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TAFE Queensland campus shaves, chops and colours for a great cause
Hairdressing students put their skills to work - shaving heads, cutting ponytails and colouring hair - in support of the Leukaemia Foundation.
On 17 March, hairdressing students put their skills to work - shaving heads, cutting ponytails and colouring hair - in support of the Leukaemia Foundation.
For TAFE Queensland Leading Vocational Teacher in Hairdressing, Alicia Hennekam, the cause is especially meaningful.
“The World’s Greatest Shave is important to me as I have seen firsthand what their support can do for patients and their families who are literally going through the hardest challenge of their lives,” said Alicia.
“For a child and their family from devastating diagnosis to rocking up at the Children’s Hospital can be a matter of mere hours. One minute you are in your hometown at the GP, the next potentially hundreds of kilometres away in a large hospital. Often these families are not just there for weeks, but rather endless months at a time.”
“This is the hole that the Leukaemia Foundation step in to. They provide emotional, financial, accommodation assistance, plus a million other small supports that help patients and their families navigate this very difficult time in their lives.”
“I for one will be forever grateful for the support this charity has provided my family.”
For many years, TAFE Queensland staff and students have come together to support the event, raising funds, building awareness, and fostering a strong sense of community spirit.
This year, a total of $1,973.00 was raised, nearly double the original fundraising goal. Contributions included a raffle featuring a range of prizes, such as a De Lorenzo gift hamper. Cookery and hospitality staff and students also prepared and served lunch and drinks, with 50% of the proceeds going towards the total.
“In the modern world, with corporate pressures as they are, it is easy for an organisation to push this sort of thing aside. Having TAFE Queensland’s support and active participation over many years is truly heartwarming," said Alicia.
The event also provides a valuable hands-on learning experience, giving students the opportunity to work together, connect with their community and make a real impact.
“I think that giving students an opportunity to be involved in a great event like this helps them pull together as a team and gives them a real sense of accomplishment,” she said.