Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Diploma of Leadership and Management at Queensland School of Beauty Therapy is a 1.5-year qualification for people who want to run teams, projects and small businesses, especially in the beauty and personal services industry. You study how to lead people, plan and monitor operations, manage budgets and financial plans, build customer relationships, and handle the workplace relations and risk that come with managing staff. Assessment is practical: you work through scenarios, case studies and workplace tasks rather than sitting long written exams.

The course is delivered across trimesters, with each unit of study carrying credit points. There is no separate honours year at diploma level; the diploma itself sits at AQF level 5, between a certificate IV and a bachelor degree. If you later want to articulate into a bachelor degree, credit for your completed units is assessed by the receiving institution. A capstone or major project may be included, depending on the units you choose, and work-integrated learning or placement is common in this field, you may complete supervised hours in a salon, spa or clinic where you apply your leadership skills in a real workplace.

You graduate with the skills employers ask for: rostering and supervising staff, managing stock and supplier relationships, interpreting financial reports, resolving customer complaints, and keeping a workplace compliant with Australian work health and safety and fair work rules. The course suits people already working in beauty or retail who want to move into a supervisor or manager role, career changers who want a practical management qualification without committing to a three-year degree, and international students who want an Australian qualification with a pathway to further study.

English requirements for international applicants are IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or Cambridge C1 Advanced. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, a student visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 114527K. Check the official page for current unit lists, intake dates and fees.

• Beauty salon manager or spa manager, leading a team of therapists, managing rosters, stock and daily operations.
• Retail store manager, overseeing sales targets, staff performance and customer service in beauty or personal care retail.
• Team leader or supervisor, front-line management in clinics, day spas and wellness centres.
• Small business owner or operator, running your own salon, mobile beauty business or clinic.
• Customer service manager, handling complaints, loyalty programmes and service standards.
• Operations coordinator, scheduling, supplier liaison and workplace compliance in the personal services sector.

Australian employers in beauty, wellness, retail and hospitality hire diploma graduates for these roles. The qualification also gives you a credit pathway into a bachelor degree in business or management if you want to keep studying.