Beauty Forum Feb23 - Flipbook - Page 19
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Government watchdogs
have noted increased
complaints of client
injuries and a heightened
risk of harm to the public
The NZ Board of Professional Skin Therapies
campaign managed to persuade the MoE to
keep the Beauty and Skin Therapy
qualification to NZQA Level 5. Members of our
industry now sit on the Health Workforce
Development Council ensuring the
development of courses and aligning the
training of future employees with development
in cosmetic medicine and aesthetic practices.
Concerns by WorkSafe and Health and
Disability Commission
At the same time, the Board also approached
the Health and Disabilities Commission (HDC)
and WorkSafe. Both of these Government
watchdogs have noted increased complaints
of client injuries and a heightened risk of harm
to the public. The public has been complaining
for years about the need for safer practices
and the ability to identify qualified practitioners.
These agencies are very much “ambulances
at the bottom of the cliff” and deal (or take
punitive action) against individual therapists
or clinics. Neither of these bodies are able
to directly address how the skin therapy
industry can operate or improve standards,
and are dependent upon Local Council
Health Standards Offices who then set
impractical bylaws and fees, as they lack
the skills to apply effective standards.
The HDC Deputy Commissioner and
WorkSafe have both recommended to the
NZ Board of Professional Skin Therapies
that the skin therapy industry needs to be
self-regulated backed by appropriate
legislation.
During 2018 the Ministry of Health carried
out an investigation into the practices of
appearance medicine and beauty therapy.
They too recommended there was a need
