Careers in the Spotlight
Could a Career in Planning Be Right for You?
Shape Cities, Communities and the Future
As you start thinking about university preferences and future careers, you might be considering options like engineering, architecture, environmental science or business. But have you ever thought about planning?
Planning is one of Australia's most diverse and fast-growing professions, offering the chance to make a real difference to the places where people live, work and spend their time.
What Does a Planner Do?
Planners help shape communities and solve real-world challenges. They work on issues such as:
- Housing and neighbourhood development
- Public transport and infrastructure
- Environmental protection and sustainability
- Parks, recreation facilities and public spaces
- Population growth and regional development
- Community wellbeing and social outcomes
In simple terms, planners help decide how our towns, cities and regions grow while balancing environmental, social and economic needs.
A Career with Plenty of Variety
One of the biggest advantages of planning is the variety of career opportunities available.
Depending on your interests, you could specialise in:
🏙️ Urban Planning
Helping guide the growth and development of cities and towns.
🌳 Environmental Planning
Protecting natural environments while supporting sustainable development.
🚌 Transport Planning
Designing transport systems that help people move efficiently and safely.
🤝 Social Planning
Working on projects that improve community wellbeing and access to services.
🌿 Open Space Planning
Creating parks, recreation facilities and public spaces for communities.
Whether you're interested in people, sustainability, design, infrastructure or problem-solving, there's likely a planning pathway that matches your interests.
Why Students Should Take Notice
Planning is currently experiencing a skills shortage across Australia, creating strong employment opportunities for graduates.
As Australia continues to tackle challenges such as:
- Housing affordability and supply
- Population growth
- Climate resilience and sustainability
- Major infrastructure projects
the demand for qualified planners is expected to continue growing.
For students looking for a career that combines job security with meaningful work, planning is a profession worth exploring.
What Skills Make a Good Planner?
There is no single "planner personality".
Successful planners often enjoy:
✅ Problem-solving
✅ Critical and strategic thinking
✅ Working with people
✅ Communication and teamwork
✅ Analysing information
✅ Making a positive impact on communities
Some roles involve detailed research and analysis, while others focus on collaboration, community engagement and project management.
Pathways into Planning
Planning can be studied through undergraduate degrees offered at universities across Australia.
Many planners also begin in related fields such as:
- Environmental Science
- Engineering
- Architecture
- Urban Design
- Geography
This means there are multiple pathways into the profession, giving you flexibility as your interests develop.
Planning Institute of Australia: https://www.planning.org.au
Article supplied by Joanne O'Byrne MPIA
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Eye Specialists
Students often ask what the differences are between Optometrists, Orthoptists and Ophthalmologists.
Below is a summary of the three as posted on the Vision Australia website.
- Optometrists
Optometrists are eye care professionals who examine the eyes and visual systems to detect vision changes and diagnose eye diseases.
On an average day, an optometrist will examine eyes to diagnose eye conditions and prescribe corrective lenses.
Often, the optometrist will be a person’s first point of contact before they are referred to Ophthalmologists and Orthoptists.
In Victoria, students can study optometry at - Deakin University - Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of OptometryUniversity of Melbourne - Doctor of Optometry
- Orthoptists
Orthoptists are eye care professionals who work with patients to manage a broad range of eye diseases.
Orthoptists are involved in the management of eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, lazy eye, and macular degeneration.
Often, Orthoptists will work in clinics alongside Ophthalmologists working on assessing and managing people’s eye conditions.
In Victoria, students can study orthoptics at -
La Trobe University - Bachelor of Orthoptics (Honours)
- Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have further specialised in medical and surgical eye disease.
Most commonly, ophthalmologists are involved in the assessment, diagnosis and medical treatment of eye disease.
Many eye conditions can be treated with medication, surgery, or other medical interventions, and ophthalmologists manage this.
Ophthalmologists are also highly specialised, which means individuals with complex care needs may see multiple ophthalmologists to ensure all aspects of their condition are managed appropriately.