Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Diploma of Leadership and Management is a practical qualification for people who want to run teams, projects or small operations. At the Australian National Institute of Education and the Australian Academy of English, it runs for 1.5 years and is listed on CRICOS under course code 105536F. You study how to plan work, lead people, manage budgets and operational plans, and handle the day-to-day problems that come up in any organisation. Assessment is mostly competency-based, which means you show what you can do, not just what you remember.

Australian diplomas sit at Level 5 of the Australian Qualifications Framework. They are shorter and more applied than a bachelor degree, which normally takes three years. The course is delivered in semesters or trimesters, with each unit of study carrying credit points. You will likely cover units in workplace communication, team effectiveness, operational planning, risk, customer service and financial administration. Many diplomas include a practical component or simulated workplace tasks, and some offer work-integrated learning where you apply your skills in a real organisation. Ask the institute about the exact unit list and whether placement is available.

You finish with skills employers ask for: briefing a team, resolving conflict, reading a budget, writing an operational plan and reporting against targets. The diploma also gives you a pathway. If you complete it, you may get credit towards a bachelor degree in business or management, which shortens your study. Credit is granted unit by unit, based on what you have already passed.

This course suits people already working who want a formal management qualification, school leavers who want a job-ready business credential, and international students looking for a shorter course before degree study. English requirements for international applicants are usually IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for this level, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, a Student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight, and after finishing you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Confirm all details on the official CRICOS page and with the institute before you enrol.

• Team leader or supervisor in retail, hospitality, logistics or customer service
• Office manager or administration coordinator
• Project support officer or operations assistant
• Frontline manager in health administration, community services or local government
• Small business owner or manager
• Pathway to bachelor degree study in business or management with credit for completed units