Razor-sharp skills to meet growing demand
Academy helps train barbers of the future
“We all have weaknesses and strengths, and this has helped me with my weaknesses Wayne Api Program participant
A not-for-profit led by a Gordonvale school worker has shaped new futures for youth at risk of disengagement by giving them clean starts in the barbering trade.
Rob Hodge launched Fresh Start Academy as a “side hustle” when he noticed young men, who were at risk of becoming disengaged with education, were showing an interest in the barbering trade’s growing urban culture.
By partnering with Josh Anderson, owner of Cartel Collective, and winning a Queensland Health grant and some Cairns Regional Council funding, Mr Hodge harnessed that interest and has helped several young men begin work as barbers.
On Thursday and Friday the Academy’s trainees practised their skills by opening an improvised barber shop and offering free haircuts at Mooroobool’s Shang Street Park.
“We’ve got eight participants who come in two days a week,” Mr Hodge said.
“There’s a couple of applications for this … firstly engaging young fellas who aren’t sure what they’re going to do. This gives them the skills so that barber stores are recruiting them once they’re at the end of the program.
“Our second purpose is to give back to the community. In our first pop-up we had 300 people come through. To come out here and give back to the communities they come from is amazing for them.”
Smithfield man Wayne Api, 22, said he wanted to join the program as an opportunity to get into a trade he was interested in trying.
“It’s helping out in a lot of ways. We all have weaknesses and strengths, and this has helped me with my weaknesses.
“I’ve grown from this program,” he said.