Australia is increasingly being influenced by far-reaching economic, demographic and social processes, many of which originate elsewhere in the globe. This unit explores the ways in which Australian urban and rural regions are being impacted by these global dynamics but also explores how, in turn, rural and urban communities interpret and influence these changes. This unit investigates some of the most important issues currently confronting Australian society: the population/ecological (im)balance; the ongoing restructuring of key Australian industries such as mining, manufacturing and agriculture; the declining fortunes of country towns; and the social, economic and ecological issues facing Australian cities. Students will develop an understanding of the core concepts, techniques and practices of human geography through the unit's exploration of how 'real' urban and rural places are made out of a combination of the local environment and past and present patterns of economic development, population change, and social and cultural practices.