This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide relaxing head, neck and shoulder massages prior to other hair services. It requires the ability to use a basic range of massage techniques.

This unit applies to salon assistants who work in hairdressing or barber salons under close supervision and with guidance from more experienced or senior hairdressers or barbers. However, in a small salon, more senior hairdressers or barbers also undertake this function.

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:

follow health, safety and hygiene procedures to provide head, neck and shoulder massages to four different clients ensuring services consistently meet client expectations

choose the following massage techniques as appropriate to the head, neck or shoulder area and cumulatively use these techniques across the suite of services:

effleurage

petrissage

tapotement

use these products cumulatively across the suite of services:

scalp treatment products

hair treatment products

massage oil.

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

organisation's product range of massage oils, scalp and hair treatments:

product purpose

action on the scalp and hair

application instructions

key features and use of these massage techniques on the head, neck and shoulders:

effleurage

friction

petrissage

tapotement

basic aspects of local government, state or territory health regulations applicable to providing massage services

industry practices and organisational procedures for:

client comfort, safety and hygiene with particular emphasis on:

using gown and towels to protect client clothes

monitoring client comfort

preventing cross-transmission of infection between customers

work health, safety and hygiene for providing massages, with particular emphasis on:

using correct posture to avoid fatigue and injury

preventing cross-transmission of infection during customer contact

minimising wastage of massage mediums

waste disposal with particular emphasis on sound disposal methods for contaminated waste.

Skills must be demonstrated in a hairdressing or barbering environment; this can be:

a hairdressing or barbering industry workplace or

a simulated hairdressing or barbering workplace, set up for the purpose of skills assessment that provides services to paying members of the public.

Assessment must ensure use of:

paying clients with different massage requirements; these can be:

clients in a hairdressing or barbering industry workplace, or

clients in a simulated hairdressing or barbering workplace within a training organisation who have the expectation that the services provided reflect those of a commercial business

activities that require the individual to work with commercial speed, timing and productivity to complete client services within designated timeframes that reflect accepted industry practice

a basin services area with:

adjustable client chairs or couches

clean client gowns or wraps

clean client towels

a diverse professional range of massage mediums:

scalp treatment products

hair treatment products

massage oil

operator hand washing facilities:

basin with hot and cold running water

liquid soap

single use towels or hand dryer

product instructions

template client history records

organisational procedures for:

client comfort, safety and hygiene

work health, safety and hygiene for providing massages

waste minimisation

disposal of hazardous and other waste.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisation’s requirements for assessors; and:

hold a Certificate III in Hairdressing, or a Certificate III in Barbering, or a Certificate IV in Hairdressing, or be able to demonstrate equivalence of competencies; and

have at least three years full time employment experience as a hairdresser in a salon environment where they have applied the skills and knowledge covered in this unit of competency to assess this unit as part of a hairdressing qualification; this cannot include any indentured traineeship or apprenticeship period; or

have at least three years full time employment experience as a barber in a shop or salon environment where they have applied the skills and knowledge covered in this unit of competency to assess this unit as part of a barbering qualification; this cannot include any indentured traineeship or apprenticeship period.

Hairdressing

Basin Services