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SHORT COURSE

Social Planning and Community Development

$ 2,990.00

START DATE

14 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 Advisory at the UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance

Edwina is a Senior Manager Advisory at the UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance and Centre for Local Government. She is the Project Manager and a lead author responsible for updating the IPPG resource Conducting Impactful Service Review Guide due out in the second half of 2022.

Edwina has been involved in commissioning, designing and delivering service and program evaluation for over 25 years - as a NSW government policy director, and social policy consultant. She has also worked extensively as policy and governance policy advisor and project manager.

Edwina has worked with a wide range of organisations – leading over 30 major evaluation projects including for Federal, State and local government authorities and peak bodies. She has also worked as a professional adult trainer and capacity building advisor and coach for over two decades.

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.

Course structure

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.  

Learning outcomes 

After completing this social planning and community development course, you will 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.  

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

If you have a specific question on course content or requirements, please contact us.

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for Social Planners and Councillors.

Book a session

Wed 14 Aug 2024-
Fri 20 Sep 2024
Expert: Edwina Deakin
  • UTS City Campus
  • On Campus (Sydney)
  • 4 sessions, 32 hours total

Enrolments close 9am Wednesday, 14 August 2024 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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