Skip to content
careertips

HomeCoursesEnvironmental scienceDiploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

This diploma prepares you for technical and supervisory work in looking after natural areas, whether that is a national park, a wetland, a stretch of coastline or a mine site being rehabilitated.

  • Duration: 18 months to 2 years
  • Study mode: Online, on campus and blended
  • Course code: AHC51120

Where you can study this course

Where
Study mode

  • Melbourne Polytechnic

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    13 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    A number of students find the organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some rate the facilities and campus highly.

  • TAFE NSW

    Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    2 campuses
    Duration
    18 months to 2 years
    Study mode
    Varies by campus
    Full fee
    Not stated by provider

    What students say

    Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.

  • Charles Darwin University

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    12 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Students often praise the facilities and campus, while some value student support and course content. Some found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on trainers and teaching, with communication also a concern.

  • TAFE Gippsland

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    11 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

  • RMIT University

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    15 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Students often find organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some praise the facilities and campus and student support.

  • TAFE Queensland

    Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    Nambour
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    On campus
    Full fee
    $13,790

    What students say

    Many students rate the facilities and campus highly. Some found course content and organisation and admin frustrating, while opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching.

  • TAFE SA

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    26 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Students rate the trainers, teaching, facilities and campus highly, though some found the organisation, admin and communication frustrating; opinions are mixed on facilities and campus.

  • Box Hill Institute

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    4 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Students speak highly of the trainers and teaching, with the campus and facilities also well regarded. Many found student support frustrating, along with organisation and communication.

Last reviewed 20 September 2026.

Set your location

Enter your postcode to see the providers closest to you first.

We use your postcode to sort providers by distance and to understand where people are looking to study. See our privacy policy.

Is this course right for you?

Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

  • Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.

Entry recommendations

To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:

  • an interest in looking after natural areas
  • a willingness to work outdoors in all conditions
  • good communication skills for coordinating staff and volunteers
  • an interest in surveying plants and animals

What will you learn?

You learn to survey plants and animals, plan and run restoration projects, and coordinate the staff, contractors and volunteers who carry out the on-ground work. There are no entry requirements, which makes it a common option both for people already working in conservation and for career changers. Many students focus on one area, such as ecosystem restoration, wildlife management, parks administration, catchment and waterway care, or Indigenous land management.

  • Restoring degraded land
  • Parks and reserve management
  • Wildlife and habitat surveys
  • Catchment and waterway care
  • Coastal and marine management
  • Indigenous land management

Where this fits

Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management in environmental science: the study that leads into it, the study that follows, and other routes at the same level.

Before

Certificate IIICertificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem ManagementIf you want to start with hands on field work and site checks rather than supervising staff and planning projects, this certificate gets you outdoors sooner.

You are looking at

Diploma

Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

After

No later step listed.

All environmental science courses →

Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).