TAFE Queensland Joins Sustainable Salons to Promote Sustainability and Raise Awareness for Blood Cancer

On Wednesday 15 March, TAFE Queensland hosted a World's Greatest Shave event at the training providers Robina Campus, bringing together students, teachers, and the community to support the Leukaemia Foundation.

According to the Leukaemia Foundation, every day, 53 Australians receive a blood cancer diagnosis, and 16 of them will lose their lives.

TAFE Queensland, in partnership with Sustainable Salons, aims to make a difference by donating all the hair shaved and cut from the event to support those living with alopecia or cancer.

TAFE Queensland Certificate III (SHB30416) in Hairdressing students showcased their skills, led by Hairdressing teacher, Alicia, as they shaved and buzz cut participants' hair.

TAFE Queensland Content Writer, Vicki Smith, was one of the participants who shaved her head alongside close friend and cancer survivor Jeni.

"This is my second time and I am happy to support this cause, it is a bit of fun, and I liked my head bald from last time," Vicki said.

“I shaved my head in support of my nephew who went through Acute Myeloid Leukaemia during covid and for my friends who are cancer survivors of different types,” she said.  

Sustainable Salons' Customer Success Manager for Queensland and South Australia, Michele Mosterd, highlighted that this is the sixth year the organisation has collected and repurposed all the hair shaved and cut from the World's Greatest Shave events.

“Ponytails 20cm or longer can be turned into wigs for those who have lost their hair due to the impact of cancer treatment, while shorter hair clippings are transformed into compost and floating Hair Booms to absorb oil spill,” Michele said.

TAFE Queensland’s Robina Salon, Natures Escape, is proud to be a partner of Sustainable Salons and regularly donates hair to be reused. The World's Greatest Shave event was another opportunity for TAFE Queensland to give back to the community and raise awareness of blood cancer. Donating all the hair that was shaved and cut to Sustainable Salons for repurposing is a remarkable example of sustainability and giving back to the community that TAFE Queensland is proud to be part of.

To learn more about TAFE Queensland’s new Robina campus, Nature’s Escape or a career in hairdressing or barbering, visit tafeqld.edu.au.