Petition to Ministry of Health to recognise Skin and Beauty Therapists as Health Professionals
This writing highlights the importance of the skin and beauty industry to comply and receive protection under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act. The skin and beauty industry is unregulated in New Zealand. The industry is categorised under the arts reflecting painting nails and applying makeup, but this is a small area of work for most therapists. The unregulated beauty industry has managed itself well enough under the self-appointed ‘code of ethics' and 'standard of practice'; however, to ensure professionalism, the expanding skin and beauty industry needs solid frameworks similar to a registered nurse, osteopath and occupational therapist. We want to prevent work from being taken away from our industry because of the few who are not adequately qualified or refuse to stay within their scope of practice. We must protect our industry and ensure competency with increased invasive work and technologies. The potential downsides of an unregulated sector include the following:
Lack of accountability: Without an effectual governing body to oversee and regulate the industry, there is no way to ensure that service providers meet specific quality and safety standards. This can result in poor quality services and potential harm to clients.
Lack of standardisation: Without registration and regulation, there may be no uniformity in the training, education, or qualifications of service providers. This can make it difficult for clients to know what to expect from a service and make it challenging for professionals to work together effectively.
Limited professional development opportunities: Unregistered professionals may not have the same professional development opportunities as their registered counterparts. This can make it difficult for them to stay up-to-date with industry best practices and advancements, limiting their ability to provide high-quality services.
Limited career advancement opportunities: Without a recognised industry credential, unregistered professionals may have limited career advancement or specialisation options, impacting their long-term career prospects and income.
Potential for fraud: The lack of regulation in the unregistered industry can create opportunities for fraudulent or unscrupulous individuals, businesses, and trainers to take advantage of clients, leading to financial or physical harm.
An industry's lack of solid registration and regulation can create several issues, including risks to client safety and well-being, limited professional development and career advancement opportunities, and potential for fraud or unethical behaviour.
A governing board for the skin and beauty therapy industry can provide regulation and oversight to ensure high quality and safety standards, promote industry credibility, provide a platform for professional collaboration, and respond to emerging issues and challenges.
Ensure you have your say in the success of the skin and beauty industry's future