Personal Appearance Services

Whether accidental or not, personal appearance services that involve skin penetration can spread blood-borne diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C and are therefore considered 'higher risk' activities. These diseases are spread by blood-to-blood contact due to contaminated instruments from an infected person being used on another person without adequate precautions.

The correct construction, maintenance and operation of a higher risk personal appearance service ensures the risk of infection is minimised by the client and the operator. Licensing is an important part of providing safe higher risk personal appearance services.

Council is responsible for licensing higher risk personal appearance services in accordance with the Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003, the Infection Control Guidelines and Queensland Development Code Part 5.2 - Higher Risk Personal Appearances Services.

The main purpose of the Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003 is to minimise the risk of infection that may result from the provision of personal appearance services. The Act requires a person who personally provides a higher risk personal appearance service to hold an infection control qualification.

The Infection Control Guidelines are provided for personal appearance services to help minimise the risk of infections. The guidelines provide information on how to protect operators and clients and are based on current infection control practice.

The Queensland Development Code Part 5.2 - Higher Risk Personal Appearances Services purpose is to minimise the risk of infection in a place of business where higher risk personal appearance services are provided.

The Act requires Council to monitor the standard of operations in personal appearance services premises. This monitoring is achieved by providing for the licensing of higher risk personal appearance services.

Who needs a Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services Licence?

A higher risk personal appearance service involves any of the following skin penetration procedures, in which the release of blood or other body fluids is an expected result.

Applying for a Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services Licence

If you are wish to operate a higher risk personal appearance service in the Rockhampton Local Government area, you are required to obtain a licence from Council by completing an application.

Buying or taking over an existing licensed business

If you are taking over a business from an existing operator, you will need to determine whether the business holds a current licence and the current status of the premises.

Renovating or making changes to an existing licensed business

Contact Council's before renovating or refurbishing an existing premises, to determine if an application is required before construction commences.

Infection Control Qualifications

The Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003 requires a person who provides a higher risk personal appearance service to hold an infection control qualification.

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