Brewarrina Shire Council Helps Inspire and Develop Real Life Skills at

School Holiday Workshop

Brewarrina Shire Council is celebrating the success of its free three‑day Barber & Hair Workshop, delivered in partnership with the Community Hair Project as part of the Autumn School Holiday Program last week.

Fourteen young people took part in the hands‑on program, learning the foundations of barbering and hairdressing, from sectioning and scissor control to clipper work, fades and basic styling. Participants also had the chance to put their new skills into practice by offering free haircuts for community members, creating a supportive environment for real‑world learning.

Brewarrina Shire Council General Manager David Kirby said the workshop demonstrated the value of providing young people with opportunities that go beyond entertainment.

“Programs like this are about more than filling time during the school holidays and engaging our youth. They’re about inspiring our young people and giving them meaningful pathways to build confidence, skills and future careers,” Mr Kirby said.

“To see 14 students step up, learn something completely new and then use those skills to give back to the community, I’m so proud. That’s exactly the kind of impact we want our holiday programs to have.”

The school holiday workshop equipped each participant with not only the skills to kickstart their career, but also the tools. Each student also got to take home their own starter kit including scissors or clippers, comb, cape, clips and water spray, ensuring they could continue practising their skills beyond the program.

Mr Kirby said the strong turnout reflects the appetite among young people for practical, skill‑building opportunities.

“When we invest in programs that teach real skills, we’re investing in the future of our community. These experiences can spark interests, open doors and help young people see what they’re capable of.

“Currently, we don’t have a local hairdresser or barber in town. Maybe we’ve inspired someone to continue developing this new-found skill which could in turn result in a new local business down the track. Programs like this can really open doors not just for individuals but our whole community. “

Christine Mastello from The Community Hair Project, the travelling organisation offering professional hairdressing services and workshops across the state, said the outreach program was first started in 2024 after witnessing the shortage of hairdressing services in regional and remote areas.

“The Workshop was established in 2024, following extensive outreach providing free haircuts to communities across regional and remote NSW. Through this work, we witnessed firsthand the significant distances many locals must travel to access basic hair services,” said Ms Mastello.

“We set out to be part of the solution. The workshop was created to bring practical skills, opportunity, and accessibility directly to the communities that need it most.

“Now, we are taking the next step by becoming a registered training organisation. This will enable us to deliver a Certificate III in Hairdressing and Barbering, providing participants with nationally recognised qualifications. With these skills, graduates will have the opportunity to pursue meaningful employment or even establish their own salons and barber shops within their communities.”

Ms Mastello said Brewarrina will be the first place they return once their training recognition is finalised, which is expected to be completed before the end of this year. 

The Barber & Hair Workshop is one of several initiatives delivered through Council’s Autumn School Holiday Program, designed to provide safe spaces, positive experiences and opportunities for growth for young people across the Shire.

This week, they’ve also been delivering a driving school, giving young people with their learner licence free one-on-one lessons with a professional driving instructor.

“A big thanks must go to the Community Hair Project for travelling all the way out to Bre for the partnership and to the community members who supported the students by volunteering for haircuts,” Mr Kirby concluded.