Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Diploma of Leadership and Management at Aimers College of Education is a one-and-a-half-year qualification for people who want to run teams, projects and small operations. You study how organisations work: how to plan and monitor work, manage budgets and financial plans, lead and develop people, build relationships with stakeholders, and handle the day-to-day problems that come with responsibility for a team. Assessment is practical. You write plans, run meetings, work through case studies and present your decisions, rather than sitting long written exams.

How the course is structured

Diplomas in Australia are made up of units of study, each carrying credit points. Most providers teach over two or three study periods a year, and you can often choose a full-time or part-time load. The exact unit list, credit points and any elective choices sit with Aimers College of Education, so check the official course page and the CRICOS register entry (course code 113985C) before you enrol. Some diplomas include a work placement or a project where you apply your skills in a real workplace; confirm whether this course has one and how it is arranged.

What you get out of it

You graduate able to write an operational plan, manage a team's performance, lead a meeting that reaches a decision, and report on budget against actuals. Those are the skills employers ask for when they promote someone into their first supervisory role. The diploma also gives you a pathway: many students use it as credit towards a bachelor degree in business or management, which in Australia is normally three years full-time. An honours year adds one more, and a master's is one to two years.

Who it suits

This course suits someone already working who wants a formal qualification before stepping up, or a school leaver who wants a practical business qualification without committing to a three-year degree. It also suits international students who want to study in Australia and gain post-study work rights. International applicants need to evidence English proficiency, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for courses at this level, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. While studying, a student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight, and on completion you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, check there and on the official page for current figures, intake dates and entry requirements.

• Team leader or supervisor in retail, hospitality, logistics or customer service
• Office or administration manager in a small to medium business
• Project coordinator or project officer
• Operations coordinator in health, community services or education
• Assistant manager in a franchise or branch network
• Business development or account support officer

Employers include private companies, not-for-profits, government agencies and franchise groups across Australia. The diploma also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in business or management, which can lead to roles in human resources, marketing, finance or general management.