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PIA - PLANNING PRACTICE COURSE

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ABOUT THE PLANNING PRACTICE COURSE

The Planning Practice Course is an initiative of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) to provide a nationally-consistent training for planning professionals in key areas of competence for planning practice. The Course comprises units that focus on professional planning practice, and provide an opportunity for experienced planners to extend the skills and knowledge they have gained through practice.

The Course is not intended as a foundation course for inexperienced practitioners. Units are focused on allowing practising planning professionals to structure and contextualise their experiences from planning practice, as well as to further their skills and knowledge with new perspectives and models. The Planning Practice Course is a key element in the Certified Practising Planner (CPP) scheme, providing a means for practising planners to demonstrate and seek certification of their competence in core skills and knowledge. More information about the CPP scheme is available from www.planning.org.au.

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COURSE AUDIENCE

The Planning Practice Course is for practising planners and for professionals in associated disciplines with an interest in the practice of planning. The Course is designed for practitioners of approximately five years' planning-related experience and while there are no formal requirements for enrolling in a Course unit, a minimum of two years’ prior work experience in a planning-related field are strongly recommended. Individuals may choose to undertake a single Course unit (based on a particular interest), or may choose to undertake more than one unit.

Satisfactorily completion of the Planning Practice Course requires finishing four units (including the relevant assessment). Corporate members of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) who wish to earn the designation Certified Practising Planner (CPP) are required to complete the Course in order to receive certification. (Note that individuals who are not eligible for Corporate membership of PIA cannot become CPPs.)

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COURSE OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Planning Practice Course is to provide high-quality, nationally-consistent professional development opportunities for practising planners. The Course covers a range of core planning competencies relevant to practice. The Course is designed to:

  • build on the foundation of under- and post-graduate planning qualifications,
  • complement and structure skills and knowledge gleaned through practice, and
  • update practitioners' competence with leading-edge thinking and developments.
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COURSE CONTENT

The Planning Practice Course comprises five units, each concerning one area of core planning competence. The Course units are:

  • Project Management
  • Effective Communication, Negotiation & Mediation
  • Economics of Development
  • Professional Ethics
  • Legislation & Governance

Further information about the units, including the learning outcomes, is available here.

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COURSE DELIVERY AND COST

Each year, the Planning Practice Course units are delivered in locations around Australia, and on-line. The schedule of upcoming sessions can be seen here.

The rates for Course units depend on whether the unit is to be completed face-to-face or on-line. A discounted rate is available for PIA members and associates. The costs can be seen here.

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UNIT CREDIT TRANSFER

Individuals who have recently completed a specialised training in one of the five Planning Practice Course units may be eligible to seek Credit Transfer in respect of that unit. If a course of study that has been completed is considered to be equivalent to the Course unit, the individual may be eligible to apply for credit transfer from that unit.

For all RPL enquires, please contact the Planning Institute of Australia on (02) 6262 5933 or via education@planning.org.au.

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COURSE DEVELOPMENT

The Planning Practice Course units were developed by experts in the relevant subject areas. The objectives and content of each unit were put together by or with guidance from experienced, qualified planners who are senior members of PIA, to ensure they appropriately build on the foundation of planning qualification and experience and are relevant to contemporary practice.

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COURSE PROVIDER

The PIA Planning Practice Course is provided on behalf of the Planning Institute of Australia by Chifley Business School. Chifley Business School is an initiative of the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia (APESMA) and is Australia's largest and most successful independent business school.

Chifley Business School is a registered training organisation and a higher education body. Its corporate training division offers an extended range of programs, from short courses to customised residential programs.

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ARTICULATION INTO Chifley Postgraduate Programs


Finishing the Planning Practice Course (satisfactorily completing at least four units, including all assessment) within a three-year time frame, entitles an individual to credit for Unit 302 Employer-based Unit in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program offered by Chifley.

Please note that you will need to fulfil standard entry requirements into Chifley Postgraduate Programs.

PIA members are entitled to discount rates on Chifley MBA units at AU $1,210 per unit.

articulation into Chifley Postgraduate Programs