Diploma of Leadership and Management (Indigenous Leadership)

Diploma of Leadership and Management (Indigenous Leadership) - BSB50420

VOCATIONAL

Build on your existing skills in people management, personal development and workplace operations.

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Student type:
Learning mode:
On campus
Entry score:

Not applicable

Duration:
Full-time 1 year
Fees:

Free for eligible students

Next intake:
February
Location:
Melbourne City
Duration:
Not applicable
Next intake:
Not applicable

This qualification is currently only being offered directly via our industry partnerships.

This diploma is designed specifically for staff who work in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO) seeking to build specific leadership capability.

Contextualised and tailored to contemporary ACCO work environments, the Diploma of Leadership and Management explores key topics in leadership and strategic planning and equips you with highly relevant and transferrable career skills, spanning:

  • Team effectiveness
  • Operations, finance and resource management
  • Business development and planning 
  • Risk management and continuous improvement
  • Personal development and reflective practices.

Through these skills, you'll be able to plan, design, apply and evaluate solutions to unpredictable problems, and identify, analyse and synthesise information from a variety of sources.

Committed to your success

RMIT's Ngarara Willim Centre has developed Gamadji Orientation, a program designed to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students a head start on your academic journey. You'll meet other students, learn study skills, explore your culture and become familiar with RMIT, support staff, and the Ngarara Willim Centre.

Throughout your studies you'll also be able to access free group and individual tutoring and free career advice and support.

Why study leadership and management at RMIT?

Fee-free study

100% free for eligible Indigenous students

Culturally-relevant learning

Contextualised to Aboriginal organisations

Transferable skills

Gain the leadership capabilities that can be applied across a range of enterprise and industry contexts

Details

How you will learn

This diploma employs a blended learning approach, integrating facilitator-led hybrid mini lectures and tutorials with online workshops. This approach supports students in engaging, interacting, and working collaboratively while developing essential knowledge and skills. The workshop mode allows for group and individual assessment discussion opportunities.

The majority of the learning and assessment is undertaken in the classroom and skills practiced in the workplace.

Industry connections

This diploma has been co-designed in consultation with Indigenous academics, based on Wurreker principles. The course structure and the choice of elective units have been endorsed by both representatives of the industry advisory partner (Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)) and RMIT educators.

Teachers delivering this diploma are current industry practitioners and specialise in the courses they deliver. Additionally, to ensure a robust understanding of Indigenous culture, they are required to complete the certified course Indigenous Perspectives and Knowledges in Learning and Teaching provided by the University of Queensland.

This, together with incorporating Indigenous academics and connection to Indigenous services at RMIT, provides students with contextualised learning and assessment experiences.

Expand all sections

The types of classes you have will depend on the course you’re studying. Classes are offered in various formats designed to provide meaningful engagement with staff, industry and peers and provide for access and use of spaces where learning can be applied and active, including an array of specialised equipment.

Most RMIT courses do not include passive large-scale classes such as lectures, instead the content traditionally provided in lectures is made available online. This may be in the form of readings, videos or other on-demand learning materials. This content will also support the basis of interactive learning that takes place in on-campus classes.

The world is constantly changing, and there are universal skills that can help you adapt to the evolving nature of work and global engagement.

As part of your study experience at RMIT, we provide 6 future-focused RMIT Capabilities:

  • Ethical Global Citizens
  • Connected
  • Adaptive
  • Digitally Adept
  • Expert
  • Critically Engaged.

RMIT Capabilities are built into your course as well as some of our extracurricular experiences. They inform the design and delivery of your learning activities and assessments, so by the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to apply these capabilities in your life and work.

Course structure and plan

What you will study

The course comprises a total of 12 units, delivered in 5 clusters and 1 stand-alone unit, covering these areas of study:

  • Professional effectiveness
  • Workplace leadership
  • Project work and financial compliance
  • Operational plans
  • Professional relationships
  • Professional reflection and improvement

Units have been clustered by grouping related units of competency together for delivery and assessment purposes. This approach aims to streamline the learning process and reduce duplication.

Each cluster is delivered over 8 weeks. The standalone unit, Reflect on and improve own professional practice, is delivered over the entire duration of the course.

Each cluster comprises a number of workshops with lunch breaks, providing opportunities for group and individual discussion opportunities.

Contact hours and study load

This course features a weekly full-day workshop and one-hour online support sessions (8 hours per week).

There will also be 10 site visits, 2 visits per cluster, of 4 hrs each (40 hrs) to the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) over the 12 months to provide half-day support sessions onsite at the workplace.

Learning outcomes

This course is competency-based and has been designed to help you develop the practical skills and knowledge necessary to work effectively in your chosen field. You will learn and be assessed by practising and demonstrating your capabilities, all of which can be readily applied in the workplace.

In addition to the specific vocational skills you build throughout this course, you will also develop a set of essential employability skills, including communication, planning, organising, and problem solving, self-management, initiative and teamwork. These foundational skills will enable you to navigate the world of work, collaborate effectively with others, and successfully get the job done.

Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.

Diploma of Leadership and Management (Indigenous Leadership)
Program code: C5407ACO
National curriculum code: BSB50420
Title
Location
Duration
Plan code
CRICOS
Diploma of Leadership and Management
City Campus
Full Time 1 Years, Part Time 2 Years
C5407ACO
Location
City Campus
Duration
Full Time 1 Years, Part Time 2 Years
Plan code
C5407ACO
CRICOS
View plan

Career

As a graduate of this diploma, you will have the enhanced leadership skills to display initiative and judgement in organising, implementing and monitoring your own workload and the workload of others. 

You will use the advanced communication skills you've developed to support individuals and teams to meet organisational or enterprise requirements. All these skills are applicable in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organisations and contexts.

Entry requirements and admissions

You need to satisfy all of the following academic (entry) requirements to be considered for entry into this course.

You must have:

  • Successfully completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) (or equivalent)

    OR

  • At least 6 months of full-time work experience (or part-time equivalent) in a related field (e.g. administration, customer service, project management, etc.).

There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.

A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.

Pathways and further study

A pathway is an alternative way to get into a course. RMIT's pathways can help you move through different levels of study to reach the qualification you're aiming for, even if you don't meet the requirements for your destination course.

Pathways into the Diploma of Leadership and Management (Indigenous Leadership)

Unfortunately we are currently unable to offer formal pathways into this course. Contact Study@RMIT to discuss your options.

Further study

The Diploma of Leadership and Management (Indigenous Leadership) provides credit and guaranteed entry into further study.

Credit and recognition of prior learning

Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.

Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.

Find out more about Credit and RPL at RMIT

Credit may reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant study experience.

When you are submitting an application, please indicate that you want to be considered for credit and provide detailed course syllabus (also known as course outline), outlining volume of learning, course content and weekly topics, learning objectives/outcomes, assessment types and their weightings, and reference to the learning resources such as prescribed textbooks and recommended readings.

Learn more about international credit transfers

Fees

The Diploma of Leadership and Management C5047ACO plan is free for eligible Indigenous students. See Fee exemption information below for full details.

Fee Type

The tuition fees you will pay depends on your eligibility for government subsidies.

Government-subsidised training for citizens, permanent residents and some visa holders.

If you are not eligible for a government subsidised place, you are considered a full fee paying student.

Tuition fees fully covered for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students and Youth Justice referrals in a government subsidised place.

Not sure which fee type applies to you? Learn more and check your eligibility.

Skills First fee summary

Course nameDiploma of Leadership and Management (ACO)
Plan codeC5407ACO
National Curriculum code BSB50420
Duration1year(s)
Nominal hours760Nominal hours tooltip

Fees shown are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment.

Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.

You may be eligible for a fee concession if you hold a valid Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Card, or Veteran's Gold Card, or are enrolled in the Asylum Seeker VET program. Find out more about fee concessions.

Item Cost (AUD) Description Cost (AUD)
Tuition fee student paystuition fee tooltip
$13,818.00
Tuition fees after government subsidy
Tuition fees after government subsidy
 $13,818.00
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF)Student services and amenities fee
$373.00
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
 $373.00
Material feesmaterial fees tooltip
N/A
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
N/A
Estimated total cost to youEstimated total cost tooltip $14,191.00
Includes all fees listed above
 $14,191.00

The tuition fees shown include the Victorian Government contribution. This amount is reflected in your fees and is paid directly to RMIT by the Government: $3.85 per nominal hour ($2,926.00 total).

Item Cost (AUD) Description Cost (AUD)
Tuition fee student paystuition fee tooltip
$16,039.00
The total tuition fee you will be charged for a full-fee place
The total tuition fee you will be charged for a full-fee place
 $16,039.00
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF)Student services and amenities fee
$373.00
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
 $373.00
Material feesmaterial fees tooltip
N/A
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
N/A
Estimated total cost to youEstimated total cost tooltip $16,412.00
Includes all fees listed above
 $16,412.00

The tuition fees shown include the Victorian Government contribution. This amount is reflected in your fees and is paid directly to RMIT by the Government: $ per nominal hour ($ total).

Item Cost (AUD) Description Cost (AUD)
Tuition fee student paystuition fee tooltip
$0.00
Tuition fees exempt for eligible students in a government subsidised place
Tuition fees exempt for eligible students in a government subsidised place
 $0.00
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF)Student services and amenities fee
$0.00
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
 $0.00
Material feesmaterial fees tooltip
N/A
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
N/A
Estimated total cost to youEstimated total cost tooltip $0.00
Includes all fees listed above
 $0.00

The tuition fees shown include the Victorian Government contribution. This amount is reflected in your fees and is paid directly to RMIT by the Government: $3.85 per nominal hour ($2,926.00 total).

Generated on 07 October 2026 | RMIT University's Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Code is 3046 | Payment and refund information

If eligible, you may be able to defer your tuition fees for this course through a VET Student Loan (VSL)

VET Student Loan cap for Diploma of Leadership and Management (ACO) (C5407ACO): $13320

Any tuition fees above the cap must be paid upfront to RMIT by their due date. Caps are indexed annually by the Commonwealth Government. Eligibility applies.

Learn about eligibility for VSL

Scholarships

Evelyn Boekemann Scholarship

For Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students in a certificate IV or diploma; worth up to $45,000.

Gerard Driesen Scholarship for VE Indigenous Students

For Indigenous Vocational Education students who can demonstrate circumstances impacting their education; worth up to $20,000.

H&H Group Indigenous Scholarship

For Indigenous business, marketing and communication students enrolled in a relevant diploma or undergraduate degree program; worth up to $60,000 and a paid graduate position.

Indigenous Resource Grant

For Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to assist with various costs that may impede the continuation of study.

RMIT Indigenous Accommodation Scholarship

For Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students who need to relocate to study at RMIT in Melbourne; worth up to $30,000.

RMIT Indigenous Study Support Scholarship

For Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students; worth up to $7,000.

Check your eligibility for a scholarship

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Looking for answers or more general information? Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred course, and more.

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions

This course is not available for international students intending to study on a student visa.

Information for international students

Sorry, this course is not available for international students intending to study on a student visa. If you hold a different visa type, you may be eligible. Please contact Study@RMIT for more information.

 

Information for local students

If you are a local student please select 'switch to local' below to view the full course information.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples