Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning)

The Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) at Penfold College is a two-year course that sits at graduate diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework. It suits people who already have some work or study behind them and want to move into learning and development, training management or educational leadership. The focus is on how organisations build capability: designing learning programs, managing training functions, assessing what works, and leading teams who deliver that training.

What you study

You will work through units of study that carry credit points, the standard way Australian qualifications are structured. Expect core units in learning design, adult education principles, assessment and evaluation, and the management of training and development functions. There will also be units on leading people, managing resources and budgets, and working within compliance and quality frameworks that apply to Australian registered training organisations. The course is delivered over two years, which means four semesters or trimesters depending on the college calendar. Assessment is typically a mix of practical projects, reports, presentations and work-based tasks rather than long written exams alone.

Work-integrated learning

Graduate diplomas in this field usually include a work-integrated learning component or a capstone project where you apply what you have learned to a real workplace problem. At Penfold College, that might mean designing a training plan for an actual organisation, conducting a training needs analysis, or reviewing an existing learning program and recommending changes. Some students use their current employer as the site for these projects. If you are not already working in the field, the college may help arrange a placement. Confirm the exact placement or project requirements on the official course page.

Skills you gain

By the end, you should be able to write learning outcomes that mean something, choose assessment methods that actually measure competence, manage a training budget, lead a small team of trainers, and explain to senior managers why a learning investment is worth it. You will also practise the kind of documentation and reporting that Australian training providers need for compliance. These are practical skills, not abstract theory.

Who it suits

This course fits three groups: people already working in training or HR who want a formal qualification to move into management; teachers or trainers from overseas who want to understand the Australian vocational education system; and career changers with a bachelor degree in another field who want to enter learning and development. It is not a teaching degree and does not lead to school teacher registration. If you want to teach in schools, look at an accredited teaching qualification instead.

International students should check the English language requirement carefully. The published standard for coursework postgraduate courses like this one is usually IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall, but some colleges set higher. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets its own English threshold for the Student visa, which is separate from the college's entry requirement. While studying, a student visa usually allows work of up to 48 hours per fortnight during term. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia for a period. Check the current rules with the Department of Home Affairs.

Tuition fees are published on the CRICOS register under course code 108241H. Always confirm fees, intake dates and entry requirements directly with Penfold College or on the official CRICOS listing before you apply.

• Learning and development manager, in corporate HR teams, government agencies, or large not-for-profits, designing and running training programs for staff.
• Training coordinator or training manager, in registered training organisations (RTOs), managing trainers, scheduling, and compliance with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) standards.
• Instructional designer, in education technology companies, universities, or corporate learning teams, building online and blended courses.
• Vocational education and training (VET) teacher or trainer, in TAFE colleges or private RTOs, delivering certificate and diploma courses. You may need a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40122) in addition to this diploma.
• HR officer or people and culture adviser, with a focus on capability development, onboarding, and performance improvement.
• Education consultant, advising organisations on learning strategy, assessment design, or compliance.
• Team leader or supervisor in an RTO, overseeing a small team of trainers and assessors.

These roles exist across Australia in industries like government, healthcare, mining, construction, retail, and community services, anywhere that employs a lot of people and needs to train them. The qualification also gives you credit towards further study, such as a master's degree in education, management, or human resource management, if you want to keep going.