I am not sure if Australia have the same law as here in the USA , but....

Here you can "own" a salon and you do not have to have a license. You can't do any of the styling of course.

Many here take a loan to purchase an established Salon and already having money coming in that will be generating an income while your able to go school to become licensed.

My Mom and I were a salon owner. I did nails ( here it was a 8 week class) My mom paid her stylish a % of the money they made , so no X amount of salary. The more hours the stylist wanted to work made he/she more money.