Community-based delivery model
Indigenous Tutorial Network support
Kitjarra on-campus accommodation
Why choose land and sea country management at Deakin
Designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, the Graduate Diploma of Land and Sea Country Management builds specialist skills in Caring for Country and the management of Australia’s natural and cultural environments. You will develop the knowledge and capability to contribute to Country-based decision making, working within approaches that recognise land as a cultural landscape and integrate environmental and cultural perspectives.
Your studies focus on land and environmental management, sustainability, project planning and implementation, and cultural heritage protection. You will also engage with collaborative approaches to knowledge systems to support effective outcomes and strengthen your ability to apply Caring for Country practice across community, organisational and government settings. Delivered through the NIKERI Institute, the course combines community-based study with on-campus intensives to support flexible, culturally grounded learning.
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Community-based delivery
Study through NIKERI with a blend of on-campus intensives and online learning, with travel, accommodation and meals provided for intensive study blocks.
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Knowledge systems in dialogue
Learn to bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges together with Western approaches to support environmental and cultural management.
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Support close to home
Access local tutors, academic skills support and a culturally respectful learning environment designed to help you balance study with work, family and community.
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Practical skills for Country-based work
Build capability in project planning, facilitation and implementation across land, water, sea and cultural heritage contexts.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Build specialist skills for careers that protect natural and cultural environments. You may contribute to environmental consulting, project delivery, sustainability and Country-based management.
Environmental consultant
Assess environmental impacts, support approvals and management plans, and prepare technical reports. You may advise on projects that protect land, water and cultural landscapes while balancing environmental and community needs.
- $90k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 8,482
Jobs advertised
Project officer
Plan and coordinate projects, manage documentation and timelines, and work with stakeholders to support delivery. You may contribute to environmental, sustainability or cultural heritage initiatives.
- $100k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 4.2/5
Job satisfaction
Professional areas
- Land management
- Freshwater and sea protection
- Cultural heritage consultancy
- Strategic project design
- Sustainability
- Education
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Graduate Diploma of Land and Sea Country Management?
During this graduate diploma you build specialist capability for caring for Country by bringing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge together with contemporary land, water, sea and heritage management practice.
Country, culture and practice
Understand Country in context
Explore caring for Country, environmental management and cultural heritage while keeping custodial responsibility, place and cultural context at the centre of practice.
Connect knowledge systems in practice
Examine how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and Western approaches work together in planning, policy and on-ground management.
Build project and facilitation capability
Strengthen your skills in project planning, research, communication and collaboration to support land and sea management across community, government and partner organisations.
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Diploma of Land and Sea Country Management, you must pass 8 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
Units
And
Or
What to expect while studying
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can apply directly through the NIKERI Institute
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
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| Articulate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural knowledge and its underlying custodial ethic in the context of contemporary natural and cultural resource management. Apply Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and use the principles of project planning, management and implementation to contribute, realise and protect cultural heritage and the environment. Integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and Western knowledge to inform contemporary environmental management practices. |
| Apply Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge of cultural perspectives to communicate with a variety of audiences and engage in a community-based approach to contribute to and influence Western government policy designs and managerial practice. |
| Apply knowledge of relevant technical tools and methodologies to locate, collect, analyse, interpret and synthesise complex information regarding natural and cultural landscapes. Transform information and experiences into a narrative and use digital technologies to demonstrate the ability to record and document experiences and cultural practice. |
| Critically analyse contemporary natural and cultural resource management governance frameworks and evaluate practices in order to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander perspectives to mitigate negative outcomes for natural and cultural heritage and resource environments. |
| Facilitate dialogue, consult with community Elders, government and non-government agencies and research institutions to identify possible approaches to managing natural and cultural resources. Integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural perspectives and natural and cultural resource management frameworks to create realistic solutions to authentic real world projects and programs. |
| Demonstrate the ability to initiate projects and work independently and collaboratively to plan, manage, respond to and realise the management of natural and cultural resources. |
| Critically reflect on the needs of the community and develop processes in order to work as a team in a sensitive manner to coordinate, facilitate and manage natural and cultural resources. |
| Observe appropriate protocols when discussing and facilitating management of Country in a consultative, ethical and sensitive manner for scholarship or professional practice. |
Approved at Faculty Board July 2016
- Award granted
- Graduate Diploma of Land and Sea Country Management
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- A660
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$13,777
for 1 yr full-time - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
The estimated tuition (student contribution) fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your student contribution is determined by the units you enrol in and will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan to defer payment of all or part of your student contribution.
Check your eligibility or learn more about CSP or HECS-HELP.
Scholarships
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you'll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Apply now
Indigenous students
Deakin courses are flexible and culturally inclusive. There are multiple ways you can apply for this course, including through the NIKERI Institute and the Indigenous Access Scheme.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Alternate exits
- Graduate Certificate of Land and Sea Country Management (A560)