Who We Are

Our Code of Ethics

Be friendly and give courteous service to all, retaining your dignity under all circumstances. Do not show favouritism but treat all clients honestly and fairly. Respect their feelings and rights. Be tactful. Let others know you are dependable by keeping your word and fulfilling your obligations.

Set an example in your conduct. Listen when others speak for they too have their viewpoints. Cherish your reputation. Learn to talk intelligently about your work. Show pride in your skills. Keep faith with your profession. Develop empathy.

Do not indulge in questionable practices. Extravagant claims and false promises diminish you as a person and cast an unfavourable light upon your profession and your teachers as well as the entire beauty industry.

Show appreciation for the efforts of others and be tolerant of their shortcomings.  Be willing to learn all you can about your profession and develop your physical, mental, and spiritual qualities to the fullest.

Strive to become the best.

© 1985 - 2008 Aesthetics House Limited. No unauthorised use permitted.

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Our Mihi

Thanks to Miles Kau Kau, our kaumatua, for sharing this mihi with us.

Tënä Koutou Katoa.

Welcome everyone.

Ko te mihi tuatahi, ki te Atua. Näna nei nga mea katoa.

The first greeting is to God, the creator of all things.

Ko te mihi tuarua ki a Ranginui raua ko Paptuanuku. Tëna körua.

Greetings to our sky father and earth mother.

Ko te mihi tuatoru ki te whare e tü nei. Tënä koe.

Greetings to the buildings.

Ko ti mihi ki nga mate katoa. Haere, haere, haere.

To those who have passed on: "Rest in Peace;" return to our ancestors.

Ki a tatou katoa e tau nei.

To those of us assembled here, welcome.

Tënä koutou, tënä koutou, tënä tätou katoa.

© 2006-2009 Miles Kau Kau. Reprinted with his kind permission here. No unauthorised use permitted.

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Our History

From humble beginnings in the suburbs of Christchurch (New Zealand) on 3 July 1985, the National School of Aesthetics outgrew the original premises in just six months. A move to the centre of the city was required very early into our history. The school also was registered with ITEC in 1985 and fully-registered in 1986.

In 1988, the school spread into adjoining suites and was utilising 1,800 square feet of floor space. This proved to be too cramped, and, later in the same year we took an area comprising two floors, a total area of 5,500 square feet. By the end of 1993, the school occupied three floors. At over 12,000 square feet, the school was the largest in New Zealand. In 1990, we were privileged to have the first ITEC Honours graduate in the country and to be the first NZQA-Registered Beauty Therapy school in New Zealand.

At the end of 1994, the school consolidated its operations, and the move was made to Sun Alliance Building, on Hereford Street. We occupied prime space on the top and penthouse floors. It was in Sun Alliance Building that the school first gained ITEC JAMES-Accreditation, placing the school within the top 5% of ITEC schools world-wide.

In 1997, the move was made to Amuri Park to try and get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Christchurch. We currently occupy the part of the ground floor and all of the first floor of Unit 7 after spending two years in the ground floor of Unit 6. The grounds are lush, quiet and private.

Although originally a partnership, the National School of Aesthetics is now a registered company, Aesthetics House Limited. The two original founders remain on the Board of Directors for Aesthetics House and still play active, day-to-day roles in the school routine.

The services offered to our students are of high standard and are borne from a desire of the Directors to provide an environment in which they themselves would be happy to participate in as a student. This notion is coupled with a desire to charge realistic fees for our training, and from our inception to the present day, our training has remained the least expensive of any of the schools in New Zealand offering recognised training to an International standard.

In 2002, the National School of Aesthetics received AS/NZS ISO 9001:2000 Accreditation, which means the standard of the Quality Management Systems meet the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 standard. The accreditation was given after minimal corrections and granted for a period of three years: relatively unheard of in ISO 9001:2000 accreditation!

In 2004, the strong QMS also rotated our school to a three-year audit cycle with NZQA, the highest audit cycle (as of December 2003, under 10% of all private providers were on a three-year audit cycle; our auditor believed about 3% of PTEs in September 2004 were on a three-year audit cycle).

Our 2008 TEC Baseline Monitoring Report (BMR) showed our results against standard key performance indicators (KPIs) were 2 to 3 times higher than the average.

All these monitoring bodies felt that our institution had "a strong learner focus" and a strong eye for quality: something we've strived to keep since that fateful day we opened in 1985.

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Our Premises

Our main working areas are divided into separate classrooms with wonderful views of the park and surrounding areas. The fact that our school has "one-way" curtains helps protect privacy, while the many windows in the school access the sunshine. The school is within the four avenues of Christchurch, which is close enough to the city centre but far enough away to avoid noise and lack of parking.

The rooms are open, airy, sunny and warm, and the décor is warm and restful in double creams, greys, blues, oranges, pinks, and mustards. Anatomical charts, videos, and the highest rate of equipment per student are all provided. The school provides a sustainable atmosphere for learning, while the standard and amount of equipment is second to none. The school is continuously upgrading the premises to ensure the best possible environment for its staff and students. For photos of our campus, click here for our School Photographs page.

Both national and international visitors have commented on the modern premises and rate ours amongst not only the best in the country but also the best in the world. Students are provided with background music, modern decor, and plenty of opportunities that they might not receive at other schools.

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What Makes Us Different

What makes the National School of Aesthetics unique and different from all the others?

• Since 1985, we have been teaching quality beauty therapy, nail technology and spa therapy courses to an internationally-recognised level. We're as old as our youngest students.
• In our 24 years of operation thus far, we've trained thousands of beauty therapists, nail technicians and spa therapists. We remain the longest established and most successful beauty therapy, nail technology and spa therapy provider in the South Island and amongst the oldest and most successful in New Zealand.
• We are owned and operated by all our original owners. Noel Turner and Don Kendall are highly qualified in beauty therapy, nail technology and post-graduate areas; they're here at the school and not sitting behind a desk in some other building or city. Our staff also have over 100 years combined experience!
• We can offer quality internationally-recognised qualifications proven as industry-recognised. ITEC, CIBTAC and CIDESCO are the major international, industry-recognised qualifications in New Zealand.
• Our quality at the National School of Aesthetics. We've had good audit reports from the NZQA (three year audit cycle: the top one), TEC and Bureau Vertias. Our pass rates continue to be higher than the international average.
• All our entry-level qualifications and most of our professional development qualifications are NZQA-approved. They meet stringent NZQA, ITEC, CIBTAC and CIDESCO requirements.
• Our qualifications teach you the skills and techniques you need. These qualifications are not product-based; the main goal is to enable you to become a professional and empower you with the knowledge to make an informed choice about the products you use, not tell you what product to use.
• We have only ten students per practical class maximum. That's all! Five students work on the other five students in practical sessions in most qualifications. Nail technology students have 8 students per class. This is amongst the smallest class sizes in New Zealand.
• We are selective in enrolment. Our interview process ensures our directors choose those who show the highest promise.
• We enrol students from around New Zealand. Students move from places as far a field from Christchurch as Gisborne, Wellington, Invercargill, Nelson, Dunedin and even Auckland to study with us!
• We provide the products in your training. Your school fees pay for the products used in the course you are enrolled in. You don't need any product kits while you're at the school training!
• We have qualified some of the therapists working on nearly every continent and in nearly every body of water around the world. We even have a world-renowned cruise ship company holding interviews at the school on an annual basis!
• We specialise in professional development training. The National School of Aesthetics is growing its qualifications to include professional development training, and remains in the minority of beauty therapy providers who can offer you professional development opportunities with further education through several different avenues.
• We heavily subsidise our qualifications with the funding the government provides. The majority of government subsidy funding we receive for every eligible student goes directly into the training, subsidising the qualification cost. Whilst the government envisaged this exact reason for this money to be paid, we are one of only a handful of PTEs offering beauty therapy applying the subsidy to the courses directly. This means you pay on average between $3,000NZ and $6,000NZ less for our Beauty Therapy qualification than its equivalent at another PTE.
• We use professional products in our training. We buy quality products the professionals use for students to use once they are properly instructed in the product.
• We have amongst the highest student-to-equipment ratios in the country. We purchase our equipment new from reputable dealers and suppliers, and only purchase brand name equipment.
• We tend to be a school of firsts. We have been the first to do a lot of things, including the first beauty therapy school in New Zealand to have an email account (1993), the first to have a Web page (1996), the first to move into a high rise office building, the first to move into an exclusive office park (1997), the first to use the government subsidies to reduce qualification costs (2000), the first to be AS/NZS ISO 9001:2000 accredited (2002), the first to have a two-year NZQA Audit cycle (2002), the first private beauty therapy school to offer its students email accounts (2004), the first to have a three-year NZQA Audit cycle (2004) and the first to offer a zero course fees Certificate in Nail Technology (2005)***, reduced fees for the Certificate in Nail Technology (2006) and the first South Island provider to offer NZQA-Approved spa therapy courses (2006), and the first provider in New Zealand to offer a pure spa therapies diploma-level course (2008). *** The Zero Course Fees agreement for the Certificate in Nail Technology has now expired. We also are the first private beauty therapy school to offer students a secure, on-line forum to discuss qualification-related issues (2005). We are the first NZQA-Registered provider to offer an NZQA-Approved Diploma-level Spa Therapies course (2008). We continue to push the fold, and others follow where we lead.
• Your future is in your hands. We have given you several reasons as to why we believe you should choose the National School of Aesthetics, but ultimately you are the one who decides. We have offered thousands of students training, and the large majority of them have used us as a launching point to follow and pursue their dreams. Become a leader in this exciting industry through us!

Further facts and figures on why we are the obvious choice can be found by following the link.

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Our Registrations and Accreditations

The National School of Aesthetics is:

• Registered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority under the provisions of the Education Act 1989 and subsequent amendments as a private training establishment and has been since the QA's inception in 1990;
• Accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority under the provisions of the Education Act 1989 and subsequent amendments to provide education and training based on the unit standards in the beauty therapy and cosmetology domains of the National Qualifications Framework;
• Registered and accredited by the International Therapy Examination Council to train students in various therapy qualifications created and maintained by ITEC;
• Registered and accredited by the Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology to train students in various therapy qualifications created and maintained by CIBTAC;
• Registered and accredited by the Comite International D'Esthetique et de Cosmetologie to train students in beauty therapy qualifications created and maintained by CIDESCO.

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International Registrations & Our School

Our school remains the only tertiary provider in the South Island that can offer students all three industry-recognised, major international qualifications. These major qualifications, according to the Association of Beauty Therapy New Zealand's Web site, are ITEC, CIBTAC and CIDESCO.

The National School of Aesthetics has been registered with ITEC since 1985, CIBTAC since 1990, and CIDESCO since 2003. In 1997, ITEC awarded our institution with JAMES-Accreditation, making it the eighth ITEC school in the world (out of the then-500-odd ITEC schools world-wide) to gain this prestigious award. JAMES-Accreditation, for those who are unaware of this system, was awarded to the top 5% of ITEC schools world-wide. We remain one of the top ITEC schools in Australasia for excellent results and professional candidates.

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Our Team

Our team at the National School of Aesthetics is split into two divisions: the Education and Training Team (ETT) and Operations, Management and Administration (OMA).

Dr. Noel Turner: Chief Executive Officer (OMA) & Owner

Qualifications:

• PhD (English) Massey University/University of Canterbury
• ITEC Aestheticienne Diploma (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in Physiatrics (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in Aromatherapy (Credit)
• ITEC Honours Diploma (Credit)
• Various qualifications in reflexology, iridiology, hot stone therapy, etc.

Noel Turner opened the school in 1985 with Don Kendall and completed his training in the beauty therapy field through instruction by an independent tutor, gaining international qualifications in beauty therapy at that time. He has been active in the beauty therapy industry for two decades.

Noel is one of the people responsible for the day-to-day management and operations of the school, as well as internal financial control. He now has a reputation that has seen him asked to lecture in congresses in Las Vegas (USA), Hong Kong (China), Singapore, Australia (Sydney, Melbourne), New Zealand and Europe, to work as a visiting lecturer in a Los Angeles beauty therapy school, to supervise spa staff aboard cruise ships and land-based spas, to provide guidance for potential cruise ship beauty therapists, and to examine for an international examination body. He once served as a board member of the Beauty Practitioners National Training Council (BPNTC), the organisation responsible for advising and developing the unit standards for the National Qualifications Framework. He also currently serves as an International Educator for Janssen Cosmeceutical Care.

His current office hours are:

• Monday: 9 AM to 2:30 PM
• Tuesday: 9 AM to 2:30 PM
• Wednesday: 9 AM to 3:30 PM
• Thursday: 9 AM to 3:30 PM

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Don Kendall: Director of Education (ETT) and Owner

Qualifications:

• CIDESCO Diploma in Beauty Therapy
• ITEC Diploma in Manicure & Pedicure (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in the Application of False Nails (Credit)
• Various beauty therapy, nail technology and post-graduate qualifications

Don Kendall has been involved in the beauty therapy and nail technology training fields for two-and-a-half decades and has seen a lot of changes in the field. He was also one of the first nail technicians in New Zealand, with over 25 years experience.

Currently, Don serves as an owner of Aesthetics House Limited (the body corporate in charge of the National School and Absolute Aesthetics) and Aesthetics Importing and the Director of Education and Training. Don remains to be an asset to the school and the industry.

His current office hours vary from week to week. Please contact him directly for more information.

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Scott Fack: Director of Operations (OMA)

Qualifications:

• BA (English), Massey University
• NaSA Diploma in Reflexology
• Certificate in Web Design, TOPNZ

Scott Fack joined the National School of Aesthetics team in 1996 in an educational advisory role until 1998, when he became the Manager of Operations. In 1999, Scott was promoted to the Director of Operations, and he currently serves on the board of directors with the two owners of the school. He also is responsible for the design and updating of this Web site (and other Aesthetics Group Web sites) and remains the chief ITEC reflexology tutor at the school. He has been active as a supporting member of the beauty therapy industry for a decade.

Scott has extensive experience in dealing with corporate America and training in education. Like Noel, Scott is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school, including liaison with ITEC, CIBTAC, CIDESCO, NZQA, WINZ and the Ministry of Education. He was chiefly responsible for gaining the school AS/NZS ISO 9001:2000 Accreditation in 2002.

His current office hours are:

• Monday: 9 AM to 2:30 PM
• Tuesday: 9 AM to 2:30 PM
• Wednesday: 9 AM to 3:30 PM
• Friday: 9 AM to 5 PM

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Jacqui Anderson, Student Liaison and Operations Administrator (OMA)

Jacqui Anderson joined the National School of Aesthetics team in 2006 as the Student Liaison and Operations Administrator, a role created to compliment and augment the two directors working in the OMA team. She deals with prospective student enquiries as well as other student and administrative matters.

Jacqui previously worked as a ESOL teacher and holds a Bachelor of the Arts (English) Degree as well as a teaching degree.

Her current office hours are:

• Monday: 9 AM to 3:30 PM
• Tuesday: 9 AM to 3:30 PM
• Wednesday: 9 AM to 3:30 PM
• Thursday: 9 AM to 3:30 PM
• Friday: 9 AM to 2:30 PM

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Atep "Soni" Cahyadi: Resource Specialist (OMA)

With a smile on his face and a joke or two, Atep "Soni" Cahyadi makes sure the running and cleanliness of the school are well-maintained. Soni helps keep resources such as tea, coffee, soap, et cetera stocked, and helps keep the campus clean.

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Catherine Wouters: Principal (ETT)

Qualifications:

• NaSA Diploma in Beauty Therapy and Applied Aesthetics
• NaSA Aestheticienne Diploma
• NaSA Diploma in Physiatrics
• NaSA Diploma in Electrology
• NaSA Student of the Year
• ITEC Aestheticienne Diploma (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in Physiatrics (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in Electrology (Credit)
• CIDESCO Diploma in Beauty Therapy (Post-Graduate)
• National Certificate in Adult Education and Training (Level 5)

Catherine Wouters joined the National School of Aesthetics team as a beauty therapy tutor and resident glamour section in 2004 after being employed at Nicola Quinn Beauty & Day Spa. Catherine also graduated from the National School of Aesthetics, where she was named Student of the Year for her outstanding performance in the classroom. She has completed her National Certificate in Adult Education and Training (Level 5). In January 2006, she was promoted to Senior Tutor when the position became available, and, in July 2008, was promoted to Principal.

In her role as Principal, Catherine heads the educational delivery team, planning schedules, assessments, and so on.

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Suzanne Brosnahan: Beauty Therapy Tutor (ETT)

Qualifications:

• NaSA Diploma in Beauty Therapy and Applied Aesthetics
• NaSA Aestheticienne Diploma
• NaSA Diploma in Physiatrics
• NaSA Diploma in Electrology
• ITEC Diploma for Beauty Specialists (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in Facial Electrical Treatments (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in Body Treatments (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in Epilation (Credit)
• CIDESCO Diploma in Beauty Therapy
• National Certificate in Adult Education and Training (Level 5)

Suzie Brosnahan also joined the National School of Aesthetics in 2004 as a beauty therapy tutor. Completing her training with the school in 2003, she demonstrated a high standard of workmanship and performance during her training. She currently works part time at the school and has completed her National Certificate in Adult Education and Training.

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Becky Bulman: Beauty Therapy Tutor (ETT)

Qualifications:

• NaSA Diploma in Beauty Therapy and Applied Aesthetics
• NaSA Aestheticienne Diploma
• NaSA Diploma in Physiatrics
• NaSA Diploma in Electrology
• ITEC Aestheticienne Diploma (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in Physiatrics (Credit)
• ITEC Diploma in Electrology (Credit)
• Advanced Skin Analysis Certificate
• IDI Reflexology Certificate

Becky Bulman joined the NaSA team in 2009, but trained with us in 2001. After graduating, she undertook full-time beauty therapy work in her home town of Blenheim. Managing a clinic and building up a loyal client base, she worked in the New Zealand industry for 6 years until she left New Zealand to work as a therapist on a super-yacht. After that, Becky moved to London where she continued in the beauty therapy industry, expanding her knowledge in the appearance industry working with hair prostheses. By 2009, she returned to New Zealand to work with us.

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Michelle Crouch: Nail Technology Tutor (ETT)

Michelle Crouch joined the NaSA team in 2009 as our nail technology tutor. After completing her nail technology training in 1991, she began working in the industry, even opening up her own nail technology training school for a while. She still owns and operates one of Christchurch's leading nail technology clinics, MC for Nails, and has won (and continues to win) awards in the nail technology industry for her high standards and high quality treatments.

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Robyn Francis: Beauty Therapy Tutor (ETT)

Qualifications:

• NaSA Diploma in Beauty Therapy and Applied Aesthetics
• NaSA Aestheticienne Diploma
• NaSA Diploma in Physiatrics
• NaSA Diploma in Electrology
• ITEC Beauty Specialist Diploma
• ITEC Diploma in Facial Electrical Treatments
• ITEC Diploma in Body Treatments
• ITEC Diploma in Epilation
• CIDESCO Diploma in Beauty Therapy
• Certificate in Adult Teaching

After working for IRD for several years and gaining her adult teaching qualification, Robyn Francis took up beauty therapy training in 2006, graduating as Student of the Year in the same year. Working part-time in the industry, Robyn joined the team in October 2007 as a part-time beauty therapy tutor.

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Angela Graham: Spa Therapies Tutor (ETT)

Qualifications:

• NaSA Diploma in Beauty Therapy and Applied Aesthetics
• NaSA Aestheticienne Diploma
• NaSA Diploma in Physiatrics
• NaSA Diploma in Electrology
• ITEC Aestheticienne Diploma
• ITEC Diploma in Physiatrics
• ITEC Diploma in Electrology
• Postgraduate qualifications in spa and paramedical beauty therapies

Angela Graham joined the National School of Aesthetics in July 2008 as our spa therapies tutor. Angela graduated from the school in 2000 and moved to Edinburgh, where she worked for many years in the industry as both a beauty and spa therapist and a beauty therapy tutor, even being nominated for UK Body Therapist of the Year award (only 1 of 6 nominees out of thousands of applicants that year). She was also listed in Harpers Bazaar as one of the top 6 Brazilian waxers in the UK in 2007. In 2008, she decided to move back to New Zealand, and, in July, she joined our team as our spa therapies tutor.

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Michelle "Shelley" Stringer: Beauty Therapy Tutor (ETT)

Qualifications:

• NaSA Diploma in Beauty Therapy and Applied Aesthetics
• NaSA Certificate in Aesthetics
• NaSA Diploma in Physiatrics
• NaSA Diploma in Electrology
• ITEC Beauty Specialist Diploma
• ITEC Diploma in Facial Electrical Treatments
• ITEC Diploma in Body Treatments
• ITEC Diploma in Epilation
• CIDESCO Diploma in Beauty Therapy

Michelle Stringer took up beauty therapy training in 2006, graduating as one of our top students that year. After working for a period in the industry, Shelley, as she prefers to be called, joined our team in March 2008.

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Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

The school will be fair in all areas of employment. The school does not discriminate on the basis of colour, creed, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or cultural beliefs. Disability will be considered as long as it does not preclude the employee from performing his/her assigned tasks and does not endanger the health and safety of other employees, students and visitors.

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