Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Diploma of Leadership and Management is a one-year qualification for people who want to step into a team leader, supervisor or middle manager role, or who are already doing that job and want the piece of paper to go with it. It's delivered by Perth College of Business and Technology, a private provider in Perth, and it's registered on CRICOS (course code 104210C), which means it's open to international students on a Student visa. The course sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, so it's a shorter, more practical qualification than a bachelor degree, and it's built around the things managers actually do: lead a team, manage operations, plan and monitor work, deal with conflict, and report on performance.

How the course is structured

Like most Australian diplomas, this one is made up of units of study rather than majors, and you'll usually study several units at a time across two semesters or trimesters over the year. Each unit carries credit points, and you need to pass all of them to graduate. The units are competency-based, meaning you're assessed on whether you can actually perform the task, not just describe it. Expect a mix of written assessments, role plays, group projects and case studies drawn from real workplaces. Some providers build in a work placement or practical project component, but you should confirm with Perth College of Business and Technology whether this course includes one and how it's arranged.

What you'll actually learn

The focus is on the day-to-day skills of managing people and operations. You'll work on things like developing a team plan, managing budgets and resources, leading effective workplace relationships, supporting innovation, and handling performance issues. There's also a fair bit of communication and reporting involved, because managers spend a lot of time writing emails, running meetings and explaining decisions. By the end you should be able to walk into a workplace and take responsibility for a small team or a section of a business without needing to be told what to do every morning.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a fast, practical entry into business rather than a three-year degree, and it suits people already working who want to move up. It's also a common pathway into a bachelor degree, with credit usually granted for completed units, so you can start with the diploma and articulate into a degree later if you want. International students should note the English requirement: IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual standard for courses at this level, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the provider's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself, so check both. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, and 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. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, and you should confirm current fees, intake dates and unit details directly with the provider or on the official course page.

• Team leader or supervisor, retail, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing and customer service teams across Australia.
• Office or administration manager, small and medium businesses, professional services firms, government departments.
• Operations coordinator, scheduling, rostering, resource planning and reporting in sectors like transport, health administration and construction.
• Frontline manager, hospitality venues, aged care and community organisations, where you manage rosters, compliance and staff performance.
• Project support officer, assisting project managers with budgets, documentation and stakeholder communication.
• Small business owner or manager, running your own operation, or managing a franchise or branch.

These roles exist in nearly every Australian industry, and the diploma is also a stepping stone into further study, many graduates use it to enter a bachelor degree in business, management or a related field, often with credit for the units they've already completed.