How to Become an Urban and Regional Planner in Australia?

Are you interested in pursuing the future as an urban and regional planner in Australia?  

 

Here is some good news for you. Urban and Regional Planner with ANZSCO Code 232611 is included in the list of high-demand occupations in Australia. 

 

If you are innovative, logical, and a problem solver, then you can become a good urban  and regional planner in a foreign country like Australia. In this blog post, I will provide you insight  on:

 

• How to become an urban and regional planner in Australia?
• What is the skill assessment pathway for urban and regional planners in Australia?
• And More

 

Let’s get started!

 

Before moving forward, it is important to understand what the urban and regional planners are and what their roles and responsibilities are.

 

What are Urban and Regional Planners?

Urban and regional planners develop and implement plans and policies for the sustainable use of urban and rural lands, considering environmental, economic and social factors. Urban planners create communities in metropolitan areas with a focus on the layout and functionality of urban environments. While regional planners focus on the wide geographical areas, including multiple towns or cities. 

 

What Does an Urban and Regional Planner Do?

Urban and regional planners are involved in a wide range of projects including the development of new suburbs and towns, urban renewal projects and transportation links to more, such as:

• Designing and Implementation: Urban and regional planners design land plans and implement them for urban and rural land usage.
• Evaluate Client Objects: They evaluate the budgets of clients and budgetary limits
• Research: They research on the building codes, zoning regulations, and legislative aspects of planning.
• Act as a specialist: They act as specialists in development projects and building plans as well as offer advice and resolve disputes. 
• Consult with Stakeholders: They consult with the stakeholders, all relevant individuals, and organizations in urban and regional areas to gain diverse perspectives on the planning process.
• Developing and recommending. They develop and recommend appropriate land development plans.

 

Understand How to Become an Urban and Regional Planner in Australia 

 However, to become an urban and regional planner in Australia, you need to go through some essential steps, such as:

Have a Relevant Qualification

• You must have a relevant qualification comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
• You need to have Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level qualifications.
• You must have a degree in urban design and regional planning.
• You must have relevant subjects like urban design, professional and ethical practice, land use allocation and management, governance and Planning law, regional and metropolitan growth, and planning Administration.

 

Gain Relevant Experience

• You must have at least one year of highly relevant, post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level that is completed in the last five years.
• You are required to work for 20 hours or more per week.
• Your occupation must be highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

 

Acquire Relevant Skills Required  

If you want to become an urban and regional employer in Austraia,  you are required to have a relevant skill set, such as:

• Spatial Awareness: You must have a strong understanding of spatial areas and construction factors that influence the  layout and design.
• Analytical Skills: You must have the ability to analyse the complex data and information from various fields. 
• Communication Skills:  You must have an excellent command of communication and other interpersonal skills so that you can  consult with stakeholders and present your plans conveniently. 
• Problem Solving Skill: You should have the capacity to resolve conflicts and disputes and address community concerns.
• Knowledge of Regulations: You are obliged to have a thorough understanding of building zonings   and other relevant legislation. 
•  Designing Skills: You must have the ability to develop and design suitable lans for land development.

 

Obtain a Positive Skill Assessment

To become an Urban and Regional Planner in Australia, it is important  to have a valid general skill migration assessment  for most of the general skilled migration visas. For this purpose, VETASSESS is the assessment authority for urban urban and regional planners in Australia.  

 

 

Skills Assessment Process for Urban and Regional Planner

Here is a step-by-step skills assessment process to become an urban and regional planner in Australia.

Relevant Skill Assessment Body

Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS ) is the primary skill assessment body for the urban and regional planners in Australia. 

 

Urban and Regional Planner Occupation Code

The ANZSCO code for Urban and Regional Planner is 232611, which falls under Group A occupations.

 

Skill Assessment Process 

To obtain a positive skill assessment you need to follow the given steps:

Step 1: Qualification Assessment 

In the initial step, it is required to assess your academic qualifications comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree or higher in a relevant field.

 

Step 2: Post-Qualification Employment Verification

You are required to provide evidence of at least one year post-qualification employment in a highly relevant occupation at an appropriate skill level within the past five years. The employment should be full-time (20 hours or more per week). 

 

Step 3: Document Submission 

In this step, you are required to submit important documents such as your academic transcripts, employment references, and other relevant documents to the skill assessment authority, VETASSESS for urban and regional planners.

 

Step 4: Skills Assessment

Once you have submitted the documentation, VETASSESS will review your application and ensure that your qualifications and employment experience meet the criteria for a positive skill assessment. 

 

Step 5: Wait for the Outcomes

If you acquire a positive skill assessment, they will send you a formal assessment outcome that will indicate you meet all the standards of the Australian urban and regional planning industry and can become an urban and regional planner in Australia.

 

Which Occupations are is Considered Suitable Under ANZSCO?

Before moving forward, you need to understand the occupations that are suitable under ANZSCO Code 232611. These occupations are part of group A of VETASSESS and include working on large-scale projects including new suburbs, towns, industrial areas, commercial and retail developments, urban renewal projects and transportation links.

 

Occupations Considered Suitable Under ANZSCO Code	Occupations Not Considered Suitable Under ANZSCO Code
Land Planner Town Planner Traffic and Transport Planner Resource Management Planner (NZ)	Landscape Architect Architectural Draftsperson Construction Project Manager Land Economist

 

Note: These occupations are classified elsewhere in ANZSCO or are not at the required skill level.

 

Skill Level 1 – Specialisations

• Land Planner
• Resource Management Planner (NZ)
• Town Planner
• Traffic and Transport Planner

 

Average Salary of Urban and Regional Planner

The salaries can differ based on experience, location, and specific employers. The average salary of urban and regional planners in Australia is approximately AU$73,589 annually. The entry-level planners can earn up to AU$ 57,000 per year, while the experienced ones can earn at least AU$ 123,000 per year.

 

Visa Options For Urban and Regional Planners in Australia  

Here are Australian visa options available for urban and regional planners in Australia:

 

Visa Subclass	Eligibility
190: Skilled Nominated Visa	State or Territory nominated
407: Training visa	Training purposes
489: Skilled Regional	State or Territory nominated
482: Temporary Skill Shortage visa	Short-Term Stream
187: Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme	Regional sponsorship
494: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional)	Employer sponsorship
491:Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa	State or Territory nominated
186: Employer Nomination Scheme visa	Transition Pathway

 

Australian Labour Market for Urban and Regional Planner (2024-2025)

Below is an overview of labor shortages in various areas of Australia for urban and regional planners in Australia. This will help you make a wise decision about where you can fit in.

 

Region	Shortage Status
National	Shortage
Australian Capital	Territory Shortage
New South Wales	No Shortage
Northern Territory	Shortage
Queensland	Shortage
South Australia	Regional Shortage
Tasmania	Regional Shortage
Victoria	Shortage
Western Australia	Regional Shortage

 

Conclusion

As you have understood, becoming an urban and regional planner in Australia can be a rewarding career path for you. It offers the opportunity to grow your career as an urban and regional planner in international settings.

 

Though this journey includes obtaining relevant qualifications, gaining post-employment experience, and, most importantly, skill assessment from VETASESS, you can become an urban and regional planner in Australia and make significant contributions to sustainable and well-planned communities across Australia. 

 

If you are considering migrating to Australia as an urban and regional planner, consult with our professional, skilled migration consultants at the Migration. Further, they will also help you choose the right Australian visa option based on your qualifications and career aspirations. So, what are you waiting for?

 

Book your appointment and start the process now!

 

 

FAQs

Q: 1 How many urban and regional planners are employed in Australia?

There are approximately 20,100 urban and regional planners employed in Australia. 

 

Q: 2 What percentage of urban and regional planners work part time in Australia? 

Approximately 19% of urban and regional planners work part-time in Australia. 

 

Q: 3 What percentage of of urban and regional planners are female in Australia?

There are 46% of urban and regional planners are female in Australia. 

 

Q: 4 What is the median salary of urban and regional planners in Australia?

The median salary of urban and regional planners is  $2,036 in Australia. 

Q: 5 What is the median age of urban and regional planners accepted in Australia?

The median age accepted for  urban and regional planners is 39 years.

Q: 6 What is the annual employment  growth rate of urban and regional planners in Australia?

The annual employment growth rate for urban and regional planners is 1,300 new jobs per year.