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How to Become a Planning Consultant: Australian Careers in Business

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What is a Planning Consultant?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a Planning Consultant?

A Planning Consultant helps shape the way towns, cities, and regions grow. They build strategic plans, advise on policies, and guide projects from start to finish. Their work covers housing, transport, parks, and local business areas.

Planning Consultants work with many different people. They meet with government staff, community groups, developers, and environment experts. They take in different views, then build plans that meet those needs.

Day to day, a Planning Consultant looks at planning laws, drafts policy papers, and writes reports. They also check how well current plans are working. When gaps appear, they suggest changes and present their findings to clients and decision-makers.

Australia needs more skilled planners. Jobs and Skills Australia has listed Urban and Regional Planners as being in national shortage. This means strong job prospects and a real chance to shape the places where people live and work.

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Career snapshots For Planning Consultants

Planning Consultants are a core part of the Urban and Regional Planners workforce in Australia. Around 18,800 planners are employed nationally (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). Median full-time weekly earnings are $2,316 (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025).

Most planners work full-time. Around 81% are in full-time roles at an average of 40 hours a week. The median age is 39. Annual job growth runs at around 200 new roles per year.

Jobs and Skills Australia has listed Urban and Regional Planners on the national shortage list. This points to strong hiring and long-term job security for new entrants.

What will I do?

A Planning Consultant guides projects and policies from concept to delivery. They blend research, analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Each day brings different challenges and a chance to shape how communities grow.

  • Developing strategic plans – Creating plans that set out goals and actions for land use and development.
  • Implementing policies – Coordinating the roll-out of policies and ensuring teams follow them.
  • Monitoring progress – Tracking how well plans and policies are working and flagging issues early.
  • Conducting policy research – Analysing planning laws, data, and trends to inform decisions.
  • Consulting with stakeholders – Advising government officials and board members on policy and planning matters.
  • Preparing reports – Drafting policy documents and reports that share findings and recommendations.
  • Representing the organisation – Attending negotiations and public forums to advocate for planning outcomes.
  • Setting accountability measures – Building systems to track whether policies are achieving their goals.

What skills do I need?

A Planning Consultant needs a broad mix of skills. Strong research and thinking skills are key for making sense of complex planning data. Good communication helps them present findings clearly to government staff, clients, and community groups.

They also need solid project management skills to run multiple work streams at once. A good grasp of planning laws and environment rules is critical. Most roles expect a degree in urban planning, geography, or a related field. PIA membership is also expected.

Skills/attributes

  • Analytical thinking
  • Clear written and verbal communication
  • Project management
  • Knowledge of planning laws and policy
  • Strategic planning
  • Research and data analysis
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Problem-solving
  • Attention to detail
  • Time management and organisation
  • Adaptability
  • Understanding of environmental and social impacts
  • Proficiency in planning software and GIS tools
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution
  • Leadership and team coordination

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About the author

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.