Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Social Sciences

Planning

Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters of Community Planning and Development (2009)

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The above courses are located at the Bendigo campus.

The introduction of the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters of Community Planning and Development, is a strong recognition by La Trobe University of the growing importance of understanding and working with communities to achieve social, economic and environmental improvements. The focus of this course is on supporting and facilitating development in urban, rural and regional communities in Australia and overseas. There is a particular emphasis on regional Australia and the countries of South East and South Asia.

Effective and sustainable community planning and development is based on a comprehensive knowledge of how communities function and the methods of engaging with communities. Community planning and capacity building is reliant on developing and implementing strategies and programs that deliver environmental and social gain, improved urban and rural planning and sound community development. The master’s program is offered in three streams of study; community development, environmental and social policy and urban and rural policy. The latter stream will be submitted to the Planning Institute of Australia for accreditation.

This course is designed for those who already work in and with communities, those who intend to pursue a career in community planning and development and those who find that their profession requires them to have a greater in-depth knowledge of the issues relating to urban, rural and regional communities and their planning and development.

Graduates will have enhanced their knowledge and capacity to plan, develop and implement programs, respond to community needs in a culturally sensitive manner and work with those who live in these communities. There is a strong emphasis in the course in providing opportunities for students to link their work experiences into assessed assignments and to develop projects that have direct benefits to the organisations they work in and the communities they work with.