Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Diploma of Hospitality Management is a two-year qualification delivered by the Academy of Film, Theatre and Television (formerly Actors College of Theatre and Television). It sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework. That places it below a bachelor degree but above a certificate III or IV, and it is built for people who want to run hospitality operations rather than just work a shift.

Study is organised into units of study, each carrying credit points, across semesters or trimesters. You will cover the practical and the managerial side: food and beverage service, front office and accommodation operations, food safety and hygiene, rostering and staffing, budgeting and cost control, marketing, and the legal and compliance rules that apply to licensed venues in Australia. Assessment is competency-based, which means you are judged on whether you can actually do the task to industry standard, not just pass a written exam. There is a work-integrated learning component, so you will spend time in a real venue, a hotel, restaurant, club or events operation, putting the units into practice under supervision. Confirm the exact unit list, placement hours and credit-point structure on the official CRICOS entry or with the provider before you enrol.

What you finish with is a set of skills employers can use straight away: supervising a team through a busy service, writing a roster that meets award conditions, costing a menu, handling a customer complaint, keeping stock and liquor records straight, and reading a profit-and-loss statement for a single venue. You also learn how to train and induct new staff, which is the part that separates a manager from a senior waiter.

This course suits school leavers who want a faster, more hands-on route into hospitality than a three-year bachelor degree, career changers moving in from retail or tourism, and people already working in venues who need the formal qualification to step into a supervisory or duty manager role. International students should note the Student visa work right of 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and that graduating may open the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, subject to the Department of Home Affairs rules in force at the time. English requirements are set out on the official page, IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall is the common coursework standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institution's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register; check there for the current figure.

• Duty manager or shift supervisor, hotels, pubs, clubs, restaurants and function venues across Australia.
• Food and beverage supervisor, overseeing service teams in restaurants, hotels and event catering companies.
• Front office supervisor, reception, reservations and guest services in hotels and resorts.
• Restaurant or café manager, running day-to-day operations, rostering, stock and budgets.
• Events and functions coordinator, conferences, weddings and corporate events at venues and event companies.
• Housekeeping or accommodation supervisor, managing room standards and cleaning teams in hotels and serviced apartments.
• Bar or gaming supervisor, licensed clubs and hotels, including compliance with state liquor and gaming rules.
• Small business owner or operator, cafés, catering businesses and small venues.