The Hon. Nick Champion, Minister for Planning (SA), Media Release, 28 September 2023

A new program designed to tackle regional skills shortages in the housing and planning sectors is being established through a State and Local government partnership.

Launched on 28 September 2023, the Grow Your Own program is a joint initiative between the Malinauskas Government and Local Government Association – focused on training local talent and providing pathways to grow regional councils’ planning workforce.

The two-year pilot program will enable participating councils to support four employees – either from existing staff members or external hires – to become qualified planners, a built environment role which is critical to delivering more housing.

Successful applicants will enrol in either a Bachelor, Graduate Diploma or a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of New England, completing their studies online while continuing their role at council.

Through the program, councils in the Murraylands, Riverland and Spencer Gulf regions will receive $20,000 over two years to support the four university cadets – with the $80,000 total funding split evenly between State and Local governments.

The initiative removes the need for workers to relocate to Adelaide to study on-campus and helps offset extra costs for councils associated with employee training.

The Murray River Study Hub, led by the Rural City of Murray Bridge, and Uni Hub Spencer Gulf – established to support regional students – will deliver the program, in partnership with the University of New England and the Planning Institute of SA.

Applications to commence study in Trimester 3, from October, are now open, with councils encouraged to contact regional Hubs directly to discuss suitable candidates.

The Grow Your Own program builds on the work undertaken in partnership with the built environment sector and professions after Minister Champion established an industry body group bringing together key stakeholders earlier this year.

To date this group’s advocacy has resulted in TAFE SA creating a new planning diploma to fill entry-level council vacancies, along with Flinders University introducing a new Bachelor of Surveying from next year.

As part of its A Better Housing Future plan, the Malinauskas Government has also established the Office for Regional Housing to tackle chronic regional housing shortages.

Quotes attributable to Nick Champion

We recognise the increased pressure regional councils face to address the housing crisis and want to support the work they do to help their communities.

Planners play a crucial role in delivering new housing and this program empowers councils to grow their own skilled workforce in key regional areas. More planners mean more opportunities to fast-track development and build the housing required across the State.

The initiative enables regional staff to pursue a much-needed profession without having to move to the city to study, backed by support throughout their degree.

Quotes attributable to LGA President Mayor Dean Johnson

Planning staff shortages across the state have reached a critical point – especially when it comes to local government – and the Grow Your Own Skilled Workforce program has been created in response to this.

The state is seeing significant residential growth, particularly on the outskirts of metro Adelaide, and that has increased development application demand and placed a greater strain on council planning resources.

The Grow Your Own initiative is a brilliant way for anyone living in the Murraylands, Riverland or Spencer Gulf catchment areas to pursue a new start in a highly sought-after field, without needing to leave their hometown.

The LGA is pleased to partner alongside the State Government for this program and hope it acts as a catalyst for further investment into the future of our local planner workforce.

Quotes attributable to Rural City of Murray Bridge CEO Heather Barclay

We are thrilled to lead the delivery of this exciting new initiative on behalf of regional councils and look forward to supporting them to take up this opportunity to grow our planning workforce.

Having in-house planners is essential for councils and we know the challenges many are facing in terms of worker attraction, retention and shortages.

This program is an important step towards bolstering the number of skilled planners we have working within the local government sector.