Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Diploma of Leadership and Management is a one-year qualification for people who want to step into a team leader, supervisor or front-line management role, or who are already doing that job and want the piece of paper to match. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which puts it above a certificate IV and below an advanced diploma or bachelor degree. At the Australian College of Technology and Business, you study full time over one year, usually across two or three study periods rather than the long semesters you would see in a bachelor degree.

What you actually study

The coursework is built around the things managers do every day: leading a team, planning and monitoring work, managing budgets and financial plans, building business relationships, and handling the performance of the people who report to you. You will work through units of study, each with a set number of credit points, covering operational planning, workplace communication, risk management and continuous improvement. Assessment is mostly practical: case studies, role plays, written reports and projects based on real workplace scenarios, not just exams.

How the year is structured

Diplomas in Australia are made up of units of study, and you need to complete all the required units to graduate. Some colleges include a work placement or industry project as part of the course, which gives you supervised time in an Australian workplace and a referee for your resume. If a placement is part of your course, the college arranges it and it counts towards your credit points. Confirm the exact unit list, study periods and whether placement is included on the official course page before you apply.

Who it suits

This diploma works well for school leavers who want a fast, practical entry into business, for people changing careers, and for current supervisors who have been managing a team without formal training. It also gives you a pathway: many graduates use the diploma as credit towards a bachelor degree in business or management, which usually takes three years full time. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available once you finish, depending on your circumstances. Entry requires evidence of English proficiency, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for courses at this level, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced accepted as equivalents. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 104224H. Check the official page for current fees, intake dates and English requirements.

• Team leader or supervisor, retail, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing and contact centres across Australia.
• Office or administration manager, small and medium businesses, professional services firms and government agencies.
• Operations coordinator, scheduling, rostering and resource planning in service industries.
• Front-line manager, banking, insurance, real estate and community organisations.
• Project support officer, construction, IT and events, working under a project manager.
• Small business owner or manager, running your own operation with formal management training behind you.