Advanced Diploma of Information Technology in Australia: Complete Course Guide for 2026
Introduction
The ICT60220 Advanced Diploma of Information Technology is a nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) qualification designed for people who want to learn beyond entry-level IT knowledge. An advanced diploma is at AQF Level 6, above a diploma and below a bachelor’s degree.
According to the Austra College’s public course information, it may lead to advanced technical, systems, networking, cybersecurity, and business-facing ICT roles.
For a 2026 student, this qualification matters because Australia’s technology workforce remains large, digital skills gaps are still affecting employers, and both government and industry data point to ongoing demand for practical digital capability.
Jobs and Skills Australia projects total Australian employment to grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years to May 2035, while ACS says digital technology already supports more than one million jobs and contributes nearly $134 billion to the economy.
What is the Advanced Diploma of Information Technology?
At the national level, the qualification is coded ICT60220 Advanced Diploma of Information Technology and is listed as current on training.gov.au. The training package says it reflects the role of people working in a range of ICT roles who have significant specialist technical skills, or managerial, business and people-management capability. It is meant for people carrying out complex tasks in specialist areas, often working independently, leading teams or contributing to strategic business direction.
Course purpose and outcomes
The national training package describes the course Advanced Diploma of Information Technology as preparation for advanced work across areas such as advanced data management, cybersecurity, full-stack web development, further programming, IT strategy and organisational development, systems development and analysis, and telecommunications network engineering.
The learners become job-ready across varied ICT work contexts and develop skills in areas such as networking, including installing, configuring and testing networks and servers in organisations.
Who should study this course?
This course is suitable for the learner who wants to move into IT, cybersecurity, system administration, programming, or business analysis at a higher level.
You can also enter the low-level jobs with limited or no vocational experience. In practice, that makes the course suitable both for capable new entrants and for working professionals who want to formalise or deepen their skills.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements. However, provider-level admission rules still apply, entry-level simple rules like
Course Duration
77 weeks are spent on study and
27 weeks are spent on holidays.Students must spend 20 hours per week in classroom study.This study commitment helps learners who are especially balancing study with work
or visa-related attendance obligations.
Delivery modes and assessment
The course is delivered face-to-face in a classroom-based model of 20 hours per week.
Assessments are conducted through a
- A combination of written assignments,
- oral questioning,
- case studies and projects.
This suggests a practical and applied learning model rather than an exam-only evaluation.
Fees and Costs
The course fee may vary from one institute to another. The fee is generally split into
tuition fees and non-tuition fees
(including application fees and material fees).
may start from $30,000.
RPL and credit transfer
If you have relevant skills, experience, and knowledge in the IT field and want to upgrade yourself by taking this course, you can reduce the duration and fee of the course through RPL(Recognition of Prior Learning).
Compared to the fresh learner, for experienced applicants, the course fee and study material cost is less.
Units of competency and curriculum
The current national packaging rules require 16 units in total: 6 core units plus 10 elective units. At least 7 electives must come from the prescribed elective list, and up to 3 units may be selected from approved AQF Level 5 or 6 units from other endorsed training packages or accredited courses, provided they remain relevant and do not duplicate outcomes.
The six core units are built around both technical and professional capability:
critical thinking for complex problem-solving, team effectiveness, workplace cybersecurity awareness, client interaction at the business level, IP, ethics, and privacy in ICT environments, and planning and monitoring business analysis activities in an ICT environment. This core structure blends technical depth with leadership, stakeholder communication and governance.
The elective system is where the course becomes highly career-relevant.
Training.gov.au lists specialisation pathways in Advanced Data Management, Cyber Security, Full Stack Web Development, Further Programming, IT Strategy and Organisational Development, Systems Development and Analysis, and Telecommunications Network Engineering.
The qualification also includes broader elective pools covering areas such as cloud computing, advanced cybersecurity, application and software development, project management, network security, and other work-ready ICT capabilities. Depending on the elective selection and packaging rules, some providers may issue the qualification with a recognised specialisation.
Career Pathways and Job Roles
The most credible way to think about job outcomes is to match your elective stream
to the occupation group you are targeting.
Software & Applications Programmers
Workers: 203,200
Median Weekly Earnings: $2,537
Computer Network Professionals
Workers: 48,600
Median Weekly Earnings: $2,309
Database, Systems & ICT Security
Workers: 72,600
Median Weekly Earnings: $2,461
ICT Business Analysts
Workers: 20,300
Earnings: Not Published
Further study options
After the ICT60220 Advanced Diploma of Information Technology, continue into a Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Information Technology, or another relevant qualification.
Industry demand and future scope in 2026
The outlook is positive, but it is not uniform across every tech job.
Jobs and Skills Australia says Australia’s total employment is projected to grow by 961,000 jobs over five years and nearly 2 million over ten years to 2035.
In cyber-related work specifically, JSA reported that Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists were projected to grow by 14.2% from May 2024 to 2029, more than double the national average growth rate of 6.6%.
ACS’s 2025 Digital Pulse research adds that digital technology supports more than one million jobs, that around 150,000 enterprises may be facing significant or severe digital skills gaps, and that Australia will need 54,000 additional people skilled in cybersecurity operations and management by the end of the decade.
FAQs
1. Is this a nationally recognised Australian qualification?
Yes. The qualification is the ICT60220 Advanced Diploma of Information Technology, which is a nationally recognised qualification and listed as current on training.gov.au.
2. Is an Advanced Diploma the same as a Bachelor's degree?
No. An Advanced Diploma is AQF Level 6, while a Bachelor’s degree is AQF Level 7. Of course, the Advanced Diploma is a higher-level VET qualification, but not equivalent to a university bachelor’s program.
3. Do I need prior IT study or work experience?
Not necessarily required, because learners get to know everything from the basics. But institutes expect limited experience.
4. What does the institute ask for at the admission level?
Basically, Austra expects applicants to be 18 or older, and international students need IELTS 5.5 or equivalent.
We offer this course for both domestic and international students.
5. How long does the course take?
Austra’s published duration is 104 weeks, including term breaks.
6. How is the course delivered?
The course is delivered face-to-face, 20 hours per week, in a classroom-based model.
7. How many units do I complete?
The national packaging rules require 16 units in total: 6 core units and 10 elective units.
8. Can I specialise in areas like cybersecurity or full-stack development?
Yes. The qualification includes specialisation pathways such as Cyber Security, Full Stack Web Development, Further Programming, Systems Development and Analysis, Advanced Data Management Information, IT Strategy and Organisational Development, and Telecommunications Network Engineering.
9. What does the course cost?
Austra’s fee is $30,000 for ICT60220, but applicants should confirm all current tuition and non-tuition charges directly with us before enrolment.
10. Can RPL or credit transfer reduce my study load?
Yes. Recognition of prior study, skills or experience may reduce the duration of the course. Usually, the credit transfer is free, and RPL costs AU$150 per unit.
11. What can I do after graduating?
You can get into ICT roles like programming, networking, systems administration, database and security operations, or business analysis.
Final verdict
The Advanced Diploma of Information Technology in Australia is one of the strongest VET options for students who want an applied, nationally recognised pathway into higher-level ICT work.
It combines AQF Level 6 standing, broad technical specialisations, project-based assessment and progression options into further study.
For learners who want practical skills in networking, systems, cyber security, software and business-facing ICT, it opens future opportunities.
If you want to explore the course in more detail, check the Austra website.
