Diploma of Automotive Management

The Diploma of Automotive Management at Australian Technical College Western Australia is a one-year qualification for people who want to run the business side of a workshop, dealership or parts operation rather than spend their days under a bonnet. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it is a practical, industry-focused qualification that sits below a bachelor degree. You will study units of study that carry credit points, and if you later decide to move into a bachelor degree in business or management, those units may count towards it. Credit transfer is assessed unit by unit, so ask the college what your diploma will be worth towards further study.

The course covers the parts of automotive management that actually cause headaches in a real business: financial management, budgeting and cash flow, staff supervision and rostering, workplace health and safety, customer service and complaint handling, inventory and parts control, and the legal and compliance side of running a workshop. You will look at how to price jobs, manage supplier relationships, and keep records that stand up if a regulator or an insurer asks questions. Assessment is typically a mix of assignments, case studies, practical tasks and possibly a work placement in a workshop or dealership, where you can see how a service department is run from the office side.

Australian diplomas are usually delivered over two semesters or trimesters, and this one is compressed into a single year. That means a full-time load, with classes and assessment spread across the year. Some colleges offer part-time or online study, but you should confirm the delivery mode and the exact unit list on the official CRICOS page or with the college directly. The qualification does not include an honours year or a research thesis, because it is not a degree. What it does include is the kind of practical management training that employers in the automotive trade recognise.

This course suits people who already have some automotive trade experience and want to move into a supervisor or manager role, as well as people with no trade background who want to work in the business side of the industry. It also suits international students who want an Australian qualification in a field with clear employment pathways. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. English requirements are set by the college and by the Department of Home Affairs for the visa itself, so check both. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, and you should confirm all details on the official page before you apply.

• Workshop manager or service manager in a mechanical repair business, dealership or fleet workshop
• Automotive service advisor, handling bookings, quotes and customer communication
• Parts and inventory manager for a dealership, parts retailer or warehouse
• Assistant manager or team leader in an automotive retail or repair chain
• Fleet coordinator or maintenance planner for a transport company, council or large organisation
• Small business owner or operator in the automotive service and repair industry

These roles are found across Australia in dealership networks, independent workshops, national repair chains, parts distributors, fleet operators and government fleets. The diploma also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in business or management, with credit for the units you have completed.