Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management at Queensland Academy of Technology is a one-year course for people who want to move into team leader, supervisor or middle management roles, or who already hold one and want the formal qualification behind it. You study how organisations plan work, manage people and money, and report on performance. Expect units on operational planning, leading teams, managing budgets and financial plans, workplace relationships, risk, and continuous improvement. Assessment is practical: you write plans, run meetings, prepare reports and work through case scenarios drawn from Australian businesses.

This is an AQF advanced diploma, which sits below a bachelor degree. It is normally delivered over two semesters or three trimesters of full-time study, with each unit carrying credit points. Many providers build in a work placement or workplace project so you can apply what you learn in a real organisation. If you are already working, some units may be recognised through recognition of prior learning, which can shorten the course. Check the official course page for the current unit list and credit arrangements.

Skills you pick up include planning and monitoring operational performance, leading and developing a team, managing budgets and financial plans, dealing with conflict, and communicating with stakeholders at different levels. You also learn to read an organisation's strategy and turn it into work for a team. These are the skills employers ask for when they promote someone from doing the job to running the job.

It suits school leavers who want a practical business qualification before entering the workforce, people already in supervisory roles who want a recognised credential, and international students looking for a shorter pathway into Australian business study. The course is not a degree, so if you later want a bachelor's, ask the provider about credit transfer into a related degree. International students should confirm English requirements, tuition and start dates on the official CRICOS listing and the provider's page. Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) after completing eligible study in Australia.

• Team leader or supervisor in retail, hospitality, logistics or customer service
• Office or administration manager in small to medium businesses
• Operations coordinator or project support officer
• Frontline manager in health, aged care or community services
• Assistant manager in banking, insurance or professional services
• Small business owner or manager

Employers across Australia hire for these roles in retail chains, hospitality groups, transport and warehousing, construction administration, government agencies, and not-for-profit organisations. The qualification also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor's degree in business or management, often with credit for some units.