AQF Level 5

Purpose

The Diploma qualifies individuals who apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgement and defined responsibility in known or changing contexts and within broad but established parameters.

Summary

Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning.

Knowledge

Criteria: Graduates at this level will have technical and theoretical knowledge in a specific area or a broad field of work and learning.

Descriptor: Graduates of a Diploma will have technical and theoretical knowledge in one or more areas of work and learning.

Skills

Criteria: Graduates at this level will have a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:

• analyse information to complete a range of activities
• interpret and transmit solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems

Descriptor: Graduates of a Diploma will have cognitive and communication skills to identify, analyse, synthesise and act on information from a range of sources; and technical and communication skills to demonstrate and explain technical or management requirements to diverse audiences.

Application of Knowledge & Skills

Criteria: Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement and defined responsibility in known or changing contexts and within broad but established parameters.

Descriptor: Graduates of a Diploma will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills with initiative and judgement for planning, problem solving and decision making in professional and paraprofessional contexts.

Volume of Learning

The volume of learning is typically 1–2 years.

Pathways

Each qualification accredited as a Diploma will include documented pathways consistent with the AQF Qualifications Pathways Policy. Diploma qualifications provide a pathway to Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree and Bachelor Degree qualifications.

Key Information