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Health and beauty registration

If you want to open a new health or beauty business you will need to be registered under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act.

Hairdressing

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Advise that your food or health business has closed

When you close your food or health business we need to have confirmation in writing from all registered proprietors.  

Apply for a Food or Health Refund

You can apply for a refund for a food, health, or septic, also known as an On-site Wastewater Management System (OWMS), application or registration.

Pay a food, health registration or septic (OWMS) application

There are several options available for you to pay your food, health registration or septic (OWMS) application

Register a Food or Health Premise

When you are starting your own food or health business or hair, beauty, skin penetration business a 'Register a Premises' application form should be submitted to our Environmental Health Unit.

Request a copy of a Food or Health Registration Certificate

We can provide you with a copy of your Food or Health Registration Certificate.

Update Food and Health Business Contact Details

As a Food or Health business in Geelong, sometimes your email address or contact details may change.

A beauty business includes activities such as hairdressing, beauty therapy (that is: waxing, threading, manicuring, laser, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), spray tanning, eyelash extensions etc), body piercing, colonic irrigation or tattooing.

Massage businesses are not required to be registered unless skin penetration is included in the activities. 

A health or beauty business can be separated into high and low risk activities.

Low risk activities include hairdressing, temporary make-up application, eyelash/eyebrow extensions or tinting and spray tanning.

High risk activities include beauty therapy such as waxing, threading, manicuring, laser, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), body piercing, colonic irrigation or tattooing.

Health business includes certain types of accommodation.  

Registration under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act and compliance with the relevant guidelines is arranged through our Environmental Health Unit.

 

What you need to do

For health and beauty businesses you should make yourself familiar with our start a new health and wellbeing business page.

For accommodation businesses you should be aware of the requirements under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act. There are additional minimum standards which must be met for rooming houses.

Our Planning Department will need to be contacted prior to any works occurring at your Business.

Building fit outs may require a building permit. The simple installation of cabinets, floor or wall linings or combinations may need a permit. It is best to contact our Building Department for determination and to complete a permit application, if necessary.

When you are ready you should submit the application to register form with a copy of the plans.

 

What we will do

When the form is received an Environmental Health Officer will assess your application.

We may contact you if any matter needs to be clarified and we may arrange an inspection.

We can liaise with you during any construction stage.

The Environmental Health Officer will complete an inspection prior to your business opening. Your premise can only open once you have completed met all the requirements and received the approval of the Health Officer.

 

Things you should know...

If you wish to sell liquor at your premises, you are required to apply for and obtain a Liquor Licence. To apply for Liquor Licencing you need to contact Liquor Control Victoria on 1300 182 457.

You will also need to talk with our Planning Department regarding the proposal to sell liquor. Also, as liquor is classified as food, you will need to discuss this with your Environmental Health Officer for compliance under the Food Act 1984.


 

Other health registrations

If you wish to register a tattooing business you will need to discuss this with our Health Services Unit.

We also register some accommodation businesses under the same Act.

Common Questions

If you are a registered beauty business and looking to rent out some space, either an area or a chair in your shop, the person renting the space would require registration under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act.

If you are registered at your home, you are able to do this as long as there are no more than two people working there that don’t live in the house. The hairdresser/beauty therapist would require registration with us under the Act.

If you are making any structural changes you should also contact our Building Department.

The Health guidelines for personal care and body art industries are produced and maintained by the Department of Health.

They include:

  • Beauty Therapy Procedures
  • Hairdressing
  • Colonic Irrigation
  • Body Art, Tattooing and Piercing

You can obtain a copy or download parts of it on the Department of Health website.

When you lodge a new Food or Public Health and Wellbeing Act application, we will be in contact with you by email or phone within 10 working days of receiving your application.

An application for a food or health registration can take between 4 and 6 weeks, before approval to trade is given.

This does not include any building or planning permit requirements, which is a separate application process with the relevant departments. Our business concierge may be able to assist you.

Missing or incorrect information and not being able to contact the applicant are common problems the assessing officer may have and this delays the approval of your business.

You can safely identify and treat head lice (nits) by following simple steps on the Department of Health website.

Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations there are no restrictions preventing a person with head lice or eggs from using or attending a salon.

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