Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, centre, gets a clip around the ears from Bert Evans Scholarship recipient Louise Wall, right, after being congratulated for her award by State Training Services team member Alison Dundon this week.
Monday, 23 January 2017
ARMIDALE apprentice hairdresser Louise Wall has enjoyed her work so much, and has been so good at it, that she’s become the head girl when it comes to cutting and styling at her salon.
And the Kristies Hair and Beauty Boutique partner has clipped another workplace award too – announced as a recipient of a prestigious scholarship by local Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall this week.
Mr Marshall says Louise really is ‘a cut above the rest’ when it comes to apprenticeship performance and that work ethic and her skills have won her this year’s Bert Evans Apprentice scholarship.
“We’ve heard the stories of employees who liked the business so much, they bought it, and that adage perfectly fits Louise’s approach to her work; she’s a great advertisement for the very ideals of what this scholarship is all about,” Mr Marshall said.
“She is still an apprentice and is running a very successful business in Armidale, so this scholarship is well deserved and appropriate.”
The 21-year-old says she fell in love with the salon after she first started her apprenticeship at the end of 2015, and because technically she can’t “own” the place she’s apprenticed to, she talked her mum Kerrie Allen and Louise’s partner Kenny Hamilton into the business.
“Technically I can’t be my own boss so that’s Mum’s role but when I complete my apprenticeship in 18 months’ time I will be.”
Originally Louise says she had a passion for beauty – but now she’s undertaking a multi-strand career path, combining the hair apprenticeship with ongoing beauty courses and upskilling.
She goes to TAFE one day a week and her work week is a six-day hair affair. It’s a small salon team with one senior hairdresser alongside her – and Kenny helping out regularly to sweep the floors and clean up.
Mr Marshall said the scholarship would give Louise a $15,000 boost to her training and development.
Mr Marshall met with Louise this week at Jessie St salon to congratulate her and present her with the first scholarship instalment of $5,000.
“The $15,000 scholarship is so valuable to me,” Louise told him.
“It will help me do the courses I want to do; nothing’s cheap and scissors are like $500, so I can buy some more of those and other equipment.”
Mr Marshall said the scholarship was part of a program introduced by the State Government to assist apprentices who faced significant challenges and barriers in completing their qualification.
“This encouragement payment is a real credit to Louise and her commitment,” Mr Marshall said.
“Apprentices play a vital role in growing our local economy. That is why the government recognises the need to provide additional financial support to apprentices showing such aptitude in their vocational education and training.”