Real Estate Education Throughout Australia: Are the fields of knowledge in a diploma qualification more advantageous than a certificate IV qualification?

In Australia, property education is offered through a variety of educational institutions which includes colleges, registered training organisations and universities. Varying aspects of compulsory specialised fields of knowledge are usually accompanied by formal licensing requirements and professional membership. The property sector is vast, with many specialised occupations such as real estate agency, valuation, and strata managers. In addition, each state and territory within Australia has a range of regulatory bodies to oversee consumer protection and the distinct licenses and educational requirements that comprise their regimes. However, there is very little research in the Australian literature where a contextual analysis has been undertaken to compare the minimum educational requirements within each jurisdiction. Furthermore, the varying qualifications mandated range from a Certificate IV qualification to a Diploma level achievement. This lack of consistency with educational standards and qualification requirements is counter-productive for labour mobility throughout Australia. It is argued that a uniform model of education within Australia's real estate licensing regime, at the level of a Diploma qualification, will ensure consistency with optimum knowledge and standards for the real estate industry