Lorene Whitburn - New Zealand Diploma in Beauty Therapy Level 5

Did you always want to be in the beauty industry?

I've always had a fascination for skin health and making people feel confident with how they look. I suffer with eczema and found certain treatments and protocols to be effective, so I wanted to educate myself on skin conditions in order to help people reach their skin health goals, and being able to be part of that journey really resonates with my value system.

Why did you choose a course at Elite?

I chose to study with Elite due to their good reputation and thorough training.

How has your course at Elite helped you?

All the tutors have gone above and beyond in their support. I wouldn't have the expertise and confidence in my work without them.

You are one of the first students to successfully gain a Beauty Therapy role with CACI Clinic (Manukau) – how does that feel?

It's so exciting! I'm looking forward to making a positive impact on our clients in this part of the city. I know how much skin conditions can affect your confidence, so to be part of a company with a fantastic reputation means the world to me. People can trust Caci clinic, therefore they can trust me, which allows me to do the best job to get them the results they want.

Where are you working now? And what is your role?

I work at Caci Manukau and I’m a Skin therapist

What does your work involve?

A client usually goes on a skin health plan which includes regular treatments of microdermabrasion, peels, LED light therapy, sonophoresis, and specialized treatment facials. I will also be learning laser hair removal soon at Caci.

What is the most exciting aspect of your job?

When my clients tell me how wonderful their skin feels post treatment - it's so encouraging, and of course when we see results in their skin after just a few treatments. It's awesome to know that you're able to make a difference in some way.

What were the highlights of your course?

Meeting our helpful tutors and working in the Wairua Spa as it has given me confidence to get straight into industry.

What is one of the lessons you’ve learnt through your experience to date?

That the beauty industry is ever changing and always moving forward. There's always new knowledge to gain, so it's important to not be complacent, but to keep educating myself and reading up on everything related to skin and treatments. This will ensure that I'm giving my clients the best up to date treatments and advice that I can.