Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Diploma of Leadership and Management is a one-year qualification at Australian Skills Management Institute. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which puts it above a certificate IV and below an advanced diploma or bachelor degree. In practice, that means you spend the year learning how to run a team, a project or a small operation rather than studying business theory for its own sake. You will look at things like managing budgets, leading people through change, developing workplace relationships, planning and monitoring work, and handling the kind of operational problems that come up in any organisation.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are built from units of study, and each unit carries credit points. A full-time diploma usually runs over two semesters or three trimesters, and you will typically complete eight to twelve units across the year. The exact unit list, the order you take them and the credit point value of each one are set by the institute, so check the official course page before you enrol. Assessment is generally a mix of practical tasks, written work, case studies and group projects rather than long exams. Some units may include a work placement or a simulated workplace project, which is common in management qualifications because employers want to see that you can apply what you have learned.

What you actually learn

You will practise writing operational plans, running a team meeting, giving feedback, managing a budget, and dealing with a staff conflict or a missed deadline. The focus is on the skills a supervisor or team leader uses every day. By the end you should be able to lead a small team, manage your own work and the work of others, and report on performance to someone above you. If you have been working for a few years and want a formal qualification to move into a team leader or coordinator role, this is the kind of course that fits. It also works as a pathway into a bachelor degree in business or management, with credit for the units you have completed, depending on the receiving institution's rules.

Studying in Australia and what comes next

International students study on a Student visa, which lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is running. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available if you meet the requirements, which include the right visa subclass, an Australian qualification and the English level set by the Department of Home Affairs. The institute is based in New South Wales, and the course is registered on CRICOS under code 104269F. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. English entry is IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall for this level, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or Cambridge C1 Advanced. Always confirm the current entry requirements, unit list and fees on the official page before you apply.

• Team leader or supervisor in retail, hospitality, logistics or customer service
• Office manager or administration coordinator in a small to medium business
• Project support officer or coordinator in construction, government or community services
• Frontline manager in health administration, aged care or disability services
• Operations coordinator in a warehouse, transport company or manufacturing site
• Assistant manager in a hotel, restaurant or retail chain

Australian employers in these industries hire diploma graduates for their practical management skills. The qualification also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in business or management, where you may receive credit for some units.