Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Diploma of Leadership and Management at Austech Business Institute is a practical qualification for people who want to step into team leader, supervisor or front-line management roles. Over 1.5 years, you study how to lead people, plan and monitor work, manage budgets and operational plans, build relationships with clients and stakeholders, and handle workplace problems before they escalate. Units are delivered through the institute's own structure and assessed through assignments, projects and workplace-based tasks rather than exams alone.

How the qualification is structured

As a diploma on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), this course sits below a bachelor degree, which normally takes three years. Your 1.5 years of study are broken into study periods, with each unit of study carrying credit points. You complete the required units, and where the course includes a capstone or final project, you apply what you have learned to a real workplace issue. Australian institutions describe progress in units of study and credit points, so check the official course page for the exact unit list and credit point value of each unit.

What you actually learn

You practise the tasks managers do every week: running a team meeting, writing an operational plan, reading a budget, giving feedback, resolving a conflict, and reporting on performance. Group work and simulated workplace scenarios are common, and some units may include a placement or work-integrated learning component with an Australian organisation. Assessment is competency-based, so you need to show you can do the task, not just describe it.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a management qualification without committing to a full degree, and people already working in retail, hospitality, administration, logistics or community services who want formal recognition before going for a supervisor role. It can also be a pathway into a bachelor degree, with credit for prior study often available. International students should confirm the English requirement, tuition and intake dates on the official CRICOS register and the Austech Business Institute page before applying. While studying in Australia, a Student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream.

• Team leader or supervisor in retail, hospitality, logistics, or office administration
• Front-line manager in customer service, sales, or community services
• Operations coordinator or project support officer
• Office manager or administration team leader
• Small business owner or manager
• Pathway to further study such as a bachelor degree in business or management