The ‘Grow your Own’ project seeks to address regional skill shortages in SA with the aim to educate planners and work towards a long-term strategy to solve the lack of qualified planners in regional SA.

Outcomes

The ‘Grow your Own” project will aim to educate qualified planners locally through online learning supported by a regional study hub. The aim of the project is to create a stable workforce of planners in regional South Australia.

The project has been designed through a partnership of SA’s Regional University Centers and the University of New England, Australia. This project will also work with an already established state government reference group with the aim of exploring opportunities to re-establish South Australian undergraduate planning degrees.

Background and purpose

Currently, there is a shortage of planners in South Australia, but no undergraduate urban and regional planning course available through South Australia Universities to support a pipeline of qualified planners.

Through targeted promotion of the sector needs, providing study options that align with individual skills and experience and utilising an existing, supported learning environment for students in South Australia,  Councils can play a lead role in building their planning workforce across the State.

This project is part of the Australian Government Regional University Centre program which is seeking to enable students in rural, regional and remote Australia to access higher education without having to leave their communities.

The project also aim to broker partnerships with universities and tertiary education providers to facilitate delivery of qualifications to help address the region’s professional workforce shortages.

Project Delivery

This program will be delivered through the Australia Government Department of Education Regional University Centres (RUC).

Through established campuses, regional students will have free access to learning tools, dedicated personnel for learning support and course delivery, as well as connections to business and industry for placements, internships and paid work.

The Murray River Study Hub and Uni Hub Spencer Gulf operate as Regional University Centres in South Australia and have collaborated to create this initiative

The (RUC) will  partner with universities to deliver ‘mixed mode’ or distance education of qualifications that help to address regional workforce shortages, providing university students the support, space, and technology to study individually or in groups. In addition, RUC’s work closely with industry, the community, schools and tertiary providers to promote study pathways and support the delivery of courses in sectors that address skill shortages, with a vision to grow our own competitive, vibrant and self-reliant economy and community.

There is no cost to Council’s to participate in this initiative. Financial investment by individual Councils will be through incentives applied to employees to encourage enrolment and support their study.

Project Progress, February 2024

Projects progress: 25%

This project has progressed and has been promoted extensively across regional SA through LGA, regional discussions, social media, presentations to schools and radio interviews. The three councils have received student registration. Two additional rounds have been scheduled in 2024. These will align with the university timetables.