Hair Expo have just announced a ‘Safe Hands’ seminar as part of their calendar of offerings in June, with the aim of informing and assisting hairdressers working with clients who are victims of family and domestic violence.
Event coordinator Leanne Cutler hopes to highlight the important role hairdressers can play in referring clients to essential services:
“Seeing the bruises or learning of a client’s horrific situation is not an everyday occurrence, but when it happens, being prepared to know how to respond and what to do next could change or even save a life.”
Panellists Natasha King and Zoe Wilde each bring a wealth of experience and domestic violence knowledge to the event.
King is a proud ambassador of New Zealand’s ‘It’s Not OK’ campaign and trains hairdressers in spotting and assisting any clients dealing with domestic violence.
Wilde plays an active community role, and is a passionate supporter and fundraiser for White Ribbon Australia.
Also in attendance will be the Eastern Domestic Violence Service (EDVOS) executive director, Jenny Jackson.
The organisation assisted approximately 6,000 women and children in 2016-17.
Jackson provides free in-salon family violence training for hairdressers in Melbourne’s East, known as HaiR-3R. .
Rounding out the panel is the ACT’s Jenni Tarrant, of Bond Hair Religion, who also acts as a qualified Lifeline counsellor.
For Tarrant, it’s about providing safe spaces for hairdressers and clients.
“The hairstylist/client relationship is quite intimate when considering the elements of touch, the time spent together and the conversation that can evolve.
“It’s important that hairstylists are armed with information to refer clients who are experiencing domestic violence so they don’t take on a counselling role and the negative ramifications that can come with being untrained.
“To me it’s about helping the client while protecting the hairstylist.”
The June 11 Seminar is a free event, although advance bookings must be made through the Hair Expo website.
Any donations will go directly to the Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre, which offers 24-hour assistance to families in need.
Visit: http://www.hairexpoaustralia.com to view the full event roster