November 5, 2004 – Body care establishments (spas, relaxation and beauty centers in hotels, etc.), together with a paragovernmental organization, have decided to take charge in order to counter the labor shortage. skilled work that is rampant in their industry.
Two factors explain this shortage. First, the number of these establishments has literally exploded in Quebec, going from 2 to 257 over the past 20 years. Second, there is a lack of recognized training for people working in this field.
This is why various stakeholders, including the Association Spas Relais santé, the Association québécoise des esthéticiennes and the Fédération québécoise des massothérapeutes encourage their members to create a common training budget through Axelia.1, a mutual fund which will be used to finance various approved training activities.
It is a parastatal body – the Sectoral Committee for the Workforce of Body Care Services – which is responsible for developing continuing training sessions. He has thus developed 11 basic courses intended for managers of personal care establishments, qualified estheticians as well as massage therapists.
Axelia aims to be a training organization and management service. It offers its members a particular service aimed first at identifying their specific needs, then at providing training and finally evaluating its impact. Funding for its activities comes in part from members, as well as from the National Manpower Training Fund.
According to Andrée Mayer-Périard, CEO of Axelia, this initiative does not aim so much at standardizing the services offered by the various body care establishments, as “leveling up the minimum knowledge to practice”. Among other things, certain contraindications must be known to all in order to offer the most appropriate care. An example? “Certain types of body wraps or even certain massages are not appropriate for pregnant women,” explains Ms. Mayer-Périard. Protocols must be known. “
According to her, improving the knowledge of the staff of these establishments – especially frequented by women – should enable clients to obtain quality basic service.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. To access the Axelia site: www.AXELIA.ca
