By Stefanie Milla, CEO & Director, The Aesthetic and Beauty Industry Council (ABIC).
The beauty and aesthetics industry has achieved a historic milestone – one that promises to transform the opportunities available in our industry. After three years of tireless ABIC advocacy, beauty therapy has officially been added to Australia’s new Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
This achievement is a reflection of the sector’s growing recognition as a vital part of Australia’s economy and is the result of relentless work, including meetings with the Department of Home Affairs, consultations with ministers, and a strategic partnership with COSBOA (Council of Small Business Organisations Australia).
This success comes at a time of unprecedented progress for our industry, marking another defining chapter in a year filled with groundbreaking achievements for beauty and aesthetics professionals.
The journey: from overlooked to recognised
Until now, beauty therapy had been absent from skilled migration lists, leaving businesses struggling to recruit talented therapists. The old system was rigid and outdated, with fragmented occupation lists that failed to reflect modern labour market needs. This created a significant barrier for employers seeking international talent to meet demand in clinics, salons, and spas across the country.
The introduction of the new CSOL has changed the landscape. Replacing the outdated, overly complex system, the CSOL consolidates 456 occupations into a single list informed by real labour market analysis, stakeholder feedback and input from peak industry bodies such as ABIC.
This reform brings clarity and flexibility to Australia’s skilled migration framework and positions beauty therapy alongside other essential professions.
Why this matters for the beauty industry
For beauty therapists, this is a game-changing development. Being on the CSOL means access to the Skills in Demand Visa, which replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa in December 2024. This visa enables skilled professionals to work in Australia and contribute to our vibrant and growing industry. Moreover, the CSOL is a pathway to the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa, providing an avenue for beauty therapists to achieve permanent residency. This is not just an opportunity for individuals—it’s a boon for the businesses they’ll join, bringing stability to their teams and ensuring access to world-class talent.
For employers, the implications are equally profound. Businesses that have struggled to find local talent can now sponsor overseas professionals, addressing workforce shortages and driving growth. The streamlined CSOL makes the sponsorship process easier, removing much of the red tape that has historically deterred employers from accessing skilled migration.
A victory for advocacy and collaboration
Securing beauty therapy’s inclusion on the CSOL is no accident. It is the result of years of determined advocacy by ABIC. For the past three years we have worked tirelessly to elevate the industry’s profile, especially with government, holding countless meetings with policymakers, submitting detailed recommendations, and presenting a unified voice for beauty and aesthetics professionals.
Our collaboration with COSBOA has been pivotal. By working together, we’ve ensured that small business voices were heard, and the critical role of beauty therapists in Australia’s economy was recognised.
This achievement is a testament to the power of collective action and what we can accomplish when we stand together as an industry.
A year of unprecedented progress
This victory is part of a larger story of transformation for our industry in the last 12 months. From the ABS ANZSCO review to the establishment of the ABIC Self-Regulation Committee and Education Committee, and our groundbreaking work on education reform with SASCA, 2024 was a year of monumental progress.
We are laying the foundation for a brighter, more professional future for beauty and aesthetics. But it’s important to remember that these achievements have not come easily—they are the result of countless hours of work, determination, collaboration, and the unwavering support of our members.
We need your support to keep moving forward
While we celebrate this success, it is also a call to action. None of this progress would have been possible without the support of our members. Your membership fuels our advocacy, funds our projects, and amplifies our voice.
But our work is far from over. To continue making an impact, to secure even greater recognition, resources, and opportunities for our industry we urgently need more members. Every new member strengthens our ability to represent and protect the interests of beauty professionals and businesses across Australia.
A future of opportunity
The inclusion of beauty therapy on the CSOL is more than just a policy change, it is a symbol of the value and potential of our industry. It reflects the essential contributions beauty therapists make to Australia’s economy, their role in the lives of millions, and their place in shaping the future of wellness, confidence, and self-care.
Together, we have proven that change is possible. With your support, ABIC will continue to drive progress, break down barriers, and create opportunities for beauty professionals at every level.
This is our time to shine. Let’s seize it.
We urge you to join ABIC today and be part of the movement shaping the future of beauty and aesthetics in Australia. Visit www.theabic.org.au/memberships to join or find out more.
Photography: iStock/monkeybusinessimages
This article originally appeared in the Issue 01 2025 print issue of Professional Beauty magazine. Read it here.
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