Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning)

The Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) is a one-and-a-half-year course for people who want to lead learning and development inside organisations. It sits at graduate diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it comes after a bachelor degree or equivalent experience and focuses on practical, job-ready skills rather than a long research thesis. At the Academy of Film, Theatre and Television, the course draws on the college's own setting: a working creative arts school where training actors and screen practitioners is the core business. You study how people learn, how to design training that actually changes what someone can do, and how to run a learning function inside a business or arts organisation.

What you study

The course is built around units of study, each carrying credit points. You will cover adult learning principles, instructional design, assessment and evaluation, managing learning programs, and the business side of learning and development, budgets, compliance, stakeholder reporting. Because the college specialises in performance training, there is scope to look at how creative practice, rehearsal methods and production work can be used as teaching tools in other industries. Assessment is mostly practical: designing a training plan, running a session, evaluating whether it worked, and writing up the results for a manager who has to sign off on the spend.

How it is structured

Australian graduate diplomas are usually delivered over two or three semesters or trimesters, and this one runs for 1.5 years full time. Expect a mix of face-to-face classes, online components and independent work. Some institutions build in a capstone unit where you pull everything together on a real project for an employer or community organisation. Work-integrated learning is common in this field, many students complete a placement or workplace project in a learning and development team, a registered training organisation, or a creative company that runs its own internal training. Check the official page for the exact unit list and whether a placement is included in your intake.

Who it suits

This qualification suits three groups. First, trainers and assessors who already hold a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or equivalent and want to move into management. Second, arts and production professionals who have been running workshops or mentoring junior staff and want formal recognition for it. Third, managers in any industry who have been handed responsibility for staff training without ever being taught how adults actually learn. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available, depending on your circumstances. English entry is typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, though the Department of Home Affairs sets its own threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 108199E. Confirm all details on the official page before you apply.

• Learning and development manager, in banks, retailers, government agencies, hospitals and large not-for-profits.
• Training coordinator or training manager, in registered training organisations (RTOs) and private colleges.
• Instructional designer, building e-learning and blended programs for corporate or public sector clients.
• Capability or organisational development officer, in human resources teams across mining, construction, health and professional services.
• Arts education manager, running education programs for theatre companies, film festivals, galleries and arts centres.
• Vocational education and training (VET) teacher or assessor, in TAFE and private providers, usually with an additional teaching qualification.
• Workplace trainer, delivering compliance, safety or technical training on site in industries such as aged care, logistics and hospitality.
• Consultant, advising small and medium businesses on training needs and government-funded skills programs.