Social planning plays a fundamental role in creating communities that are livable, vibrant, diverse and sustainable. Social planning uniquely balances the needs and aspirations of a community with urban, regional and other planning activity to achieve social cohesion, community wellbeing and a sense of place. Social planning brings together a range of policymakers – including legislators, government agencies, not-for-profit agencies, local planning councils, community groups and planners – to improve the quality of life in communities through strategic policy and action.

This specialisation is available in the Master of Planning, the only postgraduate planning degree in Sydney to offer specialised training in social research, social impact assessment, and social policy development and evaluation. You’ll learn how to identify and assess the social aspects of planning decisions and how to develop land use and other plans that address social policy challenges in ways that support sustainable development. You’ll also acquire interdisciplinary perspectives as you develop creative and innovative responses to social planning challenges. 

Key Features

• This specialisation is accredited as part of the Master of Planning by the Planning Institute of Australia.
• You’ll develop a strong understanding of social policy and the ways in which land use planning can be shaped to produce good social outcomes.
• You’ll have opportunities to explore how to best integrate social goals, economic goals and environmental goals in urban and regional planning, pursuing special interests in areas such as climate change, social impact assessment and planning law.
• You’ll have opportunities to study in the classroom and in the field, in ways that help you deepen both your knowledge of theory and your practical skills.
• Macquarie is ranked in the top five in Australia for arts and humanities (Best Global Universities, US News & World Report, 2018) and in the top 100 in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2018).

• Environmental planner
• Local government planner or development assessor
• Social planner
• Social planning or environmental planning consultant
• Strategic planner 
• Community sector organisations in urban development, housing and planning
• Government departments
• Local government authorities
• Planning consultancies
• Residential developers, eg, Landcom