observations, and written questions.
VCAA mandates a minimum of 40 hours of SWL for students undertaking the Certificate II in Salon Assistant. Where the training package requires work periods/shifts, this can be used to satisfy the VCAA SWL placement requirements for the program. 20 hours undertaken year 1, 20 hours undertaken year 2
Timetable
The course is delivered over two years with structured weekly classes.
Year 1 classes are conducted on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Year 2 classes are conducted on Thursdays.
Course information is subject to change according to Training Package and or Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) updates.
Refer to homeschool for fee schedule
Images used are sourced from iStock and are for illustrative purposes only. They are used to represent the industry and do not depict the RTO or its facilities