The Town Barber

Shortly after completing the Certificate III in Barbering SHB30516, Matt McMillan, set up his own barbershop, ‘The Town Barber’, in his hometown in Rochester. Matt shares how his experience at VU has shaped the beginning of his creative career and his social presence in his community.

The VU experience - a cut above the rest

Like a lot of younger men, throughout my early twenties, I struggled to find my purpose in life. I decided to pursue barbering so I can make a difference in my community. Barbering allows me to tap into my creativity, and give back to the community whilst building great relationships and friendships. It brings me a huge amount of personal and professional fulfillment.

“I looked into the few providers that offered this barbering course and decided that Victoria University was best suited for its state-of-the-art facilities, and knowledgeable and encouraging teachers. My teachers inspired me to achieve my goals and I’m very grateful to them.

“VU’s new City Tower Campus is incredible and provides a great environment to learn in. The teachers are passionate about the course and you can’t help but be excited about the opportunities. I have formed friendships with fellow students and they have been a wonderful support to me, and each other. I’ve stayed in touch with them all. I love that the teachers are genuinely interested in my achievements and professional progression.”

Community-focused career

“I purchased my shop in my local community and opened my own business in late August 2022 and I’m so pleased with the support I’ve received from everyone. I plan on building the business and I’ve recently been asked to join the Committee of Management for Rochester Community House to help organise creative workshops for youth in our town and to provide support and guidance to our young people.

“I set my mind to completing the course promptly so that I could open my own business and the ‘Creating My Own Barbershop’ assignment was beneficial for me to visualise the way I would want my shop to look and feel.”

Skills for life

“The most valuable thing I got out of my training experience is the knowledge I have gained, both technical and business-related.

These lifelong skills enabled me to start my own business and be my own boss. I never thought this would be possible, and it feels great. I can’t thank the educators enough throughout my time at VU, especially Michael Daskalakis. His skills and teaching style are very inspiring. Michael is knowledgeable about all the ins and outs of the industry.

Top tips for barbering students

“Don’t be too hard on yourself at the beginning. To be nervous is okay, it means you care about what you’re doing, and as creative people, we hold ourselves to a very high standard. Unfortunately, it may take a little bit of time and a few haircuts to see the results you’re looking for but with enough practice and guidance with certain techniques, it will become a lot easier - so trust the process and stay motivated.”

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Barbershop update

Please note that The Town Barber is closed until further notice as it was badly affected by the October 2022 flooding but Matt is planning on reopening as soon as possible. Support Matt on his career journey by following @thetownbarber.rochester on Instagram and Facebook.