TAFE NSW make-up teacher behind big names in TV

7 July 2008

Robbie Austin, make-up artist and teacher at TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute, North Sydney College

What's it like to work with some of Australia's most famous faces?

According to part-time teacher and make-up artist Robbie Austin from TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute, life couldn't be more colourful.

For the last 30 years, the successful freelance make-up artist has been painting and preparing some of Australia's most well-known personalities, working on television shows such as Perfect Match, Young Talent Time and the Paul Hogan series; and films such as The Man Who Sued God.

More recently, Robbie has been busy transforming the looks of some of Australia's top competitors on Channel Seven's successful Gladiators series.

"I've been working with the Gladiators and producers to get the right look," said Robbie.

"We had to create something that would stand up to the incredible wear and tear involved with the show.

"It was a lot of fun, and all the Gladiators were lovely. It was a very exciting experience."

When away from the bright lights of the production set, Robbie spends her time behind the scenes at TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute's North Sydney College teaching TAFE students the tricks of the trade.

Robbie says TAFE covers the basics every make-up professional needs to know.

"I teach an introduction to products and how to apply them; it's all about understanding colour, texture, and how to blend," said Robbie.

"It's also about understanding the effect lighting has on make-up and learning to deal with people in the chair."

Like so many of her students, Robbie spent her early years in the industry hoping for a career in theatre. Her persistence paid off and she now works doing what she loves most – and passing her skills on to the next generation of top-notch make-up artists at TAFE.

Robbie's advice to anyone who wants to make their mark in the industry is to keep up with the changing face of make-up.

"You have to refine your skills to keep up with today's sophisticated audience. Make-up has changed a lot over the years, lighting has changed, television has changed, and the colours you can get away with have changed. Audiences are now looking for believability rather than theatrical and we're working to the camera, not the eye."