Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management is a two-year qualification that trains you to run the day-to-day operations of a venue, a hotel, a restaurant, a function centre, a club or a resort. You start with the basics: food and beverage service, housekeeping, front office, food safety, responsible service of alcohol. From there you move into the parts of the job that sit behind the counter: rostering, budgeting, stock control, marketing, managing staff, handling complaints and keeping customers coming back. It's practical work, and most of it is assessed on what you can actually do, not just what you can write.

How the course is structured

Australian vocational qualifications are built from units of competency, each carrying credit points. You'll typically study full time over four semesters, with each semester made up of a set of core units and a handful of electives. Core units cover the operational and supervisory side of hospitality; electives let you lean towards food and beverage, accommodation, events or gaming depending on what the provider offers. Because it's a competency-based qualification, you need to demonstrate each skill to a set standard before you move on. Assessment is a mix of practical service shifts, written tasks, projects and simulated workplace scenarios. Some providers arrange a work placement in a real venue; ask the institute directly whether placement is included and how many hours it involves.

What you'll learn

By the end you should be able to lead a team through a busy service, build a roster that actually works, read a profit and loss statement for a food and beverage outlet, control stock and wastage, recruit and induct new staff, and deal with the awkward stuff, a drunk patron, a bad review, a supplier who hasn't delivered. You'll also pick up the compliance knowledge that keeps a venue open: liquor licensing, food safety, work health and safety, and the Fair Work rules around pay and conditions.

Who it suits

This suits people who want to move into supervisory or management roles rather than stay on the floor, and people already working in hospitality who want a formal qualification behind their experience. It's also a common pathway for international students who want an Australian qualification in a field where jobs are plentiful and the skills transfer overseas. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available to you afterwards, check your eligibility with the Department of Home Affairs. English requirements for entry are set by the institute; IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual coursework standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Student visa has its own separate English threshold. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 112784J. Confirm entry requirements, intake dates, unit lists and fees with KINGS INSTITUTE OF VOCATIONAL STUDIES or on the official CRICOS page before you apply.

• Duty manager, running shifts, handling issues and supervising staff in hotels, pubs, clubs and restaurants.
• Food and beverage supervisor or manager, overseeing service, stock, rosters and budgets in restaurants, cafes and function venues.
• Front office supervisor, managing reservations, check-in and guest relations in hotels and resorts.
• Housekeeping supervisor, leading room attendants and managing standards across accommodation properties.
• Events or functions coordinator, planning and running conferences, weddings and corporate events.
• Banquet or catering supervisor, managing large-scale food service for hotels, clubs and catering companies.
• Venue or outlet manager, taking responsibility for the commercial performance of a single site or department.

Australian employers in these roles include hotel groups, pub and club operators, restaurant groups, catering companies, event venues, resorts, and aged care and hospital catering services. The qualification is also recognised in hospitality markets overseas, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.