Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Diploma of Hospitality Management is a one-year qualification for people who want to work in the day-to-day running of hotels, restaurants, clubs, and catering operations. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, below a bachelor degree, and is built around units of study rather than majors. You will cover food and beverage service, front office, housekeeping, rostering, budgeting, and the legal side of serving alcohol. Assessment is practical as well as written: you will run service periods, handle bookings, and work through kitchen and dining room scenarios. The course is delivered by the Australian Health and Management Institute, and the CRICOS code is 114307M.

Australian diplomas are usually delivered over two or three study periods across a calendar year, and each unit carries a set number of credit points. The exact unit list and credit-point structure are set by the provider, so check the official course page for the current sequence. Because hospitality is a hands-on field, your training will include work-integrated learning: supervised shifts in a commercial kitchen or food and beverage outlet, or a placement with a hotel or events venue. That placement is where you learn to deal with a full dining room on a Friday night, not just a textbook. There is no research thesis at diploma level; the final stage is usually a practical assessment or a small operational project that pulls together the skills from earlier units.

You will finish with skills employers actually ask for: serving customers, managing a roster, controlling stock, handling cash and EFTPOS, and keeping a venue compliant with food safety and liquor laws. You will also learn how to lead a small team, deal with complaints, and write a basic budget. These are the things that get you promoted from a casual floor role into a supervisory one. The qualification is recognised nationally under the AQF, and graduates can go on to a bachelor degree in hospitality or business with credit for prior study, depending on the receiving institution's rules.

This diploma suits people already working in hospitality who want a formal qualification, career changers who like the pace of a venue, and international students who want a practical Australian qualification in a field with strong job demand. While you study, your student visa allows you to work up to 48 hours per fortnight, which is a real advantage in hospitality because many employers want staff who can pick up shifts. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available if you meet the Department of Home Affairs requirements. English entry is IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic. Confirm the current tuition, intake dates, and unit list on the official CRICOS register or the provider's page before you apply.

• Food and beverage supervisor – leading service in restaurants, pubs, and hotels across Australia.
• Front office supervisor – managing check-in, reservations, and guest requests at hotels and resorts.
• Housekeeping supervisor – running room-cleaning teams and quality checks in accommodation properties.
• Restaurant or café manager – handling rosters, stock, budgets, and daily operations.
• Events and functions coordinator – organising conferences, weddings, and corporate catering.
• Club duty manager – overseeing bar, gaming, and member services in registered clubs.
• Catering operations assistant – supporting large-scale food production for hospitals, airlines, and event venues.

Hiring industries include hotels and resorts, restaurants and cafés, registered clubs, catering companies, event venues, and aged-care and hospital food services. Many graduates start in supervisory roles and move into duty management or venue management after a few years. The diploma also gives you a pathway into a bachelor degree in hospitality management or business if you want to go further.