8 minute read
BUSINESS - The Art of Giving Back
Jessica Frost interviews industry titans who are donating their time and skills.
Ask anyone from the aesthetics and beauty industries and they’ll tell you that the best part of their job is giving back to their clients to make them look, and more importantly, feel great. While we can all do this on a small scale day-to-day, there are some incredible organisations in our industry that take giving back to new levels and give members of the beauty and medical aesthetics community the chance to join in.
Look Good Feel Better Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) is a national community service organisation run by the Cancer Patients Foundation with a mission to help cancer patients manage the aestheticrelated side effects of cancer. With both in person and virtual workshops and a range of other activities on offer, they give skincare, makeup and haircare professionals the chance to share their skills and improve the lives of women and men battling cancer.
We chatted with EMMA HOBSON, the Director of Education Asia Pacific for Dermalogica and long-standing volunteer for LGFB about her experience with the organisation.
LGFB hold workshops covering skincare, makeup and wig and scarf styling.
Can you tell us about the work you do with Look Good Feel Better and how you became involved?
EH: Dermalogica, the company I work for, has been a proud product sponsor for LGFB for many years. Being introduced to the amazing work that LGFB did across the country (and the world), I just had to get involved. Sadly, I have lost both parents to cancer as well as other close family members and friends. I know all too well the challenges of the side effects the treatment has on a patient. Being a volunteer for LGFB is probably one of the most rewarding things I have done. The workshops we run are a place of safety and of joy. A place to come together and know you are not on your own, a place to forget about the treatment for a while and focus on the positives that come with knowing how to care for your skin, work with new headpieces and makeup techniques to feel better, and dare I say more normal about yourself.
We’re always seeking to improve the experience as well as making it available across the country, be that face to face workshops (outside of COVID) or in more remote locations where it is difficult to access a live workshop, via digital streaming. Not only has LGFB increased its reach and popularity across the country, it’s a program for everyone and it’s great to see more men attending the male-focused workshops.
Emma Hobson
How can other industry professionals get involved?
EH: First and foremost, you need to have a positive mindset, ideally a cheery disposition, coupled with empathy and a desire to help others. It is advantageous to have some industry hair, beauty, skin, makeup type experience, however, the willingness and desire to give to those who currently need a ‘lift’ in their life is what really makes you a great volunteer. LGFB ask for a minimum commitment from their volunteers of attending four half-day workshops a year. Anyone interested in being a volunteer can go to our website and read about the program at https:// lgfb.org.au/join-our-team/. You can always be invited to attend a session as an observer to see if this is really something that speaks to you.
Interplast
Interplast Australia and New Zealand was founded in 1983 through a partnership between the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and Rotary. It was established to provide voluntary medical teams to carry out plastic and reconstructive surgery in developing countries across the Asia Pacific region. Thanks to their volunteers and generous donations, they’ve impacted millions of lives, not only through the surgeries they perform but the education and development they provide in countries that need it most.
Interplast Australia and New Zealand’s CEO, CAMERON GLOVER, shared with us Interplast’s mission and the impact they’re having around the globe.
Interplast provide medical care and training in developing areas.
Can you give us an overview of the work of Interplast?
CG: Prior to the emergence of COVID-19, Interplast sent teams of volunteer plastic and reconstructive surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals to provide lifechanging surgery and medical training in 17 countries across the Asia Pacific region. The global pandemic has seen a change to the way that Interplast works, but our commitment to quality, accessible patient care remains. We’ve continued to focus on building a sustainable surgical workforce through digital training, virtual 1:1 mentoring, and telehealth services. This allows our partners to access essential resources, education, and case-planning advice to ensure optimal patient outcomes. COVID-19 has also presented the opportunity to expand our educational and training programs to reach over 30 countries. Remote support has proven to be an invaluable resource to our partners and will continue long after our international programming resumes.
Why is the work of Interplast important to you?
CG: Globally, five billion people are without access to safe, affordable surgical and anaesthesia care when needed. 143 million surgical procedures are needed each year to save lives and prevent disability and more than 99 million of those cases are in Asia and Oceania, where Interplast works. Interplast’s work is important to me as we have, and continue to, play a pivotal role in addressing surgical inequity experienced by our neighbours across the Asia Pacific region. Every person deserves access to high quality surgical and related healthcare, and I am proud to lead an organisation that is working towards ensuring that this life-changing care is available, for all.
How can doctors and nurses get involved?
CG: Interplast has numerous opportunities available for medical professionals who wish to contribute their time and talent to building capacity with our international colleagues and improving the quality of patient care across the Asia Pacific region. We have a need for clinical volunteers who are keen to help us in the development and delivery of remote and online education, both in the short term, while we are unable to mobilise teams, as well as in the future. Or you can express your interest in joining an international program when travel resumes. You can find more information about the type of medical volunteers we need and apply on the ‘Volunteer with Us’ page on our website. If you are interested in helping but aren’t sure if your background is suitable, please get in touch via e-mail on contactus@interplast.org.au. We would love to hear from you. Financial contributions are also gratefully received to support Interplast’s program delivery.
To learn more about becoming involved with Interplast, visit www.interplast.org.au.
Cameron Glover
Aesthetic and Beauty Industry Council
The Aesthetic and Beauty Industry Council (ABIC) was established to better the professional standards, working practices and unity of the salon, clinic and spa industry. It’s led by a board of members who are personally invested in the industry and dedicated to building an industry standard, regulations and voice to government that truly makes a difference.
CEO and Director, STEFANIE MILLA talks us through their dedication to giving back and how that has come to life throughout COVID’s challenges.
Can you tell us about the charitable work ABIC does?
SM: The Aesthetic and Beauty Industry Council was privileged to be able to provide $100 Coles Grocery Vouchers for aesthetic and beauty professionals in need throughout lockdown. For many, this small gesture not only allowed them to have some financial breathing space when purchasing essentials, but it provided our people with a feeling of support and understanding, a shoulder to lean on during difficult times, and a sense that they were not alone.
Throughout the lockdown, we have had hundreds of professionals from our community reach out in great financial and emotional hardship. The lack of clarity and direction that is being experienced is tremendous, and we felt compelled to help. Many professionals reached out and let us know the sense of encouragement that this gave them to keep going when they felt at their lowest point.
How much was donated and how was it distributed?
SM: In total $55,000 was donated by extremely generous individuals and businesses. There was a groundswell of support from every corner of the industry, not to mention our very generous Foundation Members. We then took online applications from individuals needing support and distributed the $100 vouchers electronically. This is the reason we were able to get vouchers out to people in such a timely manner.
Stefanie Milla
What’s in store for ABIC in the future?
SM: We have so many exciting things in store for the future. From increasing our presence and influence in government to expanding our support and betterment efforts for the entire aesthetic profession, and strategically steering the industry towards great advancement.
In the three months since our launch we have made incredibly significant strides. We are being recognised as a strong and formidable voice to government, and we have been able to start educating them regarding the expertise in our field. We have set up an extensive platform for professional and business support via our various memberships, some of which include industry specific HR, IR, hundreds of tailored resources, training, education, and businesses advice.
We will be releasing our 2022 Initiatives towards the end of the year. We encourage every professional and business to have their say regarding what they would like ABIC to focus on.
You can do this by filling out this important industry survey at https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/ABICSURVEY2021. Your voice matters and you can be sure that ABIC will listen!
