Hair, Beauty and Barbering Testimonials

Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416)

After moving from Mexico to Australia at just 20, Ally De La Rosa built a successful career in the film industry before making the bold decision to start over at 43. Driven by a desire to expand her skills and confidence, she enrolled in hairdressing at Kangan Institute—what began as upskilling quickly turned into a true passion.

Immersed in a hands-on, industry-like learning environment, Ally embraced every aspect of the journey, from mastering new techniques to starting again as an apprentice in a salon. Alongside her studies, she balanced early morning shifts as a hairstylist at ABC News and life as a mother of two teenagers, showing remarkable dedication and resilience.

Her hard work and commitment earned her the 2026 Kangan Institute Student of the Year award, along with recognition as Outstanding Student in Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416).

For Ally, hairdressing is more than a career—it’s a way to give back. She is now working on launching a mobile salon to provide free haircuts and services to communities in need, proving that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and make a meaningful impact.

Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416)

Starting at Joey Scandizzo salon, the institute of choice was Kangan Institute. My initial thoughts of studying at Kangan Institute, were just the friendly vibe and you get to interact with clients and everything that you have there is what you would see in the real world.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be given a lot of opportunities behind the scenes of many photos shoots and events. Melbourne Cup, Portsea Polo, fundraisers such as, Style for Life and Formula One Racing.

All my educators certainly helped me with the fundamentals of hairdressing. I’m a practical learner and I always go the extra mile, whether it be staying back or taking time out of my own time to further my education. Kangan Institute has a really good reputation in the industry. It offers a good balance between theory and practical.

Find out more of Melissa's story and why she won the Kangan Institute's Apprentice of the Year 2020 Award.