Diploma of Public Relations

The Diploma of Public Relations at Collarts is a one-year qualification for people who want to work in PR, publicity and communications. You study how organisations manage their public image, how to write for different audiences, how to pitch stories to media, and how to plan campaigns. The course sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it's practical and job-focused rather than academic. You'll learn by doing: writing media releases, building social media content, planning events, and handling the kind of everyday communication tasks that PR teams deal with.

Collarts runs its courses in trimesters, so you'll typically complete three study periods across the year. Each unit of study carries credit points, and you need to pass all of them to graduate. Because it's a diploma, there's no research thesis or major capstone project. Instead, assessment is based on real tasks: campaign plans, writing portfolios, presentations and group projects. Some units may include work-integrated learning or industry projects where you work with a real client or brief, which is common in PR training because employers want to see what you can actually produce.

You'll pick up the core skills the industry expects: writing clearly and quickly, understanding how media works, using social platforms for communication, managing relationships with journalists and stakeholders, and measuring whether a campaign worked. The course also covers the ethical and legal side of PR, including privacy and defamation basics. Teaching is hands-on, and you'll get feedback from people who have worked in the field.

This diploma suits school leavers who want a fast route into PR, career changers who need practical skills, and people already working in media, marketing or events who want to formalise their experience. It also works as a pathway: many students use a diploma to gain credit towards a bachelor degree later. If you're an international student, you'll need to meet English requirements, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for courses at this level, and you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying. After you finish, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, and you should confirm all details on the official page.

• Public relations assistant
• Communications coordinator
• Social media assistant
• Media liaison officer
• Events and promotions assistant
• Content writer or copywriter
• Marketing and communications assistant

These roles turn up in PR agencies, corporate communications teams, government departments, not-for-profits, arts organisations, sports clubs, and media companies across Australia. Many graduates start in assistant or coordinator positions and move into specialist or management roles after a few years.