Hairdressing, Beauty and Skin Penetration

A skin penetration procedure is defined under the Public Health Act 2010 to mean any procedure that penetrates the skin or declared by the Public Health Regulation 2022 as being a skin penetration procedure.

This includes but not limited to:

• tattooing
• body and ear piercing
• colonic lavage
• waxing
• electrolysis
• cuticle cutting
• body modifications eg scarification
• microdermabrasion
• blackhead removal using a needle

A skin penetration procedure does not include:

• any procedure carried out by a health practitioner registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, or by a person acting under the direction or supervision of a registered health practitioner, in the course of providing a health service, or
• any procedure declared by the regulations not to be a skin penetration procedure eg laser hair removal.

Under Section 38(2) Public Health Act 2010 and Section 42 Public Health Regulation 2022 notification must be given to the local government authority before skin penetration procedures are carried out at the premises.

The local government authority must also be notified within 7 days of any change of particulars.

If the skin penetration procedures are carried out in mobile premises, the local government authority in which the operator resides must be notified and the local government areas intended to be operated in must be specified.

You are required to notify us by completing our Notification of Skin Penetration Procedures Form.

Council conducts annual inspections of all premises where skin penetration procedures are undertaken (including nail salons, beauty salons and hairdressers which undertake procedures classified as penetrating the skin).

This inspection will include the assessment of:

• cleanliness of premises
• fit-out and construction of premises
• provision of facilities and equipment for cleaning, sterilising, hand washing, and storage
• waste storage and disposal including sharps and contaminated waste
• current procedures
• hygiene standards and practices including cleaning, disinfecting and sanitising of equipment
• records for waste disposal and autoclave if required.

Council charges the proprietor of the business an administration and  inspection fee in accordance with our fees and charges.

Hairdressers, beauty salons and skin penetration premises may be required to obtain relevant planning approvals from Council prior to carrying out any works.

New premises or alterations to existing premises need to meet the relevant requirements of:

• Public Health Act 2010 – Part 3, Division 4 Control of skin penetration procedures
• Public Health Regulation 2022 – Part 4 Skin penetration procedures, and
• Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 – Schedule 2, Part 2 & 3 Standards for hairdressers and beauty salons.

The HRHEC Guidelines for the Construction and Operation of Hairdressing, Beauty and Skin Penetration Premises has been developed to assist in complying with the above requirements.