Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management is a practical qualification for people who want to step into team leader, supervisor or middle manager roles, or who already hold one and want formal recognition of what they do. It sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, so it is shorter and more hands-on than a degree. At Perth College of Business and Technology, the course runs for 43 weeks and is listed on CRICOS under code 106301F for international students.

What you actually study

This is not a theory-heavy course. The units of study focus on the things managers deal with every week: leading and managing a team, developing and using emotional intelligence, managing operational plans, overseeing projects, managing budgets and financial plans, implementing workplace health and safety, and supporting innovation and continuous improvement. You will look at how to manage performance, deal with conflict, build relationships with stakeholders, and make decisions with limited information. Assessment is usually a mix of case studies, role plays, written reports, presentations and workplace-based projects rather than closed-book exams.

How the course is structured

Australian vocational qualifications are built from units of competency, and each unit carries a set number of credit points. The Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management is typically made up of core units plus electives, and you need to complete all of them to graduate. Perth College of Business and Technology delivers the course over 43 weeks, which usually includes scheduled breaks. Delivery may be face-to-face, online or a blend of both, so check the official page for the current mode and campus. There is no research thesis at this level, that belongs to honours, master's and doctoral study, but you will complete practical assessments that ask you to apply management skills to real workplace scenarios. Some providers arrange a work placement or work-integrated learning component; whether that is part of this course is something to confirm directly with the college.

What you gain

You finish with a set of skills you can use immediately: planning and monitoring operational work, leading a team through change, managing resources and budgets, communicating with people at different levels, and solving problems under pressure. You also learn how to review your own performance and keep improving. These are the capabilities employers in Australia look for when they promote someone from a frontline role into a supervisory one.

Who it suits

This course suits people who have some work experience and want to move up, career changers who need a recognised management qualification quickly, and international students who want an Australian qualification that leads to work in business or administration. It is also a pathway to further study, you may be able to use it for credit towards a bachelor's degree, subject to the receiving institution's rules. English proficiency is required for international applicants; the college publishes the accepted tests and scores, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, a student visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, and you should confirm fees, intake dates and entry requirements on the official page.

• Team leader or supervisor, retail, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare administration and community services.
• Office or administration manager, small and medium businesses, professional services firms, government agencies.
• Operations coordinator, transport, warehousing, facilities management and utilities.
• Project support officer, construction, IT, events and consulting.
• Customer service manager, banks, insurers, telecommunications and call centres.
• Frontline manager in not-for-profits, community organisations, aged care and disability services.
• Small business owner or manager, running your own operation or a franchise.