Tailored approach to study qualifications helps business owner become a cut above

Claire Halliday
The pathway to vocational training qualifications is not always traditional.

Esme Pye was 16 years old when she left Australia for the United Kingdom to be a hairdressing apprentice, but her love of the Australian sunshine saw her return home without completing her apprenticeship.

But after also missing hairdressing once back on home soil, a visit to the Alice Springs campus of Charles Darwin University (CDU) left her determined to return to her career dream.

With young children at home and a partner running his own business, Pye took a non-traditional path towards her goal. Instead of undertaking a typical apprenticeship, she did a hairdressing course and then started her own business too.

It was an option explained to her by CDU TAFE hairdressing Lecture Julia Braddon.

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“Julia was open and honest about my study options and understood my desire to become a certified hairdresser,” says Pye, who enrolled in the Certificate III in Hairdressing course as a full-time student in January 2023.

Less than two years later, after being honoured In June 2024 with the University Medal for Vocational and Education and Training (VET) based on her outstanding academic performance, Pye says “I have graduated as a certified hairdresser, I have launched my own business, and I am looking at ways that I can give back to the community”.

Giving back to local community

In 2023, Pye, who operates Hair Bar Central, was invited to participate in a well-being expo in Yuendumu as part of the remote community’s NAIDOC week celebrations – an opportunity she describes as an invaluable experience that reminded her of the passion and impact her profession can have. 

“I am a firm believer that if we look good, we can feel good, and watching people’s faces light up after they had their first blow wave, or first haircut in over a year, this is one of the reasons I love doing what I do, it makes people smile,” Pye says.

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“I think giving back to the community is important so I will keep looking at how we can offer our services to the community throughout the year.”

Although Pye is grateful for these additional opportunities, she recognises it hasn’t always been easy, having to juggle full time study, a family and still gain practical experience to become a qualified hairdresser. 

Whay kept her going was reminding herself that it was only going to be for a short amount of time – combined with the support she says she received in her studies.

“The practical training experience and support that I received from the facilities at CDU and Julia was second to none, they set me up for success and helped me build my confidence in the industry.”

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Claire Halliday has an extensive career as a full-time writer - across book publishing, copywriting, podcasting and feature journalism - for more than 25 years. She lives in Melbourne with children, two border collies and a grumpy Burmese cat. Contact: claire.halliday[at]educationdaily.au