Diploma of Leadership and Management (BSB50420)

Nationally recognised leadership training, contextualised to your team.

McMillan Staff Development delivers the Diploma of Leadership and Management (BSB50420) as a closed cohort for workgroups in Canberra and online. Every program is built around the strategic and operational work your managers actually do — assessments come from real management decisions, real team leadership, and real workplace outcomes.

RTO 88187 · Nationally recognised · ACT User Choice funded delivery available

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Why contextualised leadership training works

When a management team learns together — and the assessment evidence comes from operational plans they build, teams they lead, and improvement work they drive — the qualification becomes a by-product of doing better management work.

That’s the offer. Nationally recognised training, delivered to your team of managers, built around your organisation’s actual work. Participants finish with a Diploma, and the workplace gains sharper operational management, stronger team leadership, and measurable improvement in how things run.

For public sector teams, we deliver the same approach through the Diploma of Government (PSP50122).

How we deliver it

Typical duration: 10–12 months. Timetables are set with the employer group before enrolment.

Closed-cohort delivery

Your team only, no mixed public groups

Contextualised content

Case studies, examples, and assessment tasks drawn from your workplace

Delivered by experienced trainers

Trainers and assessors with public sector and private sector management backgrounds

Flexible format

Live online workshops via MS Teams, face-to-face in Canberra, or a blend

Workplace practice

Managers apply learning immediately to real operational and team challenges

Nationally recognised on completion

Issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework

Why McMillan

  • Registered since 2009 — 15+ years delivering nationally recognised qualifications
  • 5,000+ students trained — across public and private sector workplaces
  • Trusted by public and private sector employers — including Commonwealth agencies, ACT Government departments, and private sector organisations — see the range of organisations we’ve worked with
  • Every program contextualised — no off-the-shelf delivery
  • Owner-operator RTO — the person you talk to is accountable for delivery
  • Canberra-based with national reach — face-to-face in the ACT, live online anywhere

What your team will be able to do

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

  • Lead and manage teams — including managing performance, developing capability, and driving team effectiveness across complex work
  • Communicate with influence — briefings, executive updates, difficult conversations, and stakeholder engagement
  • Manage business operational plans — setting objectives, allocating resources, and monitoring performance against targets
  • Manage budgets and financial plans — planning, monitoring, and reporting on financial performance
  • Lead continuous improvement and innovation — identifying opportunities, driving change, and embedding better ways of working
  • Develop critical thinking in others and use emotional intelligence to lead effectively
  • Lead diversity and inclusion — building inclusive teams and workplaces
  • Manage projects and meetings that deliver outcomes

These outcomes are aligned with the 12 units of competency in BSB50420 (see the full list below).

Delivery and pricing

Workgroup delivery is offered on a fee-for-service basis and quoted per engagement. Pricing depends on group size, delivery mix (online, face-to-face, blended), and the depth of contextualisation.

Quotes include:

    • All training, assessment, and coaching
    • Materials contextualised to your workplace
    • RPL assessment for experienced participants where relevant
    • Certification on completion

Total fee, inclusions, refund terms, and payment schedule are provided in writing before enrolment.

ACT private sector employer? Your team may be eligible for funded delivery through the ACT Government’s User Choice program — see below.

Request a workgroup quote

Funded pathway for ACT private sector employers

If you’re an ACT-based private sector employer, your team may be eligible for training funded under the ACT Government’s User Choice program (administered by Skills Canberra).

  • $350 per participant (student contribution)
  • Rest of the cost covered by ACT Government funding
  • Requires a signed training contract between you (as employer), each participant, and McMillan
  • Available for eligible ACT-based private sector workers only (APS and Commonwealth agencies are not eligible)

Where a participant pays personally, McMillan does not require more than $1,500 up front. Without funding, the full fee is $5,950 per participant. Payment schedules are provided in writing before enrolment.

Eligibility must be confirmed before enrolment — check funded eligibility for ACT workers →

Request a workgroup quote

Frequently asked questions

Workgroup delivery is quoted per engagement based on group size, delivery mix, and contextualisation. Quotes include all training, assessment, coaching, materials, and certification. Request a quote for a scoped price for your team.

For ACT private sector employers whose teams are eligible for funded delivery, the participant contribution is $350 each (student contribution). Without funding, the full fee is $5,950 per participant.

Typical workgroup programs run over 10–12 months, with workshops scheduled at a cadence agreed with the employer group. Duration can be adjusted based on the group’s pace and workplace demands. RPL can shorten timeframes significantly for experienced managers.

As a guide, participants should allow around 7.5 hours per week over 12 months to progress steadily through the program. Actual workload varies depending on existing management experience, work role, assessment evidence, and support needs. Diploma-level competency requires sustained engagement with complex workplace scenarios.

Yes — this is how we deliver the qualification. Employer-funded workgroup delivery is quoted per engagement and invoiced to the employer. For eligible ACT private sector employers, User Choice funding can significantly reduce or eliminate the training fee — check funded eligibility.

Both are delivered as closed-cohort programs to your team, contextualised to your workplace.

  • Self-funded delivery is invoiced directly to the employer at the fee-for-service rate.
  • ACT-funded delivery is available for eligible ACT private sector employers under the User Choice program — this involves signed training contracts for each participant, with ACT Government funding covering most of the cost.

Either way, McMillan delivers the training to your team as a group.

BSB50420 is pitched at managers who are already leading teams, running operational plans, managing budgets, and influencing stakeholders — or who are stepping into that scope. It suits substantive managers, team leaders of team leaders, and specialists moving into people-management roles.

This is a step up from Certificate IV — participants need to be operating at a genuine management level in their day-to-day work.

Prior formal qualifications are not required, though many participants come to the Diploma with a Certificate IV or equivalent experience. Participants should have workplace-appropriate reading, writing, and numeracy skills. LLN (language, literacy and numeracy) screening is completed at enrolment.

For funded workgroups (ACT User Choice), additional eligibility rules apply to each participant — check funded eligibility for ACT workers.

Participants need:

  • A computer with reliable internet
  • A webcam and microphone for online workshops
  • Access to a workplace where they can apply learning and generate assessment evidence at Diploma level

No other equipment, software, or materials are required at the participant’s cost.

Assessments emphasise practical application at Diploma level — managing real operational plans, budgets, teams, and improvement initiatives. Methods include:

  • Workbooks and knowledge checks
  • Workplace projects
  • Case studies and presentations
  • Third-party reports verified by an employer

Diploma competency requires more complex, integrated evidence than Certificate IV. To successfully complete BSB50420, participants must demonstrate competence in all 12 units.

Assessments emphasise practical application — managing real workplace systems and processes to achieve operational goals. Methods include workbooks and short knowledge checks, presentations, case studies and role plays, workplace projects, and third-party reports verified by an employer. To successfully complete BSB40520, participants must demonstrate competence in all required units.

McMillan provides an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Participants can expect:

  • Trainer support within two business days via the LMS
  • Technical and study assistance
  • Reasonable adjustments for disability, health, or personal circumstances
  • Culturally safe learning and support for First Nations participants

Yes. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows existing management experience and knowledge to be assessed against qualification requirements, reducing study load. This is particularly relevant for the Diploma — many experienced managers have already developed the competencies covered in individual units.

Credit Transfer applies equivalent units completed with another RTO toward this qualification. RPL potential is assessed as part of the initial quote.

Face-to-face workshops are delivered in Canberra. Live online workshops via MS Teams are available Australia-wide. Most programs use a blend.

Yes. BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management is a nationally recognised qualification issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework. McMillan is a registered training organisation (RTO 88187), listed on the National Register at training.gov.au.

Get course details, pricing, and eligibility

Tell us a bit about your team and we'll respond within one business day with course details, pricing, and funding eligibility where it applies. No obligation.

Units of competency

BSB50420 comprises 12 units of competency — 6 core and 6 electives.

Core units

  • BSBCMM511 Communicate with influence
  • BSBCRT511 Develop critical thinking in others
  • BSBLDR523 Lead and manage effective workplace relationships
  • BSBOPS502 Manage business operational plans
  • BSBPEF502 Develop and use emotional intelligence
  • BSBTWK502 Manage team effectiveness

Elective units

  • BSBFIN501 Manage budgets and financial plans
  • BSBSTR501 Establish innovative work environments
  • BSBSTR502 Facilitate continuous improvement
  • BSBTWK501 Lead diversity and inclusion
  • BSBTWK503 Manage meetings
  • BSBPMG430 Undertake project work

Other qualifications we deliver

Not sure BSB50420 is the right fit? Here are three other nationally recognised programs we deliver to workgroups. If none of them fit, contact us — we’ll help you scope the right qualification for your team.

Certificate IV in Leadership and Management (BSB40520)

Emerging leaders and team leaders

View Course Details

Certificate IV in Human Resource Management (BSB40420)

HR support roles

View Course Details

Diploma of Government (PSP50122)

APS4+ officers stepping into leadership

View Course Details

Student information

McMillan Staff Development is committed to a supportive, transparent learning experience. Every student receives clear information before enrolment about fees, delivery, assessment, support services, and their rights and responsibilities. Reasonable adjustments are made for disability, health, or personal circumstances, and culturally safe support is available for First Nations participants.

Full details on assessment methods, learner support, RPL and credit transfer, refunds and withdrawal, complaints and appeals, and privacy are set out in our current Participant Handbook.

Download the Participant Handbook
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