Aspiring NSW planners to get new diploma pathway
Prospective TAFE students in NSW will soon have access to a new diploma in planning.
The pathway has been facilitated by a collaboration between the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, TAFE NSW, local government NSW, and the Planning Institute of Australia.
Those who take part in the diploma will learn essential skills in assessment, research and review of planning applications that will help them become paraplanners in local councils.
The decision comes off the back of concerning data that found that a shortage of planners contributed to a 28 per cent increase in the average number of days taken to determine local council applications in NSW between 2021 and 2023.
Research from the Productivity Commission also found that between 2016 and 2021, Sydney lost twice as many people aged 30 to 40 as it gained.
During that period, 35,000 people in that age bracket arrived in Sydney while 70,000 people left the city.
“While we have a whole generation of people who can’t afford to rent or buy a home in NSW, we can’t afford to be slowing down housing approvals,” the NSW government said.
Paul Scully, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, stated: “Our role is to create capacity in the planning system for industry to deliver more homes, services and jobs.”
“Planners do work that benefits everyone. I’m pleased that the NSW government is continuing to support this vital profession with this new pathway and by connecting existing talent with emerging talent,” he said.
The new TAFE diploma in planning will be complemented by a mentorship program which will allow hundreds of new paraplanning students to access help from experienced planners.
It’s a program which has been found to benefit both mentors and mentees, with senior planners who participated in the program reporting improved wellbeing, job satisfaction, and career development.
Meanwhile, one mentee from Shoalhaven City Council stated that the program improved their “ability to feel confident in prioritising my career needs and then working out ways to achieve them”.
Steven Whan, Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, said that the new diploma and mentorship program “will help deliver a strong pipeline of skilled workers to the planning industry”.
“Planners are a key part of alleviating the NSW housing crisis and I’m glad TAFE can play a role in training the next generation.”
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