As a general rule, teachers teach more by what they are than by what they say.
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One of the things that we are most proud of at Demi International is the large number of our graduates who find employment in the industry and get the chance to really follow their dreams. We love it when a past student drops in to let us know how much their education with us changed her life. When they pop in, it is always to see their teachers, and often I hear the teacher humbly reply. “I did nothing, you did all the hard work, and now look at you. Well done”
Teachers are part of the Demi International team not only for their exceptional standards and years of industry experience but for who they are and how much they care. We decided to do a little montage of our talented Beauty Teaching team across all of our campuses, just to give you an insight into what our students and we already know…we have the best teaching team around!
Chelcey Quinn
Originally from Scotland, Chelcey arrived in Australia 8 years ago after following her heart. She now lives with her husband and two babies in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.
Chelcey began her career at 14 in her family salon. From there she progressed to Spa’s, managing salons and franchises. Each new position helped her gain more experience and qualifications as she grew along with the rapidly changing health and beauty industry. Chelcey also became a small business owner providing spray tans, lashes, waxing, gel nails and acrylic nails. For the last 8 years, she has been working in the dermal side of the industry working with laser hair removal, advanced chemical peels, skin resurfacing, pigmentation and vascular treatments. Chelcey holds an open trainer’s full license with QLD radiation and health. After years of experience in the industry, Chelcey is so happy to join the Demi International team and follow her passion for training and assessing students.
Chelcey’s key to success: Envision what you want, work towards it, take small steps but always picture yourself achieving your goal. Delays may come, obstacles may arise but never lose that image of yourself achieving and living your goals, and they will come to you!
Ali Porter
Making people feel good about themselves mind, body and spirit is Ali’s aim when she goes to work in her own salon B.lush Studios in CBD Toowoomba. Lashes and makeup are her top services. When I asked her who she was most inspired by she answered
Australian Make-up Artist Rae Morris. She shares so much of her knowledge and the secrets to her success.
As an experienced Beauty Therapist, she has a keen interest in anti-ageing techniques and has worked with many Skin Care Companies over her years in salons. Ali loves to travel and hopes to add more stamps to her passport and while she’s there, advance her skills in her other love, photograph. You’ll find yourself laughing at Ali’s spontaneous antics in the classroom where the focus is on communication skills and hands-on practice.
As a teacher, she loves to see students blossom into industry professionals and uncover their own special talent. It is her intention to have her graduate’s leaving college confident in their skills and knowledge and on their way to finding the job of their dreams.
Ali’s tips for success
- Practice and persistence
- Take every opportunity, you never know where it leads
- Seek work experience in an environment you see yourself working in and walk through the open doors.
- Sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know
- Everyone has a talent, they just must find the courage to share it.
- Go with your gut instinct
Sometimes a student can say it perfectly. Here is what a past student Emma McClurg had to say about Ali
Ali provided immaculate teaching skills using a combination of exceptional presentations and excellent hands on teaching skills that catered for all learning abilities. Ali motivates all students to have confidence, strive to pursue excellence and succeed.
Donna Chadwick
Donna loves teaching. She’s been teaching for 26 years! In fact, the biggest influence in her Beauty career was her Academy teacher, who inspired her to follow a career in education. She loves to pass on her knowledge, all with a quirky Lancashire sense of humour and a genuine love for her students. 
Donna holds professionalism and ethics in the highest regard and encourages her students to embrace each lesson.
It is also important to her that students are taught how to be prepared for the industry, so she focuses on emulating this as much as possible in practice and clinic sessions. Experience has taught her this makes the transition from academy to industry true, realistic and seamless. Apart from teaching Donna’s most memorable experience was opening her own Salon. A thriving business that employed 6 staff and had a loyal client base, many of which still come to see her for their treatments today. Donna is now in her 36th year of service in the Beauty Industry.
The most humbling and heart-felt comments from a student that Donna has received was from a Single mum of 3 including an autistic child and a disabled child. Who never missed a class.
“I had lots of roadblocks ahead of me when I started this course, at times I thought I just can’t do this. But every time I thought this I remembered your sweet smile, Donna. Your kind hand on my shoulder telling me, this is my time, and how happy I feel on each training day. Now I have completed my diploma and have a part-time beauty job. I have no more roadblocks just an endless highway of happiness.”
I asked Donna what the most important thing to her was.
Family. My goal in life is to be happy, kind, helpful and understanding. Life is too short so make it count! I feel so lucky to watch my family grow with health and happiness and to work in this Beautiful industry. I feel blessed every day that I have chosen this pathway.
…and what do you believe is the key to success?
When you have a dream, a passion, work hard at it. Stay professional. Have respect for yourself and others. Open your mind to possibilities. If at first, you don’t succeed try, try again.
Emma Fox
I am a skin specialist, a trainer, a lover of learning and animals. In fact, I have 3 dogs and 9 snakes and would someday love to own and operate a Pet Sanctuary with my husband.
From a young age, I had always been fascinated with beauty treatments and skin. I actually drew inspiration from my friends, I was lucky to have great skin all my life, unfortunately, this is not the case for a lot of people. Seeing what some of my friends had to go through when I was a teenager, sparked an interest in me. I knew which industry I wanted to train in when I finished school. I wanted to have the knowledge and experience to treat skin conditions so that I could be part of the happiness that my clients would feel when they had the skin that they had always wanted. I’ve been in the industry for over 10 years now, I have never looked back!
My career has been serendipitous, I was lucky enough to gain a full-time position at the Medispa/skin clinic where I was completing work experience as part of my study. Management could see the drive and potential in me and supplied extensive training and support which gave me the tools to become the therapist/manager/teacher that I am today.
My goal for all graduating students is to have them be able to walk out of class and have the knowledge, experience, and confidence to be able to start their career straight away. It is important to me that they feel 100% ready to enter into the industry. I like to set the standard for my students I like to make sure that every graduate is someone I would want to hire!
I think the key to success is to continue to learn and grow from mistakes. Self-growth is important. This industry is ever-changing and growing and being able to adapt to change creates more opportunity. I am a lover of learning through research and keep up with the latest trends.
I look forward to sharing the learning journey with you!
Theresa Azzopardi
Theresa studied her Diploma of Beauty Therapy while at Highschool. Theresa
has since worked as an Assistant Spa Manager on Daydream Island. She currently still works at a local Cairns Spa when she is not training. Theresa says it the amazing clients she meets that really make her appreciate the privilege of her job as a therapist. As a trainer, Theresa sets the intention to make sure her students graduate confident and industry ready in all aspects of the job and can push to achieve what they most love to do.
You can do anything you set your mind to.
Tamsin Smith
Tamsin originally wanted to become a vet but in High School, she completed her work experience in a salon and absolutely loved it. She’s never looked back. At 17 Tamsin completed a 2-year course in Beauty Therapy. Tamsin has enjoyed an amazing International career. She was headhunted to work in Val’d’isere in the French alps as their beauty & spa therapist which led to a management role in both the Greek Islands and the South of France too. Tamsin says her career has been hard work, challenging, and rewarding in so many ways. She also runs her own skincare company Essence by Tamsin. Keep an eye out for it launching in Cairns soon.
Tamsin loves to inspire the next generation of beauty therapists and share with them the many opportunities a career in Beauty Therapy can lead to. She likes to nurture and push her students to be the very best industry-ready therapists possible by the end of their course. Tamsin’s key to success: Hard work, determination, and a positive mindset. Just put yourself out there!
Lana Glover
Lana has worked in the beauty industry for over 20 years. She enjoyed her time working in salons but always had the goal to own and operate her beauty business. She achieved her goal and ran her own business in Western Australia for 10 years. Following her passion for beauty and inspiring others to follow their heart to do what they love; Lana began teaching in 2003 at Challenger TAFE in WA. Teaching has been a very rewarding experience bringing her great joy. Now a Qld resident Lana has been managing a salon, teaching beauty, and operating her own business.
Lana’s words of wisdom: Do what you love. You can achieve any goal you want to. Be the best you can be.
