Planning La Trobe University

Overview

The world's population is set to grow by more than 40 per cent between now and the end of the century. With an extra 3 billion more humans to feed, shelter and nurture, there's an urgent need for experienced planning professionals who can create sustainable and liveable communities for all. With the Australian Government forecasting strong future job growth for urban and regional planners, there's never been a better time to advance your career in this important field.

If you've always wanted to help shape the world around you – or you're already working in planning and would like to advance your career – La Trobe's accredited Master of Planning offers a unique opportunity to excel in this high-demand field. Develop advanced knowledge of complex planning processes and learn how to create sustainable towns, cities and regions.

Explore the big issues in planning. How do we ensure communities have equitable access to housing, food, transport, education and healthcare? Can we make our communities safer and more resilient? And how can we ensure communities are meaningfully consulted about changes that affect them?

In the Master of Planning from La Trobe University, you'll examine the latest social, economic and environmental trends and explore the latest research on planning best practice. You'll learn how to design innovative solutions to existing and emerging problems, and understand how to transform key policies for urban, regional and rural communities in Australia and overseas.

Career outcomes 

After graduation, you could work in the planning and environment departments of local governments, state governments agencies, regional bodies, research organisations and the private sector. The Master of Planning is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia, which means you could be suitable for roles such as:

• Senior strategic planner
  • Develop a vision for the future. Take a lead role in long-term planning for towns, cities and land use.
• Planning compliance manager
  • Create and manage development compliance policies and programs. Ensure organisations meet their governance and regulatory requirements.
• Town planner
  • Lead the design of developments and growth strategies that balance liveability, access to services and environmental considerations.
• Placemaking professional
  • Shape our cities. Take a lead role in planning urban developments such as public spaces, housing, transport and community service design.
• Environmental planner
  • Plan for a sustainable future. Take a lead role in ensuring built environments are environmentally sustainable and protect natural resources through strategic planning.