Course Overview

About This Course

Gain the sustainability skills you need to have a rewarding green career. Discover how to develop sustainability business cases, calculate a business's carbon footprint, navigate environmental reporting requirements and more. If you're a graduate of the Certificate IV in Environmentally Sustainable Management (or planning to be one), this course will extend your environmental skills and unlock further career opportunities.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Suite 510/451 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000SYDNEYHaymarketHAYMARKET

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Have completed Australian Year 12 (or equivalent), or a Certificate IV qualification
Be at least 17 years of age
Have technological literacy (ability to use and access a computer with word processing applications)
You will need access to a computer with a reliable internet connection in order to complete this qualification
You may also have an initial interview to assess your individual learning needs and your language, literacy and numeracy skills

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Sustainability Officer, Environmental Consultant, Sustainability Manager, Energy Officer, Sustainability Specialist, Sustainability Analyst

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

ASQA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units16 units

MSS015054

Lead circular economy initiatives in the supply chain

Explore what the circular economy is and how businesses can use this system to contribute to designing out waste, improving product durability and increasing reuse and recycling. Discover how to investigate an organisation's supply chains and operations, then develop and implement circular economy initiatives.

MSS015052

Develop regulated sustainability reports

Build your understanding of mandatory sustainability reporting required under Australian law. Discover which types of organisations are required to submit reports, when they are required to report and what they are required to report.

MSS015047

Develop strategic sustainability plans

Explore how to prepare plans for an organisation's major sustainability-related improvements. Be equipped to identify priority areas for improvement, analyse options, establish project teams and develop sustainability project designs.

MSS015046

Develop a business case for sustainability improvements

Discover how to prepare well-structured and convincing business cases for sustainability improvements that persuade stakeholders and win approvals.

MSS015042

Measure and report carbon footprint

Build your skills in determining the carbon footprint of a section of an organisation's value chain. Learn how to map carbon sources and sinks and identify carbon emissions sources.

MSS015043

Develop strategies for more sustainable use of resources

Explore how to reduce an organisation's waste. Be equipped to use industry-ready techniques for materials balancing, calculating resource consumption and quantifying resource loss.

BSBSTR502

Facilitate continuous improvement

Discover how to use systems and processes that encourage regular 'small improvements'. Learn to engage team members in contributing to continuous improvement and implement ongoing sustainability enhancements.

MSS015050

Conduct an emissions audit

Be equipped to undertake an emission audit for an organisation's process, such as part of its value chain. Build skills in calculating theoretical net materials consumptions and actual net material consumptions.

MSS405088

Plan, implement and monitor energy management

Discover how to improve an organisation's energy management. Build your ability to review a business's current energy use and establish energy management objectives.

MSS014018

Apply circularity design thinking to all work streams

Learn how to seek and act on customer ideas for circularity improvements. Discover how to generate ideas for circularity improvements, select worthwhile ideas and develop practical action plans.

MSS015045

Develop required sustainability reports

Explore the range of voluntary sustainability reports that organisations create, including reports relating to energy use, water use, carbon footprint, waste generation, community impact and circular economy initiatives.

MSS015049

Conduct a sustainable water use audit

Learn how to conduct a water use audit for an organisation as a whole and for part of its value chain. Develop and present recommendations for water usage improvements.

MSMWHS200

Work safely

Build your understanding of how to maintain a safe work environment for yourself and others. Discover how to identify safety hazards, assess risks, respond to emergency situations and use relevant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

MSS405043

Implement improvement systems in an organisation

Grow your knowledge of breakthrough improvement systems and their benefits. Learn how these systems can be applied in sustainability jobs, including how they can be implemented, reviewed and adjusted.

MSMSUP390

Use structured problem-solving tools

Discover useful approaches you can use to solve problems that occur in the workplace. Be empowered to use different tools to analyse problems and identify preferred solutions.

MSS015048

Implement sustainability plans

Explore different types of sustainability plans that organisations have and how you can go about effectively implementing them. Develop your practical skills in briefing project teams, developing progress indicators and communicating with decision-makers.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is government funding available for the Diploma of Sustainable Operations?

Yes, Smart and Skilled funding is available for this course. Smart and Skilled is an NSW Government funded program that helps people get qualifications that build in-demand skills. To be eligible, you must be 15 years old or over, no longer an at-school or home-schooled student, living or working in NSW (or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person living in specific NSW border areas), and an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen.

Are sustainability graduates in demand?

Yes! Demand for sustainability professionals is already outpacing supply, and this gap is expected to grow even further over the coming decades. According to LinkedIn's Global Green Skills Report 2024, global demand for green talent grew twice as quickly as supply between 2023 and 2024, by 2030 one in five jobs will lack the green talent to fill it, and by 2050, this gap will balloon to one in two jobs.

Who is this course suitable for?

This course can be a great choice for people looking to have a rewarding career where they can help businesses improve their impact on the environment, working professionals who have some existing experience in environmental management and sustainability, Work Health and Safety professionals looking to build environmental skills and transition into WHSE roles, international students looking to learn sustainability while studying at a supportive and conveniently located Sydney CBD campus, and graduates of the Certificate IV in Environmentally Sustainable Management who wish to build more advanced sustainability skills and increase their career options.

Can I combine the Diploma of Sustainable Operations with another course?

Yes, combining the Diploma of Sustainable Operations with another qualification is an excellent way to boost your skills and make yourself more attractive to employers. You can apply to study two or more courses at ACBI, studying one after the other. ACBI recommends packaging the Diploma of Sustainable Operations with the Certificate IV in Environmentally Sustainable Management, Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, or the Advanced Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management.

Is corporate training available for the Diploma of Sustainable Operations?

Yes. ACBI can accommodate closed cohorts, run on-site and online training, and customise training to the unique needs of your organisation. ACBI can empower your employees to gain the full Diploma of Sustainable Operations qualification, and can also offer a number of sustainability short courses based on units of competency in this qualification.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

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