Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management is a two-year qualification for people who want to run teams, projects and business units. It sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, one step below a bachelor degree, and it is built around the practical side of management rather than theory for its own sake. You study how to lead people, plan and monitor operational work, manage budgets and financial plans, develop business plans, and handle workplace relationships and performance. Assessment is usually a mix of assignments, case studies, projects and practical tasks, and many providers build in a work placement or simulated workplace so you practise the skills in a real setting.

How the course is structured

Australian vocational qualifications like this one are made up of units of competency, each with a set number of credit points. A full-time load is typically four units per semester, with two semesters a year, though some colleges run three trimesters and let you start at several points in the year. The course is delivered by King's Own International College and is listed on the CRICOS register under course code 111922A. That register is the official source for the course duration, location and tuition, so check it before you apply. Because the qualification is competency-based, you need to show you can actually do the tasks, not just pass an exam.

What you learn

By the end you should be able to lead a team through a change, write a business plan that someone would fund, manage a budget, deal with underperformance, and report on operational performance to senior managers. You also cover risk management, continuous improvement and the legal and ethical side of managing people in Australia. Group work is common because management is a team activity, and you will present to classmates and assessors as part of your assessment.

Who it suits

This course suits people already working in a supervisory or team leader role who want formal recognition, career changers moving into management, and international students who want a practical Australian business qualification without committing to a three-year degree. If you plan to continue to a bachelor degree later, ask the college about credit transfer, because some institutions give credit for diploma study. International students need to meet the English requirement and the separate Student visa English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. While studying, a student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Confirm all details on the official course page and the CRICOS register.

• Team leader or supervisor in retail, hospitality, logistics or manufacturing
• Office manager or administration manager in a small to medium business
• Project support officer or coordinator on business projects
• Operations coordinator in health, community services or education
• Front-line manager in banking, insurance or customer service
• Small business owner or manager

These roles are common across the Australian economy, particularly in small and medium enterprises, government agencies and not-for-profit organisations. The qualification also gives you a pathway into a bachelor degree in business or management if you want to keep studying.