Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management is a practical, one-and-a-half-year qualification for people who want to run teams, projects and business units. It sits at the diploma/advanced diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), below a bachelor degree. You study how organisations plan, how budgets and operational plans are built, how people are led and how risk and compliance are managed. Assessment is usually a mix of reports, plans, presentations and simulated workplace tasks rather than long written exams.

The course is delivered over three or four study periods depending on the provider's calendar. Melbourne Education Institute delivers it at its Melbourne campus. Each unit of study carries credit points, and you need to complete all required units to graduate. Typical units cover leadership, operational planning, financial management, human resources, customer service, workplace safety and continuous improvement. Some providers include a work placement or a project based on a real organisation. Check the official course page and the CRICOS register for the current unit list, fees and intake dates.

You will build skills in giving direction, managing performance, preparing budgets, reading financial reports, running meetings, solving problems and communicating with staff and clients. These are the skills employers ask for when they promote someone into a supervisor or coordinator role. The qualification is not a degree and does not lead to professional registration, but it can count as credit towards a bachelor degree at some Australian institutions. Credit is granted unit by unit, based on what you have already studied.

This course suits people already working in business who want a formal qualification for promotion, career changers moving into office or retail management, and international students who want a shorter, job-focused qualification in Australia. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After you finish, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your visa conditions and the Department of Home Affairs requirements. Confirm all details on the official CRICOS page and with the institute before you apply.

• Office manager or business services manager in small to medium enterprises
• Team leader or supervisor in retail, hospitality, logistics or customer service
• Project coordinator or administration manager
• Operations coordinator in manufacturing, health administration or professional services
• Human resources officer or recruitment coordinator
• Sales team leader or account coordinator

These roles are found across most Australian industries, including retail, health administration, construction, logistics, hospitality, government and not-for-profit organisations. The qualification is not tied to a single profession, so graduates often move into management after gaining some workplace experience.