Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Diploma of Hospitality Management is a one-year qualification for people who want to work in hotels, restaurants, event companies, clubs and resorts. You learn how to run a shift, manage a food and beverage outlet, control stock and costs, roster staff, and look after guests. The course is practical. You spend time in a commercial kitchen or simulated service environment, learn the food safety rules that apply in Australia, and practise the paperwork that keeps a venue compliant. You also cover the business side: budgets, purchasing, marketing, and leading a team.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each with a set number of credit points. This course runs over one year, usually across two semesters or three trimesters. You can expect a mix of classroom sessions, kitchen or restaurant practicals, and assessment tasks that ask you to plan and run a service. Some providers build in a work placement or a simulated workplace so you get real hours on your feet. Because the qualification is on the CRICOS register, it is available to international students and the provider must meet Australian standards for facilities and teaching.

Skills you finish with

By the end you can write a roster, order stock, cost a menu, handle a customer complaint, and lead a small team through a busy service. You learn to read a profit and loss statement for a restaurant, follow Work Health and Safety rules, and manage responsible service of alcohol. These are the skills that get you hired as a supervisor or duty manager, and they stack up if you later go on to a bachelor degree in hospitality or business.

Who it suits

This diploma suits someone who has finished Year 12 or equivalent and wants a fast route into hospitality management. It also suits people already working in a cafe or hotel who want to move into a supervisory role. International students need to meet the English requirement and the Student visa conditions, including the 48 hours per fortnight work limit during study. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. Confirm the exact units, placement hours and entry requirements on the official CRICOS page before you apply.

• Duty manager or shift supervisor in a hotel, motel or resort
• Food and beverage supervisor in a restaurant, pub or club
• Event or functions coordinator for catering companies and conference venues
• Front office supervisor in accommodation
• Banquet or restaurant manager
• Small business owner in the cafe or catering sector

These roles are found across Australia in hotels, restaurants, clubs, resorts, aged care catering, and event businesses. The diploma also gives you credit toward further study, such as a bachelor degree in hospitality management or business.