Thursday, November 9, 2017
HAIRDRESSING students Acya Rangi-Wiki George and Kiri Anne Dutton practise their skills on fellow students Heeni Paerata Takarangi-Wade and Elizabeth Mokomoko Mclean as tutor Fleur Oldham supervises. Photo Dido Eden D6193-2
A GLAMOROUS new enterprise is beautifying Opotiki’s former Trades Academy building on Waioeka Road.
Sixteen students are hard at work, writing assignments, cutting, styling, pinning, straightening and colouring.
Face and Beauty Academy’s new level 3 hairdressing course is being tutored by Fleur Oldham, who has 30 years’ experience in hairdressing and previously set up Toi Ohomai’s Beauty School in Opotiki.
Face and Beauty Academy is a private organisation based in Tauranga that specialises in health and beauty courses. Although Mrs Oldham lives in Papamoa, she enjoyed teaching in Opotiki previously, so jumped at the chance to come back and teach here.
“We have 16 students aged from 17 to 50 and there is one guy,” she said.
The level 3 certificate course finishes at the end of May. “Most students are keen to stay on for level 4 and 5 next year. When they leave me they will be intermediate hairdressers. With another year working in a salon, they then sit an exam and will be qualified senior hairdressers.”
To graduate in the course, an 85 percent attendance is expected.
“We do have a few issues with getting students here, as some live down the coast and can’t get here easily,” Mrs Oldham says.
The big challenge comes after Christmas when these students will be opening the doors to their salon. Four days a week they will be open to the public, to practise the skills they have been learning.
“This practical scenario will be a great boost to gaining confidence in a work place. At the moment, one day a week they have friends and family come in to model for them.”
A reciprocal arrangement has also been set up between Opotiki High School flax-weaving class and the students. On a Wednesday, in return for teaching the hairdressing students flax weaving, the high school students get to be models. Mrs Oldham is keen to promote the students’ creative flair and gain some practical life skills. To this end, they will be entering the Fibre and Fleece fashion event next year.
Mrs Oldham has also joined forces with Eastbay REAP in an initiative that will give her students the opportunity to leave with full driver’s licences by the end of the course. On Thursday afternoons the students head to Whakatane for driving lessons.
“Only one out of 16 students has a full licence,” Mrs Oldham said.
Student Acya Rangi-Wiki George says there is a real connection between tutor and students.
“We are just lucky to get this opportunity in Opotiki. Fleur is a great tutor. Without that it wouldn’t be such a great course.”
Dido Eden