SA authorities have launched new degrees in planning and surveying, aiming to address a critical skills shortage.

South Australia has seen its planning workforce increase by only 35 per cent since 2006, the lowest rate in Australia. 

This has resulted in South Australia having the second-highest number of residents per planner in the nation, trailing only the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

Flinders University is set to collaborate with Planning and Land Use Services (PLUS) within the Department for Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), to offer new planning and surveying degrees.

The new undergraduate planning program aims to address the needs of industry stakeholders by integrating academic coursework with practical workplace experience. 

The curriculum will be developed over the next three to six months with input from industry experts and professional bodies to ensure it meets the practical requirements of the workforce.

This initiative could be crucial for the planning industry, and will complement a new double degree in surveying, which commenced at Flinders University this year.

The uni says 25 students have enrolled in the Bachelor of Geospatial Information Systems/Bachelor of Surveying double degree, developed in collaboration with the Surveyors Board. 

“Launching in 2025, our urban and regional planning degree will be an education pathway for future planners shaping the development of Australian cities and providing innovative approaches to sustainable and liveable communities,” said Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling.

“The university is currently collaborating with industry experts and professional bodies to develop a curriculum that will meet the future needs of the industry.”

Minister for Planning Nick Champion MP emphasised the vital role urban and regional planners play in shaping South Australia. 

“These planning and surveying University degrees will provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet evolving challenges as well as hands-on training and expose them to real-world planning projects,” he said. 

“Addressing the shortage in planners will help South Australia tackle critical challenges such as housing affordability, population growth, and the transition to a more sustainable future.”

State infrastructure projects, which rely on qualified surveyors for tasks such as setting out bridges, tunnels, and roads, stand to benefit from this new degree. 

The 2.5-year course will provide cadets with valuable work experience while they undertake a Diploma in Local Government (Planning) through TAFE SA. 

This pathway will support the development of para planners who play a crucial role in supporting qualified planners through professional projects, on-the-job training, customer query responses, and development application assessments.