Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Diploma of Leadership and Management is a one-year qualification for people who want to step into team leader or supervisor roles, or who are already in them and need the formal credential. You study how organisations run: how to plan and monitor work, manage budgets and resources, lead a team through change, build relationships with clients and stakeholders, and handle the operational problems that come up in any workplace. Assessment is practical. You write plans, run meetings, work through case studies and produce reports you would actually use on the job.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each worth credit points, usually delivered over two semesters or three trimesters in a year. You complete a set of core units plus electives, and the credit points add up to the qualification. Some providers build in a work placement or a simulated workplace project so you finish with evidence of what you can do, not just what you know. Check the official page for the exact unit list, teaching periods and any placement requirement.

Skills you gain

You learn to lead a team, delegate, give feedback, manage performance, plan and monitor operational work, run projects, manage risk, and communicate with people at different levels. Budgeting and resource allocation come into it too. These are the skills employers ask for when they promote someone into their first supervisory role.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a practical business qualification, people already working in retail, hospitality, logistics, administration or trades who want to move into management, and international students looking for an Australian qualification at diploma level. On the AQF, a diploma sits below a bachelor degree, so it can also be a pathway, many graduates use it to gain credit towards a bachelor program. If you are an international student, a Student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight while you study, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available after you finish, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Confirm all details on the official page.

• Team leader or supervisor in retail, hospitality, logistics or administration
• Office manager or operations coordinator
• Project officer or project administrator
• Customer service manager
• Frontline manager in health, community services or government
• Small business owner or manager

Australian employers in retail, hospitality, transport, construction, health administration and professional services hire for these roles. The diploma also gives you credit towards further study, such as a bachelor degree in business or management.