OFFICE A REAL BEAUTY
Travelling the world in her dream job was always a goal for Gabrielle Kuhl and she discovered a TAFE course to help her do it WHEN Gabrielle Kuhl was younger, she had a dream shared with so many others – she wanted to travel the world, and she wanted to work her dream job while she did.
The Gold Coast woman is well on her way to achieving that dream as she eagerly waits the last few days before she boards a Steiner cruise ship in London.
Ms Kuhl recently joined the company after graduating from a diploma of beauty at TAFE Queensland, and is now in the middle of her final in-house training at their academy.
“The training is so intense but really amazing,” she said. “I’ve had to adjust to London weather, as it’s freezing compared to our lovely Gold Coast temperatures.”
Steiner is the world’s largest cruise ship company, offering massage therapists, fitness instructors and even nail technicians, all while sailing across the ocean.
Though she’s only a few sleeps away from her new career, Ms Kuhl still looks back on her time at TAFE as a major turning point.
“The incredible teachers and facilities available during my course gave me the opportunity to obtain a position with Steiner, to later be working on a cruise ship as a beauty therapist,” she said. “The beauty training on world-class equipment, with leading products and treatments … helped me to be ready to take on this challenge and I’m looking forward to excelling in my role on the ship.”
According to general manager of TAFE QLD Gold Coast Karen Dickinson, it’s no surprise Ms Kuhl managed to score the job.
“An advantage of studying at TAFE Queensland means you are taught by people who know what employers are looking for in the industry,” she said.
Taylah Ruck, 16, has worked her way from the TAFE At Schools program and into the same diploma, and finally decided to fast track her beauty career before finishing high school.
It gave her the chance to work at Salon XXI, the exclusive hair and beauty salon in the Commonwealth Games athletes village.
Making sure athletes from around the world were looking their absolute best was a responsibility and a privilege she said she absolutely adored.
“I got to paint the nails of Australia’s youngest swimmer during my time at Salon XXI, with the nail product Caption,” she said.
“It was such fun to be learning on the job, and working alongside classmates was a great experience even though we had some long days, from 8am to 8pm.
“We even learned that someone has to do the laundry.”
For other students such as Brianna Toms, the TAFE At Schools program was a chance to take the edge off graduation and start higher education.
She has now started her own business at home servicing friends and family, using social media to reach out to her community for more clients.
“I was more prepared, organised and knew what to expect from my teachers, and I’d completed a few of the relevant diploma units, giving me a credit in the next phase of my studying goals,” she said.
“Even knowing things like the uniform policy and assessment expectations took the stress out of starting a new program.
“I was also able to help other students who had not had the TAFE experience.”
Those interested in joining the diploma of beauty or the TAFE At Schools program at TAFE Queensland can visit tafeqld.edu.au or call 1300 308 233.