Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Diploma of Leadership and Management at Lawson College Australia is a practical qualification for people who want to lead teams, run projects, and take responsibility for how a workplace operates. Over 1.5 years, you study how organisations plan their work, manage budgets and resources, communicate with staff and stakeholders, and respond when things change. The focus is on the skills you use in a supervisory or middle-management role: giving direction, solving problems, managing performance, and keeping work on track.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. Lawson College delivers the course over semesters or trimesters, and you usually complete a mix of core units and electives. Assessment is competency-based, which means you show you can apply what you learn, often through reports, presentations, group tasks, and simulated workplace projects. Many diplomas include a work-integrated learning component, such as a placement or a project with an employer, so you practise leadership in a real setting before you finish. Check the official course page and the CRICOS register for the exact unit list, credit points, and delivery schedule.

What you learn

You cover the day-to-day work of a manager: planning and monitoring operational performance, leading and developing a team, managing recruitment and induction, handling conflict, and contributing to workplace policy. You also learn how to manage risk, use financial information to make decisions, and communicate with people from different backgrounds. Group work and presentations build the confidence to speak up in meetings and give feedback that people can act on. By the end, you should be able to take a business goal, break it into tasks, assign them, and follow through.

Who it suits

This diploma suits people who are already working and want formal recognition before stepping into a team leader or supervisor role. It also works for school leavers who want a shorter, job-focused qualification instead of a full bachelor degree, and for international students who want an Australian qualification with a practical edge. The course sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), below a bachelor degree. If you continue studying, you may be able to use credit points toward a bachelor degree, depending on the receiving institution's rules. International students should confirm the English requirement for their case, which is typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for courses at this level, with equivalents accepted. A Student visa also has its own English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. While you study, your visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight, and after you finish, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, and you should confirm fees, intake dates, and English requirements on the official page.

• Team leader or supervisor, retail, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, and community services organisations.
• Office or administration manager, small businesses, professional services firms, and government agencies.
• Project coordinator, construction, events, IT, and marketing teams.
• Operations coordinator, transport, warehousing, and facilities management.
• Customer service manager, banks, insurers, and call centres.
• Small business owner or manager, running your own operation or a family business.