Geography and Planning
Cutting-edge research balancing human development with the natural environment
The discipline of geography at UWA has a long and proud history, dating back 50 years, of producing high quality research and well trained graduates that have addressed some of the big economic, social, and environmental challenges facing Western Australia, the Indo-Pacific region and the world beyond.
Department Strengths
The defining and recognised strength of Geography at UWA is our teaching and research profile that emphasises the integration of the human and physical dimensions of place-based and engaged geographical and planning enquiry. Our work at the nexus of people and the environment is integrated across the social and physical sciences, with a scholarly commitment to social equality and environmental justice, resilience in communities and social-ecological systems, and societal transformation in a rapidly changing world.
Areas of interest
Our areas of interest focus on topics of global concern including urbanisation, international development, climate change, conservation, migration and environmental management. The Department offers a range of exciting degree programs that enable students to develop their expertise in these areas, all of which are supplemented with a range of domestic and overseas fieldwork opportunities. Students are encouraged to develop skills of relevance to the workplace through activities such as writing consultancy reports, policy briefs and engaging in team-building and leadership activities. Our teaching is backed up with state of the art laboratory and analytical equipment and the latest GIS, drone and remote sensing technology.
Careers
Employers have noted that the integration of the human and physical dimensions of inquiry and analysis in our teaching programs gives UWA geography graduates a particular comparative advantage in the job market. Our graduates develop exciting careers both domestically and overseas, working for governments, the private sector and NGOs in areas ranging from planning, environmental sustainability and resource management through to community development.
Research strengths
- Enhancing resilience and facilitating societal transformation
- Our research links the social and political with the ecological, to better understand how to foster resilient and inclusive communities and productive social-ecological systems, through transformational learning and an appreciation for human and non-human interdependencies.
- Monitoring deep change and slow emergencies in our altered landscapes
- Our researchers study the continuum of environmental and physical changes from the deep past to the present, with an eye to mapping, monitoring, predicting, and managing the complex science-policy challenges of our current and future world.
- Pursuing structural and environmental justice in a rapidly changing world
- To overcome inequalities, our engaged scholarship emphasises inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable planning practice and decision-making processes, community functioning, and empowerment, ranging from urban transport systems to global climate justice.
- Understanding and addressing social and spatial inequality
- Our researchers examine disparity and disadvantage at multiple scales, to understand how pervasive inequalities and patterns of exclusion shape vulnerability, uneven development, and socially, economically and environmentally differential outcomes within society, both in Australia and the global political economy.
Courses
Our students work alongside world-leading experts, exploring highly topical and relevant issues including:
- climate change
- regional planning
- urbanisation
- sustainable natural resource management
- population growth.
Our teaching is designed to enable students to gain valuable workplace skills in data analysis, problem-solving, creative and focused writing, communication and teamwork. Students benefit from working in the classroom and in the field, broadening their experience through work placement and international fieldwork opportunities. Our undergraduate courses also lead into Master’s level programs specialising in urban planning, international development and environmental planning.
Geography graduates are consistently in high demand by employers across a wide range of professions. We hold regular careers events to enable students to talk directly to graduates and potential employers and take great pride in the contributions our graduates make towards a better society and a more sustainable environment.
Undergraduate
- Geographical Sciences (BSc)
- Human Geography and Planning (BA)
- Environmental Geography and Planning (BEnvDes)
Postgraduate
Advisory Board
- Dr Genevieve Simpson
-
Government Relations Manager, Western Power; Honorary Research Fellow UWA
Genevieve sees energy service as deeply geographical - with energy networks being place-bound entities, interacting with local livelihoods and their role in place-based job creation. She received her PhD from the University of Western Australia in 2017 for work examining perceptions of residential solar photovoltaic system adoption, including from the perspectives of government, industry and the community and accounting for regional differences. She now works in government relations for one of the state's largest energy utilities, facilitating conversations with government on implementation of energy policy and building advocacy for reforms in the energy space. Genevieve's insights into working as a geographer in the energy sector will help her guide the future UWA geography and planning curriculum with a focus on critical thinking and communications skills. - Dr Sandie McHugh
-
Director, DWER
- Mr Adrian Cagnana
-
Senior Place Planner, Roberts Day
- Mr Clay Thomas
-
Project Director, Peet Limited
Graduating from UWA in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science (Geography and Environmental Management), Clay began his career in Local Government town planning with the City of Mandurah. Moving into the private sector and into urban development, Clay has held Development Management positions with Frasers Property and national ASX listed developer Peet Limited, where he currently works as Project Director. In this role, Clay is a member of the Group’s Western Australian Leadership Team, and is responsible for the planning, project delivery and management of a significant portfolio of mixed-use urban development projects. - Mr Grant Arthur
-
Director Regional Services, Wheatbelt Development Commission
- Ms Rebecca Didcoe
-
Planner, Taylor Burrell Barnett
Bec completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science and International Relations in 2017 and graduated with a Master of Urban and Regional Planning in 2019, both through the University of Western Australia. Prior to working in urban and regional planning, Bec utilised her political science undergraduate background in a variety of jobs in Australia and the United States across both the public and private sector including campaigns, research and community based projects. Since moving into planning she has gained two years’ experience working in urban and regional planning in state government and an urban planning consultancy. Bec is currently employed as a Planner at Taylor Burrell Barnett.
Centres
Planning and Transport Research CentreThe Planning and Transport Research Centre (PATREC) conducts collaborative, applied research and teaching in support of policy in the connected spaces of transport and land use planning in Western Australia.
Centre for Regional DevelopmentThe Centre for Regional Development at The University of Western Australia focuses on understanding the major economic, social and environmental opportunities and challenges facing rural, regional and remote Australia.
Key staff
For more information about our work and current projects, contact our key researchers:
Our research news
Biodiversity Council to spearhead solutions to crisis
Leading experts , including Indigenous knowledge holders, have united with philanthropists and universities to form a new council which will advocate for biodiversity.
Read moreTransmigration study finds benefits for second generation
A study of an Indonesian migration program has found second-generation migrants tended to become dominant players in their adopted farming area by being able to negotiate ‘both worlds’ but the system had elements of colonialism.
Read moreTop researchers raising the bar .... over a drink
Perth pub patrons will be able to order a pint, a parmi and a side order of lively discussion as some of Australia’s top researchers share their knowledge in The University of Western Australia’s Raising the Bar event.
Read more