Personal Appearance Services

Personal Appearance Services (PAS) involving skin penetration can potentially spread viral infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV if there is a lack of sterilisation of instruments or poor aseptic technique.

Any business providing higher risk personal appearance services such as:

  • Tattooing/tattoo removal;
  • Implanting synthetic substances into a person’s skin;
  • Scarring or cutting a person’s skin using a sharp instrument to make a permanent mark pattern or design;

must comply with the Queensland Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearances Services) Act 2003 (The Act) and must also follow the Infection Control Guidelines. A copy of these guidelines must be available on the premises.

All higher-risk PAS must apply to Council for approval and licensing. For more information on the application process see below.

  • Step one

    1. Check with our Town Planning Services to determine if a higher risk personal appearance business is a permitted use in the area. 
       

    Step two

    1. Fill out a Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services Application Form, ensure appropriate plans are attached. Submit to Council either via a Customer Service Centre or email to info@whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au
       

    Step three

    1. Check with the relevant department if approval is required.  
    2. Plumbing Services 
    3. Trade Waste Department 
    4. Building Department 
       

    Step four

    1. An Environmental Health Officer will assess your application against the Development Code for Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services and contact you if any further information is required. 
    2. Once assessed, you will receive a plan approval letter that details the conditions of approval for your proposed personal appearance service premises.
    3. Once approved you can start your construction/refit. Starting fit out prior to obtaining plan approval can often lead to frustration when plans must be changed to meet the requirements of the code.
       

    Step five

    1. An Environmental Health Officer will conduct a final inspection of the premises. If our Officer is satisfied with the premises, they will issue your higher risk personal appearance services licence. 
       

    Step six 

    1. Congratulations – you can commence trading in your new business. Our Environmental Health Officer’s will conduct regular unannounced inspections of your business to check compliance with the Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003. 
       

    Forms and Factsheets

    If you wish to speak to an Environmental Health Officer about starting a higher risk PAS business, you can contact a member of the team on 1300 972 753.

    Non-higher risk personal appearance services include beauty therapies and hairdressing. Poor hygiene and cleaning of tools used for procedures such as manicures, pedicures and waxing can spread bacteria and fungus that cause skin and nail infections. Business operators have an obligation to maintain high levels of hygiene to minimise the spread of infection.

    See the following link:

    How to sterilize instruments and jewellery and comply with the Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services 2012

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