Student-of-the-year awards went to Tessica Pearce for the diploma of beauty therapy course and to Rebecca Keating for certificate III in beauty services.

Demand for beauty therapy courses led to a mid-year intake at Bendigo TAFE in 2013, which has proven a winner, as enrolments are also strong for the this year's second-semester intake.

UFS Pharmacies board member Geoff Cook was a guest speaker at the celebration, sharing his experience and insights into the pharmaceutical and beauty industry.

Bendigo TAFE hair and beauty coordinator Julie Curnow said the standard of graduates was testament to the structure of Bendigo TAFE’s program, the instructors and small class sizes.

“Bendigo TAFE’s Lotus Hair and Beauty salon is a state-of-the-art training facility that provides industry with professional work ready students in both hair and beauty," Ms Curnow said.

"Providing high quality training and employability skills is paramount.

“Proof of employability of our students is the number of calls that we receive from beauty employers eager to hire our students. Half of our graduating students have already secured employment and will commence work once they graduate."

Sponsors for the evening included My hair, Dermalogica, Limelily cosmetics and Caron Laboratories.