The beauty of teaching
Teaching is inspiring students by building knowledge and skill, so it is very rewarding. VU students and teachers are applied and well-supported. I have been fortunate to be able to teach beauty therapy for work.
Andrea Day
Team Leader, Beauty
Andrea Day, Team Leader in Beauty at VU Polytechnic, is passionate about teaching the next generation of beauty therapists. She shares her career journey so far – and how she’s continuing to take her beauty knowledge to new heights.
“I was originally studying to become a psychologist, and really enjoyed the psychology and biology. Then when the beauty industry grew, the job title ‘beauty therapist’ became a reality.
“I put psychology on hold and signed up for the Diploma of Beauty Therapy SHB50121 at VU Polytechnic for the social aspect and the knowledge of cosmetic chemistry and skin science.
“After I completed the Diploma of Beauty Therapy SHB50121, I worked at a number of salons and spas in Melbourne, each for about two years. I worked as a teacher at a private college for two years, and then started teaching at VU part time.
“I also lived and worked in London in a salon for two years, with 13 beauty therapists from 13 different countries. This gave me the skills I needed to work on a beauty textbook, Professional Beauty Therapy, an adaptation from the UK version to the Australian training package.
“I now teach and coordinate at VU Polytechnic full-time and connect with the beauty industry.”
Love for the VU experience
“Teaching is inspiring students by building knowledge and skill, so it is very rewarding. VU students and teachers are applied and well-supported. I have been fortunate to be able to teach beauty therapy for work.
Moving the course to the new VU City Tower has been a real highlight. In the City Tower there's lots of natural light, lots of space to work in, and it's been sustainably designed.
“The facilities and classrooms are state-of-the-art and purpose-built for what we need, and the students love it.
“There are plenty of treatment spaces and equipment so when our students come in, they know they’ll all have the opportunity to practice their skills with all the professional products that they need."
Deepening her beauty knowledge
“As well as teaching, I also study the Bachelor of Dermal Sciences, which I love.
“The content of the course is perfect for beauty therapists specialising in skin treatments. Clients have a lot of access to information, so they expect a lot of expert knowledge in a consultation. As a beauty educator, the knowledge puts us three steps ahead.
“I intend to continue studying dermal science part time. If it had been available at the start of my career I would have completed it immediately after the Diploma of Beauty Therapy SHB50121 (the Diploma of Beauty Therapy SHB50121 can now be used as the first year of the Bachelor of Dermal Science).”
Advice for beauty students
“The beauty industry is vast and ever-growing, and the knowledge and skill gained is transferrable – I highly recommend it.
“It’s a work environment conducive to social connection and wellbeing, and there are opportunities to brand out into specialisations throughout your career.”
Interested in a career in beauty?
VU Polytechnic offers a range of courses to get you started on a fun and rewarding beauty career, delivered from the new VU City Tower, part of our City Campus in the heart of Melbourne CBD.