Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning)

The Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) is a postgraduate qualification for people who lead learning inside organisations. You study how adults learn, how to design training that actually changes what people can do, and how to assess whether it worked. The curriculum sits in the field of curriculum and instruction, so expect units on instructional design, assessment and evaluation, learning theory, and the management side of running a training function, budgeting, compliance, and leading a team of trainers or educators.

How the qualification is structured

This is a graduate diploma, which sits at AQF Level 8, above a bachelor degree, below a master's. At Hillshire International College it runs for two years. Australian postgraduate coursework is usually organised into semesters or trimesters, and you enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to pass the required credit points to graduate. Some graduate diplomas include a capstone unit where you pull everything together on a real workplace problem; check the official course page for the exact unit list and credit point rules, because they vary between providers.

What you actually learn

You learn to write learning outcomes that mean something, build session plans and resources, choose assessment methods that match the task, and use data to improve a course. There is a strong management thread: how to plan a training budget, report on outcomes to senior managers, and keep records that satisfy Australian vocational and workplace requirements. Group work and presentations are common, because the job is largely about persuading adults to learn. Assessment is typically a mix of reports, portfolios, projects and practical tasks rather than exams alone.

Who it suits

This suits trainers, team leaders, HR staff, and vocational educators who already work with adult learners and want a formal postgraduate credential. It also suits people moving from industry into a learning and development role. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, confirm your eligibility with the Department of Home Affairs. English entry is typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for coursework postgraduate study, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the college's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Student visa has its own separate English requirement. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 119529A, and you should confirm fees, intakes, unit lists and English requirements on the official page before applying.

• Learning and development manager, leading training strategy in banks, retailers, government agencies and healthcare providers.
• Instructional designer, building e-learning and face-to-face programmes for corporate, government or education clients.
• Training coordinator or training manager, running the training calendar, budget and compliance records for an organisation.
• Vocational education and training (VET) trainer or assessor, delivering and assessing units in the Australian VET system (additional trainer and assessor requirements apply).
• Human resources officer or HR business partner, with a focus on capability development and performance.
• Education program manager, in not-for-profits, professional associations and community organisations.
• Corporate trainer or facilitator, designing and delivering workshops on leadership, safety, compliance or customer service.

Hiring industries include government, defence, health and aged care, banking and insurance, mining and resources, retail, and the education and training sector itself.