Madison weaves her way to a future career with hairdressing apprenticeship
By Greg Chapman
At one time, Madison Groves considered book learning as a lawyer, but her decision to turn to hair curling, colouring and more as an apprentice hairdresser has put her a cut above the rest.
The 18-year-old will soon complete her school-based apprenticeship at The Safari Room in Rockhampton, thanks to her passion and the training she’s received at CQUniversity TAFE and her chosen salon.
“I have always had a love of hair. I taught myself to braid at the age of four and from then on, have just always enjoyed it.
“I actually wanted to be a lawyer, and I was deciding between hairdressing and law but went with hairdressing just because I loved it and knew I could make something of it.”
And make something of it she has. At the age of 14, Madison started in the Safari Room cleaning and offering clients tea and after proving her dedication, the salon offered her a school-based apprenticeship the following year.
“Not long after enrolling in my apprenticeship I began at the TAFE and working just one day a week. I progressed to working 30 hours per week whilst going to school where these hours span across some weekdays, late nights and Saturdays. I am about to finish grade 12 and I have just become a third-year apprentice.
“CQU’s training helps and supports me greatly in my job at the Safari Room by providing me the raw foundations needed to excel in the craft. Whilst I receive further in-salon training thanks to my boss Justin, CQU is a corner stone in my knowledge and foundations of hairdressing.”
Madison has developed her skills quickly and even received many opportunities and recognition during her studies.
“I was a finalist in the 2025 ANZ Hair Industry Awards (Business) in the category ‘salon team member of the year’,” she said.
“This nomination consisted of writing about my role in the salon, what I was doing in terms of my apprenticeship at a young age, how I support and care for clients and how I reflect the future of hairdressing through my work.
“This was an Australia-wide competition, and I was lucky enough to place one of 12 finalists in this category. Although I didn’t take home the win, I was just super grateful and thrilled to be there.”
She was also involved in Brisbane Fashion Week in August where she assisted in getting models’ hair ready for the runway.
“From early starts to late finishes it was a full-on week, but so worth it and so amazing. It was another side of the industry that people don’t expect from hairdressing and that is what I loved most about it,” she said.
“I was also lucky enough to go backstage with the hair director one night to do touch ups before the models hit the runway. This experience was like nothing I have ever seen before and the energy was electric.
“People don’t realise how huge of an industry hairdressing is and it is not just working in a salon. The avenues that are available are endless and these other avenues are rarely displayed in the industry.
“I am a big advocate for apprentices getting into hairdressing and staying in the industry. Apprentice completion rates are at an all-time low and as a young apprentice I feel so passionately about making apprenticeships better for apprentices and helping apprentices stay in their craft.
“I have taken to social media platforms to give apprentices advice, to talk about the industry and overall just to advocate for apprentices and help them stick out their apprenticeship. I really believe it is an amazing industry but also a hard one. Whilst I do all these awards and fashion weeks, I really do it just to show apprentices what is possible and at any age too.”
