Studying at TAFE NSW cost-free has helped Keegan Dyt keep moving, when the COVID-19 pandemic has rendered her and her business "stuck".
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Ms Dyt of Albury is among 85,000 people who have taken up fee-free short courses through TAFE NSW since the initiative was announced early in April.
"I bought Endota Spa Albury in September 2017 - I own it with a friend," she said.
"Obviously we had to close due to mandatory orders, and it was all very quick.
"The best we can do at the moment is offer home deliveries.
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"It's paying our rent, and that's all we're asking for - we've been lucky enough to get onto JobKeeper.
"We're just trying to cover our costs, but it's certainly going to be our most quiet Mother's Day - it's usually one of our busiest months."
Ms Dyt enrolled in Team Leader Skill Set soon after the course was made available to keep occupied and improve her business.
"The course I've decided to do is more a leadership-style course; it will help me bridge gaps in my leadership style," she said.
"The support has been really great.
"It's been a while since I've done any education - I did my Diploma of Beauty Therapy in 2007 - but so far I'm settling back into being a student.
"It's seven hours a week, which is perfect, as I'll be able to continue to do it when we reopen."
"I probably wouldn't have done it if we hadn't had this situation."
Of 85,000 people enrolled in the TAFE NSW fee-free COVID-19 courses, 33,000 of them, like Ms Dyt, are studying with TAFE NSW for the first time.
Thirteen new fee-free COVID-19 courses were announced by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday, including a Statement of Attainment in Leading Teams and an introductory courses in coding and cyber security.
Ms Dyt encouraged others to look into up-skilling while out of work.
"When you feel like you're stuck, there's always something you can do to keep going," she said.
"We were lucky enough to be able to be eligible for a $10,000 NSW government grant - that's taken a lot of pressure off our small business.
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"All bar two of our staff are eligible for JobKeeper and the other two are on JobSeeker, and we're trying to support them as much as we can.
"We're prepared not to make profit, as long as our girls are looked after.
"We've been casual therapists in the past, and this would be a very scary and unsettling time.
"I know many of us in the industry are all trying to support our staff.
"The whole reason we got into this business is because we love people."
