Advanced Diploma of Human Resource Management

The Advanced Diploma of Human Resource Management at Sacred Heart International College is a practical qualification for people who want to work in HR or take on more responsibility for managing people. It runs for 1.5 years and is listed on CRICOS (course code 106136C), so it is available to international students on a Student visa. The course covers the core of HR: recruiting and onboarding staff, managing performance, handling workplace relations and grievances, interpreting employment law and awards, coordinating learning and development, and keeping HR records and payroll systems accurate. You also look at workforce planning, workplace health and safety, and how to support diversity and inclusion in an Australian workplace.

How the qualification is structured

As a VET advanced diploma, this course is built from units of competency rather than a semester-based academic calendar. You complete a set number of core and elective units, each with a credit value, and you need to pass all required units to graduate. Delivery is typically face-to-face or blended, with classes timetabled across the year. Assessment is competency-based: you show you can do the task, not just recall the theory. That might mean drafting a recruitment plan, running a simulated performance conversation, or preparing a report on an HR issue using current Australian workplace law. Some providers include a work placement or a simulated workplace project, so ask Sacred Heart International College directly whether placement is part of your study plan.

What you actually learn

You finish with skills you can use on day one in an HR team. That includes writing job descriptions and selection criteria, sitting on a selection panel, advising a manager on a disciplinary process, calculating leave entitlements under the Fair Work Act, and using an HR information system to keep records straight. You also learn how to research and apply industrial instruments, support a return-to-work process, and contribute to a healthy and safe workplace. Communication matters as much as compliance: you practise explaining policy to staff who are not HR specialists and handling sensitive conversations with care.

Who this course suits

This is a good fit if you are already working in administration, recruitment, payroll or team leadership and want formal HR credentials. It also suits school leavers or career changers who want a hands-on qualification without committing to a three-year bachelor degree. The advanced diploma sits above a diploma and below a bachelor degree on the Australian Qualifications Framework, so it can also be a pathway into further study with credit for prior learning. International students should note the Student visa work condition allows up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, subject to the Department of Home Affairs rules in place at the time. English entry is IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall or an accepted equivalent. Tuition and intake dates are published on the CRICOS register and the college's official page, so confirm current details there before you apply.

• HR Coordinator or HR Officer, supporting recruitment, onboarding and HR administration in private companies, government agencies and not-for-profits.
• Recruitment Consultant or Talent Acquisition Assistant, working in recruitment agencies or internal talent teams across Australia.
• Payroll Officer, processing pay, leave and superannuation in line with Australian workplace law.
• Learning and Development Coordinator, organising training programmes and tracking staff competency.
• Workplace Relations Assistant, helping manage grievances, investigations and Fair Work compliance.
• HR Assistant in health, retail, hospitality, mining or professional services, industries that employ large HR support teams.
• Team Leader or Office Manager with HR duties, for small and medium businesses where HR sits with operations.