SIT50422 Diploma of Hospitality Management (Cookery stream)

Purpose

This Cookery stream for this qualification provides a pathway to advance careers in work in the commercial cookery and kitchen management sectors of hospitality and event/functions industries as a head chef, business, or operations manager, and to provide a background for key required skills for making operational decisions including managing staff, planning, marketing and finances within a hospitality setting. Graduates also have detailed knowledge of industry requirements, safety, and legislation.

Graduates will be prepared for roles that require them to operate independently where they may have responsibility for supervising or managing others and making a range of operational business decisions. The course covers skills and knowledge that are generally applicable across a wide range of more specific settings (café, bar, restaurant, hotel, event and function venues, etc). Some roles in these environments may require additional basic training to meet specific requirements in relation to additional training or licenses not included in this course.

This course is suitable for someone who has been working in commercial cookery in a hospitality or kitchen management context in the past and has completed Certificate III in Commercial Cookery and Certificate IV in Kitchen Management.

Learner Characteristics / Client Cohort

This course is available to overseas students working in or wanting to work in Hospitality Management in Australia and

• • Looking for senior cookery and kitchen management roles including head chef, executive chef, and kitchen operations manager
• • Seeking to build the strategic, financial, and leadership skills needed to manage commercial kitchen operations and hospitality enterprises
• • Wanting the comprehensive management capability to operate independently as a hospitality business owner or franchisee
• • Seeking a pathway to the Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management or university-level hospitality and tourism management degrees
• • Seeking to formalise and expand their existing cookery experience with nationally recognised management qualifications

Clinton Institute's Diploma of Hospitality Management (Cookery Stream) students benefit from an advanced curriculum that covers strategic kitchen management, financial control, human resources, marketing, and event catering. The course is designed for students who want to move beyond the pass and work in the kitchen to managing and leading hospitality operations. With strong industry connections in Melbourne's hospitality sector, students gain placement opportunities in high-quality commercial kitchens and events venues.

Students will have experience in commercial cookery or kitchen management or both. Students who have relevant existing skills, knowledge or experience will be able to seek RPL, which is available to ensure that those are recognised, and the amount of training is adjusted accordingly.

Qualification Entry Requirements

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Pathways & Licensing

Individuals may typically enter SIT50422 Diploma of Hospitality Management (Cookery Stream) following completion of SIT30821 Certificate III in Commercial Cookery and/or SIT40521 Certificate IV in Kitchen Management or similar hospitality qualifications.

The SIT50422 Diploma of Hospitality Management (Cookery stream) will provide a pathway to work in the hospitality, events and functions industries in small and large organisations, such as cafes & restaurants, pubs, clubs, bistros, casinos, event venues, function centres, cafeterias, aged care facilities, and resort operations. With Melbourne being one of Australia's leading culinary and events destinations, graduates have access to a diverse and dynamic employment market.

Possible job titles include:

• • Kitchen manager
• • Head Chef
• • Catering manager
• • Operations manager — hospitality
• • Functions manager
• • Events manager
• • Cafeteria manager
• • Food & beverage manager
• • Banquet chef

Students who complete this course may also wish to continue their vocational studies by undertaking the SIT60322 Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management, or other specialist qualifications in the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Training Package. University pathways into Bachelor of Hospitality Management or Hotel and Tourism Management are available at select universities with credit arrangements for diploma graduates.

Industry/ Enterprise/ Licensing Requirements:

The unit SITHFAB021 Provide responsible service of alcohol (RSA) covers the RSA skill and knowledge requirements for RSA certification common to all States and Territories. Some legislative requirements and knowledge will differ across borders. In some cases, after completion of this unit, state and territory liquor authorities require candidates to complete a bridging course to address these specific differences.

The units SITXFSA005 Use hygienic practices for food safety and SITXFSA006 Participate in safe food handling practices each cover the safe food handling skill and knowledge requirements for food handlers and food safety supervisors. Food handlers must comply with the requirements contained within the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. In some States and Territories businesses are required to designate a food safety supervisor who is required to be certified as competent in either or both of these units through a registered training organisation. Some legislative requirements and knowledge will differ across borders. In some cases, after completion of these units, state and territory liquor authorities require candidates to complete a bridging course to address these specific differences.

No other licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

Entry Requirements

To enrol in this course, students must provide evidence that they:

• • Are at least 18 years of age
• • Have completed at least the equivalent of Year 12
• • Meet one of the following English proficiency requirements:

       • Evidence of a valid IELTS score of 6.0 or other equivalents in English Language tests including Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), Pearson Test of English (PTE), Doulingo English Test, and Cambridge English (CAE).

       • Successfully complete the pathway with recognized ELICOS providers, as determined by Clinton Institute via exit score of IELTS score of 6.0 equivalents.

       • Student have successfully completed their Year 12 or equivalent in English Language

• • Have appropriate Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) levels, as determined by Clinton Institute via the LLN test administered prior to enrolment.



       The LLN test will be conducted by a suitable Trainer and Assessor or the Director of Studies.

       The LLN assessment includes a written test and interview to complete the verbal component of the test. For international students applying from their home country this will be completed during a skype interview. For all students applying within Australia the test will be completed during an interview at the RTO.

       The LLN test assists the RTO to assess whether or not students’ LLN skills are at a level suited to the course requirements. It also assists our trainers to prepare individual learning plans for each successful applicant where skill weaknesses are identified. The RTO will work with successful applicants to ensure their skills are at the required level by the completion of their training.

For international Students, it is a condition of entry that upon acceptance, students provide evidence of having an Australian Student Visa (subclass 500). Please refer to the government website for information about applying:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500

Assessment Modes

Strategic Hospitality Management Projects:

Students complete comprehensive management projects that require them to develop operational plans for a commercial kitchen or hospitality enterprise. Projects include market analysis, staffing structure design, menu engineering, financial forecasting, and compliance mapping. Deliverables are assessed for strategic thinking, commercial awareness, and alignment with Australian hospitality standards.

Operational Planning Assessments:

Written and practical assessments test students' ability to plan catering for events and functions, manage kitchen workflows, coordinate suppliers, and ensure food safety compliance across multi-day operations. Assessment tasks mirror the complexity of real catering environments.

Human Resources and Staffing Scenario Work:

Students respond to complex HR scenarios including recruitment planning, roster design, performance management, and industrial relations issues specific to the Australian hospitality sector. Assessment includes the development of induction programs and staff training plans.

Financial Management Tests:

Students complete financial assessments covering budget preparation, profit and loss analysis, food and beverage cost control, and financial reporting. Tasks are scenario-based and require students to interpret financial data and make evidence-based operational decisions.

Hospitality Leadership Observations:

The Assessor observes students managing a kitchen team during a live or simulated service, assessing their ability to lead under pressure, maintain quality standards, manage food safety, and coordinate front-of-house and back-of-house operations.

Cross-Functional Team Projects:

Collaborative projects require students to work across functional areas — kitchen, service, events, and finance — to deliver a complete hospitality solution, assessed on integration, project management, and stakeholder communication.