Planning
Contents
Introduction
Making a better world. It sounds ambitious. But that's exactly the business that planners are in – working toward a more livable, more sustainable world. "Thinking globally, acting locally" is a good motto for the profession.At UNE we offer a range of courses in planning, at every level from introductory to advanced. Most of these programs can be taken on a full-time basis, on campus. But many people choose to study in distance education mode. We have students studying planning from all over Australia, and in some cases from overseas.
Why Study Planning at UNE?
Three good reasons to enrol in a course in planning at UNE* It will put you on the road to a busy and interesting professional life, with job opportunities in both city and country.
* The job prospects are extremely good. As the environment becomes more of an issue, the demand for professional advice tends to increase. There is a national shortage of qualified planning staff.
* A qualification in planning can take you in many directions, career-wise. And it can be coupled with qualifications in other fields.
What background do you need?
People come into planning from all kinds of backgrounds. If you are still at high school, it doesn't matter what subjects you have been studying. Planning is not an especially technical subject. You don't need to be a mathematician, or a scientist. And you don't need to have done any drawing - planners don't spend their days sitting at a drawing board. The important thing is to have an open and inquiring mind, an interest in your surroundings, and an interest in public affairs.
Courses
Undergraduate
| Bachelor of Natural Resources/Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning |
| Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning |
| Diploma in Town Planning |
Postgraduate Research
| Master of Urban and Regional Planning with Honours |
Postgraduate
| Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning |
Course data provided by the 2008 Course and Unit Catalogue
Careers
Where do planners work?
Many planners work in local government. Some work in private sector consultancy firms, or run their own consultancy business. Some work for State or Commonwealth Government Departments.
Where does a qualification in planning lead you, in the end?
That first job is just the beginning. As with most professions, career paths branch out unpredictably. Especially when people reach senior management positions, they may find themselves operating outside their original professional field.
What is planning?
Just look through any newspaper. The chances are there will be at least one story on a "planning" issue -- perhaps a controversy to do with new development ... or some proposal to re-organise traffic flow in the central business district ... or new laws relating to the protection of historic buildings ... or an argument about air pollution levels ... and so on. As a planner you will be in the thick of such debates. Sometimes, the job is to advise politicians or local councillors on the implications of possible courses of action. "If you allow that to happen, then this will be the effect …" Or, "Here's a problem emerging. And here are some options for dealing with it." Broadly, planning is about how places work as inter-connected systems, in which everything affects everything else. It's about managing growth and change.
Planners at work
- Dani is ringing home. It looks like she'll be working late tonight. She has a report to finish. It's about the State's policy on flood-prone land. People are worried about their property values.
- Paul is organising community input into the strategic plan for his district. He has a public meeting to arrange, a press release to write, phone calls to return, a radio interview to prepare for. It's hectic.
- Rachel is busy preparing for an appeal case, in which she will be appearing as an expert witness. She is trying to anticipate the questions the lawyers will ask her.
- Scott is reading through a letter from a local cycling group. They're unhappy with one aspect of the cycleway proposal he has been working on. He thinks he can solve the problem they mention.
- Cate is making travel arrangements for the conference she will be attending in a few weeks. She's looking forward to meeting planners from all over the country, and picking up some new ideas.
- James works for a firm of consultants. He is on the phone to a client, discussing the cost of preparing an environmental impact assessment for a proposed five-star resort. In some ways, the site is not ideal.
- Bronwyn is employed in the State public service. At the moment, she is drafting an advice note to her Minister on what has turned out to be a politically controversial proposal to "fast track" certain types of development. Jason is getting out of his car and going over to meet Mr. Pearson, who is a farmer. Mr Pearson wants to sell some of his land for houses. It's a problem. The council wants to limit this kind of very scattered development. But perhaps a compromise is possible in this case.
- Nicole, in Canberra, is experimenting with some newly installed software on her computer. It will be helpful in analysing census data and displaying population trends.
- Matthew is sitting across the table from the police representative on the local traffic committee. A difference of opinion has revealed itself, regarding traffic circulation in the vicinity of a major shopping mall. This one won't be so easy to sort out.
- Tanya has been asked to give a talk at an senior's club on the council's plans for renovating the town's central mall. She is preparing a PowerPoint presentation.
- Andrew and his team mates - architects, engineers, planners and others - are having a celebratory drink. Things are pretty noisy. Their firm has just won the contract to design a massive new educational campus and residential district near Bangkok.
- Michelle is coordinating a community bus scheme for the outlying settlements in her shire. After a meeting this morning with the various stakeholders, she is feeling more confident that the scheme will get off the ground.
Accreditation
The following awards are accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia.
Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning
Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning
Master of Urban and Regional Planning with Honours
Gaining one of these awards makes you eligible to apply for full corporate membership of the Institute, after completion of the necessary practical experience. At that point you are a fully qualified professional planner.
Partnerships, Networks and Industry Links
Planning Institute of Australia.
http://www.planning.org.au/
What is Planning?
http://www.whatisplanning.org/
Contacts
School of Behavioural, Cognitive & Social Sciences
Diane Arnott, Academic Co-ordinatordarnott1@une.edu.au
ph:+(61 2) 6773 2164
fax:+(61 2) 6773 3820
Planning
Paul McFarland, Course Coordinator, Urban and Regional Planningpmcfarla@une.edu.au
ph:+(61 2) 6773 2821
fax:+(61 2) 6773 3030
Help for Students You can find instant answers to many of your questions or contact UNE directly via AskUNE
Future Students may also call 1800 818 865 |
