Before Blue + AHC

We’re excited to announce that Before Blue has officially launched at the Australian Hairdressing Council! This new mental health coaching program, developed by Beyond Blue, is now available for active and financial Salon Select and Barber Select members to access for their staff, and is included in membership.

WHAT IS BEFORE BLUE?

Before Blue is a free, confidential coaching service designed to support your staff through everyday challenges such as stress and burnout, work, relationships, or health concerns. If they are feeling overwhelmed, this program is here to help.

The program provides:

• Expert Guidance: Before Blue Coaches are trained in Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT), a proven method to help participants manage negative thoughts and build better habits.
• Personalised, Confidential Support: Participants will receive up to six tailored coaching sessions, with two follow-up sessions to keep them on track. An allocated coach will equip participants with practical tools to manage day-to-day challenges.

The program is suitable for a range of situations, including:

• Work stress or uncertainty
• Financial worries
• Family or relationship concerns
• Feelings of isolation or loneliness
• Burnout

   

WHY IS THE AHC OFFERING THIS SERVICE?

The AHC knows that our industry is built on people. Salon teams are the heart of every successful business, and supporting the wellbeing of the people who create, connect and care every day is more important than ever.

Through our partnership with Before Blue, the AHC is proud to provide Salon Select and Barber Select members with access to confidential, evidence-based mental health support for their employees at no additional cost.

We know salon owners are passionate about creating positive workplaces, but it’s not always easy to know where to turn when team members are experiencing stress or challenges. Before Blue provides employees with practical tools and professional support to help build resilience, manage challenges and strengthen their wellbeing.

This initiative is another way the AHC is supporting salon owners to build healthier, stronger and more sustainable workplaces.

WHO IS IT FOR?

The Before Blue program is available to the staff of active and financial AHC Salon Select and Barber Select salon owner members. 

If you are the business owner and looking for mental health support, Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business is a free, confidential mental health coaching program, designed to help small business owners and sole traders manage stress, worry and overwhelm. Find out more here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess-mental-health-coaching/small-business-owners

KEY BENEFITS

💙 Trusted Expertise
Before Blue is delivered in partnership with Beyond Blue, drawing on more than 20 years of mental health experience and over a decade delivering evidence-based Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT) programs across Australia.

💙 Personalised & Confidential Support
Employees receive personalised coaching with the same dedicated coach across up to 8 sessions, supported by practical resources including videos, podcasts and tools to build mental health skills. The program is completely confidential, with no personal information shared with employers.

💙 Proven to Make a Difference
Before Blue combines professional coaching with evidence-based strategies to help employees build resilience, develop practical coping skills and improve wellbeing. More than 7 in 10 participants report improved mental health, with many also experiencing increased workplace engagement, productivity and job satisfaction.

HOW IT WORKS

Before Blue provides employees with access to structured, personalised mental health coaching designed to support meaningful progress over time.

1. Understand if Before Blue is Right for You
   Before registering, employees can learn more about the program and what to expect. Before Blue is designed for people who are ready to actively participate in a coaching program and work towards building practical skills to support their wellbeing.
2. Register Confidentially
   Eligible employees can access Before Blue through a secure online platform and complete a confidential registration process.
3. Work with a Dedicated Coach
   Employees are matched with a coach and participate in personalised coaching sessions focused on their individual goals, challenges and progress.
4. Build Lasting Skills
   Through coaching and practical resources, employees develop strategies they can continue using to support their wellbeing at work and at home.

Appointments are available Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, and are held via video call on a secure Beyond Blue digital platform. 

For more detailed information about the program, eligibility, confidentiality and FAQs, visit the Before Blue support page here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/before-blue/faqs

HOW TO ACCESS

Before Blue is an exclusive benefit available to active and financial AHC Salon Select and Barber Select members for their employees.

To access the program, Salon Select and Barber Select member business owners can contact the AHC team on (02) 4929 6098 to request their unique access code.

The access code can then be shared with the eligible team member, who can provide the code directly to the Before Blue team to begin the registration process and access their confidential coaching support.

Once the access code has been provided, the employee’s registration and ongoing support will be managed directly by the Before Blue team.

Participants will need to create an account on the Before Blue website HERE.

Once the account is created, the participant will register using the unique code provided by the AHC Member Support Team. 

Please note: This access code is provided exclusively to active AHC Salon Select and Barber Select member businesses and may only be used by eligible employees of those businesses.