Pixi turns her dream job into reality

After a year of travelling back and forth from her hometown of Agnes Water to TAFE Queensland’s Bundaberg campus–coming home on weekends to be with family and to work–high achiever Pixi Kallas’s commitment has paid off in the form of a Diploma of Beauty Therapy (SHB50121) and a job at one of Queensland’s most luxurious day spas.

Pixi said she felt drawn to the beauty industry from an early age, keen to use her skills to empower others by helping them feel their best. 

“I always knew I wanted to do something that helped people feel healed, whether that be physically or emotionally – helping people understand the fundamentals of living a healthy lifestyle is my passion,” Pixi said.

“Coming into this course (having previously completed a Certificate III in Beauty Services [SHB30121] through TAFE at School), I was most excited about the ‘spa’ aspect of beauty – specifically facials and massage. Once I started learning these treatments, I knew straight away I was in the right industry as my passion developed immediately.

“I started to find peace within myself when I would perform these treatments and it made me happy seeing the same feeling reflected by my clients,” Pixi said.

The ‘clients’ Pixi refers to are those who visit the open-to-the-public TAFE Queensland Bundaberg campus hair and beauty salon (Hair, Beauty and Soul), where students learn and work hands-on with real clients, without time pressures.

“My teacher Zohie was also incredible,” Pixi shared.

“From day one, the support and encouragement never changed. She was always helping us in areas we didn’t feel confident, and she made the classes exciting and different each day.

“There was no question, she definitely pushed us, but this only helped us become the best therapist we could possibly be.  Zohie was the most open-minded, enthusiastic teacher, and it was such an inspiration to have her as my mentor,” Pixi said.

Ikatan Spa in Noosa is now fortunate to benefit from Pixi’s new massage and facial treatment skills, employing Pixi within a few weeks of completing her diploma. 

“I was very motivated to have a job lined up before finishing my diploma, so in the last few months of my course I decided to start looking at potential day spa workplaces,” said Pixi.

“Ikatan was actually the first place I applied for – I was drawn to their unique environment, being a Balinese-style day spa, which focuses on the peace and tranquillity of their clients. I heard back immediately, and the owner was interested in an interview. 

“So, I headed to Noosa, landed the role, and was scheduled to start working a few weeks after completing my diploma,” Pixi said.

Pixi now performs all types of luxury spa treatments for her clients – different styles of massage, facials, body scrubs and wraps, foot treatments and head massages. 

“Clients are coming to Ikatan for more than just a massage or a facial; the whole experience is to relax their minds and bodies completely, in the serenity of nature,” Pixi shared.

Coincidentally, ‘nature’ is one of the reasons Pixi was attracted to the beauty industry in the first place – seeing it as a career that would allow her to work whilst exploring the world.

“Travel is a major goal for me, and being able to use my skills in different places all over the world would be an absolute dream,” said Pixi.

And while Pixi may still be young, she’s unequivocally amassed some career wisdom, offering some final words of encouragement for those contemplating studying with TAFE Queensland.

“I think the beauty industry is a great pathway to take. The skills you develop throughout your diploma can lead you to so many different opportunities within the industry. You can really find your niche and passion,” she said.

“The teachers are so supportive and you will never feel pressured or uncomfortable as they have your best interests at heart,” Pixi said.