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SHORT COURSE

Social Planning and Community Development

$ 2,990.00

START DATE

13 August

MODE

On Campus (Sydney)

DURATION

32 hrs

COMMITMENT

4 x 8 hrs

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Lead Presenter

Edwina Deakin

Edwina Deakin
Senior Manager, Research and Advisory at the UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance

Edwina Deakin is currently a Senior Manager, Research and Advisory at the UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance. She is the Project Manager and a lead author of a soon to be released IPPG Guide to Impactful Service Reviews.

Edwina has been involved in commissioning, designing and delivering service reviews and program evaluations for over 25 years -as a NSW government policy director, social policy consultant and now as the lead researcher on multiple service review initiatives on behalf of different state and local government clients. 

Edwina has worked with a wide range of organisations - undertaking over 40 major evaluation and review projects.

Edwina holds a Master’s degree in Social Science, Bachelor of Arts Honours degree, Graduate Diploma in Education, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She is also Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  

More Less

Social planning brings together social, economic, environmental and cultural perspectives to effectively manage change – changing populations, changing expectations and how change is resisted or embraced. This course will equip you with increased knowledge of social planning and community development theory and practice.

About this course

Effective social planning and community development brings together social, economic, environmental and cultural perspectives to support communities and also manage change at the local level. This social planning and community development course will provide you with increased knowledge, skills and capacities to led or contribute to quality planning and development processes based in contemporary theory and good practice.

This course explores social planning and community development as applied to local government. Councils have a responsibility to their communities to continually make sense of socioeconomic, political and cultural trends and are uniquely placed to respond appropriately and efficiently to the factors affecting local communities. The course will offer different approaches, tools and techniques to support you to identify and respond to opportunities and challenges in your communities addressing social policy, stakeholder engagement, community safety, social infrastructure, demographic change, environmental issues, plus place and neighbourhood renewal.

In this social planning and community development course you will be encouraged to deploy core social justice principles (equity, access, participation, and rights) as well as Quadruple Bottom Line planning concepts (social, environmental, economic and civic leadership) embedding in Integrated Planning and Reporting Frameworks - to deliver positive outcomes for communities.

Key benefits of this course

By the completion of this social planning and community development course, you should have:

  • Increased knowledge and understanding of social planning and community development theory, good practice and their role in decision making
  • Applied community development approaches - such as social impact assessment, social infrastructure analysis, ‘Safety by Design’, and stakeholder engagement - to local scenarios
  • Capacity to think strategically and practically about place and communities, using social, cultural, economic, environmental, and leadership drivers of change, working collaboratively with colleagues with colleagues and other professions
  • Acquired project planning methods, tools and techniques that reflect social justice, ethics and Quadruple Bottom Line concepts required in local government settings
  • Analysed current challenges and barriers, plus personal views and values and their impact on professional practice
  • Learnt skills in impactful communications and report writing relevant to social planning and community development decision making.

Digital badge and certificate

A digital badge and certificate will be awarded following the successful completion of any necessary tasks or assessments to demonstrate acquired learning of the short course or for meeting attendance and/or participation requirements.

Learn more about UTS Open digital badges.

Course outline

This social planning and community development course is comprised of four interlinked modules, each delivered over a day:

Module 1: Introduction to Social Planning and Community Development

This module covers the key theory and good practice principles that underpin quality social planning and community development. It includes discussion of:

  • Legislative and Regulatory Requirements, including local government IP&R issues
  • Social justice principles and the role of Quadruple Bottom Line thinking
  • Effective engagement and decision making principles
  • Different types of planning and key considerations including common community, recreational and infrastructure activities, plus safety, local conflicts, and crisis management.

Module 2: Social Policy, Planning and Project Management

This module introduces effective project management approaches to delivering quality social and community outcomes. It includes discussion of:

  • Practice and management of specific social planning and community development activities
  • Introduction to social planning research
  • Introduction to effective stakeholder engagement
  • Working with communities and managing change in a dynamic environment.

Module 3: Social Planning Methods, Tools and Techniques

This module covers specific approaches, tools and techniques for working at the local level, with specific reference to using evidence based research and engagement techniques. It includes discussion of:

  • Designing, implementing and managing one off or ongoing social planning or community development initiatives
  • Common data sources and how to use in community focused social research.

Module 4: Place Based Approaches, Measuring Impact and Influencing Decision Making

This module will draw together the theory and practice across the three previous modules and applies the learning to place-based scenarios. It includes discussion of:

  • Social Planning and Community Development measurement, evaluation and learning
  • Community Indicators
  • Communicating with Impact and writing for decision makers.   

Price 

Full price: $2,990 (GST-free)*

*Price subject to change. Please check price at time of purchase. 

Course delivery

This short course will be delivered as an interactive workshop consisting of an instructor-led lecture, group and individual activities. This training approach allows participants to work through concepts introduced by the trainer in an application-focused teaching environment. Participants will challenge their understanding of the concepts and consider their application once back in their individual workplace.

In-house training solutions

Social Planning and Community Development can also be customised and/or delivered in-house. Find out more.

Enrolment conditions

Course purchase is subject to UTS Open Terms and Conditions. 

COVID-19 response 

UTS complies with latest Government health advice. Delivery of all courses complies with the UTS response to COVID-19.

Contact us

For any questions on enrolment or payment, please email support@open.uts.edu.au 

If you have a specific question on course content or requirements, please email ippg.learning@uts.edu.au

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for Social Planners and Councillors.

Book a session

Wed 13 Aug 2025-
Thu 18 Sep 2025
Expert: Edwina Deakin
  • UTS City Campus. Click on the underlined sessions and hours total link below to reveal specific session details.
  • On Campus (Sydney)
  • 4 sessions, 32 hours total

Enrolments close Wednesday 13 August 2025 9am AEST, or when all places have been filled, whichever occurs first.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

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