Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management is a one-year qualification for people who want to step up from doing the work to leading the team that does it. It sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, so it's practical and job-focused rather than academic. You'll spend the year on things like managing budgets, leading teams through change, developing workplace policy, managing risk, and getting projects finished on time. Assessment is usually a mix of assignments, case studies and simulated workplace tasks, so you're applying the theory as you go.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas like this one are built from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to pass all the required units to graduate. Delivery is typically over two semesters or three trimesters in a year, with intakes at the start of each. Some providers run it face-to-face, some blend it with online learning, and some offer it as a traineeship where you work and study at the same time. There's no research thesis at this level, that's for master's and doctoral degrees. Instead, you may finish with a capstone-style project where you solve a real problem for a business, or complete a professional placement if your provider arranges one. Work-integrated learning is common in this field because leadership is learned by leading.

What you'll actually learn

You'll learn how to write a business plan that people can follow, manage a team's performance when someone isn't meeting expectations, handle a complaint without making it worse, read a profit and loss statement, and keep a project on track when the budget changes. You'll also cover workplace health and safety duties, fair work obligations, and how to communicate with people from different backgrounds. These are the skills employers in Australia ask for when they promote someone into a supervisor or coordinator role.

Who it suits

This qualification suits people who already have some work experience, maybe you've been a team leader for a year, or you run a small business, or you've finished a certificate and want to go further. It also works for international students who want an Australian qualification that's shorter than a degree and focused on getting a job. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while you study, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. English requirements are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for courses at this level, though the Department of Home Affairs sets its own English threshold for the Student visa. Check the CRICOS register for tuition and confirm all details with City College Pty Ltd before you enrol.

• Team leader or supervisor, retail, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, community services
• Office manager or administration coordinator, professional services, government, healthcare, education
• Project coordinator, construction, IT, events, marketing
• Operations coordinator, transport, warehousing, facilities management
• Small business owner or manager, trades, retail, hospitality, online retail
• Customer service manager, banking, insurance, telecommunications, utilities

Australian employers in these industries hire people with this qualification for roles that sit between frontline staff and senior management. Some graduates use it as a pathway into a bachelor's degree with credit for the units they've completed.