The purpose of this assessment is to identify one planning issue that is discussed in the media in the last month and provide a critical commentary on the position or positions held by the author. The nature of your response is to be similar to articles written in The Conversation or as a Perspective piece in newplanner.

As part of your critique you should also consider the implications to the sector/organisation that you will be working in as part of your placement.

There are two components:

1. Identify a current planning issue as discussed in the mainstream media and or as released by the Minister for Planning or her Department.  This is to include what and how previous reporting has positioned the facts or opinions and support this with your own background reading and research on the issue (including social media, government documents, legislation and academic articles). Your conclusion should provide an assessment as to the degree of ‘balance’ based on the various perspectives and interests, what agenda may have been sought and a personal position on the way forward (1000 words maximum excluding references).

2. Provide a 250 word (max) summary of the article to a senior manager in the placement organisation as a briefing note. This should include a summary of key issues, relevance and impact to the organisation and other matters you consider important.

You are required to prepare your CV for the purpose of applying for a graduate level planning position. Accompanying your CV is a 2 page maximum cover letter outlining your case for the position and addressing the required knowledge and key experiences (as below).

Required knowledge

• Degree in planning or equivalent
• Computer skills including online information resources and Power point
• Knowledge of statutory planning requirements

Key experiences

• Gathering and manipulating data and information into reports
• Working as part of a team
• Drafting reports, documentation and correspondence
• Ability to communicate with key internal and external stakeholders.

The presentation is intended to be a crisp, high-calibre professional submission of your project including a summary of the objectives of your partner organisation. The presentation is to be made in a Power Point format. Issues to be considered include:

• project description and expected outcomes
• the project management plan (Assessment 4) and its relationship to the unfolding of your project
• what issues have you identified about your workplace that may affect your project
• what issues have you identified about yourself and your immediate supervisor/mentor ( this should inform your reflective journal)
• identified relationship-building issues and networking in relation to success of Project and your ongoing career.

Images, graphics, anecdotes are all legitimate material if they add value (or another dimension) to your analysis.

The time limit for presentations will be strictly enforced. Tailoring your presentation to the time limit is an assessable element.

This assessment task is the development of a PMP for the major project your will be doing in your placement. Project management is essential for a planner as for most other disciplines today. It is a tool to assist in the delivery of projects on-time, on-budget and with the expected outcomes. The purpose of the plan is to guide the way the project is developed, implemented, reviewed and evaluated. A detailed plan of action for your project is required after you have undertaken some initial investigation. The Plan will contain a work plan and timeframes and will be developed with your workplace supervisor. You should consider contingences in the timing and delivery of milestone outcomes that may result from changes in scope of the project, organisational circumstances, resources and objectives. The PMP is an excellent way of getting key stakeholders to agree up front on:

• the objectives of the project
• the kinds of tasks and resources involved, and
• key milestones, critical dates, and timelines for completion.

The assignment is to write an essay on the value of reflective practice.

There are two options:

1. Concisely outline the four qualities Sandercock identifies as comprising an emerging planning imagination. The synopsis can be presented in critical terms and you are required to discuss at least two of the qualities with examples that you have encountered in your planning placement, in the research literature, in the media or from other personal experience. In reflecting on the essay you may choose to discuss its content directly or in indirect terms with your workplace colleagues for their ideas and impressions.

2. Summarise the value of reflection in regional planning undertaken by Fenner as part of his review of the Central Coast NSW. Who were the main actors and what were their roles and challenges. Discuss in detail four key lessons and how these relate to your work placement and your appreciation of strategic planning.

Assessment Criteria

• Written expression, including readability, fluency, grammar, and structure
• Clear outline of the four qualities identified in the article
• Discussion of relevant examples that illustrate at least two of the qualities identified in the article (Sandcock) or four key lessons and relevance (Fenner)
• Creative and ‘lateral’ ideas and suggestions as to the relevance of ‘planning imagination’ (Sandcock) or iterative planning (Fenner)  and practical methods to implement it
• Critical approach as to aspects of the article or any limitations where appropriate and if justified 

Relevant materials

Sandercock, L. 2004. ‘Towards a Planning Imagination for the 21st Century’ JAPA, 70: 2.

Fenner, R. 2005. Learning for the Past Research Project – Central Coast NSW. State of Australian Cities Conference 30 Nov- 2 Dec, Griffith University, Brisbane. http://www.griffith.edu.au/conference/state-australian-cities-2005/papers/city-governance 

A Reflective Journal is a record of your thoughts and experiences during your Planning Placement. It is essentially a learning tool, designed to help you make the most of your Placement and does so by encouraging you to:

• Identify the key elements of what you have learned/experienced;
• Evaluate these experiences; and
• Plan future activities which build on these experiences.

Length and format

The format that your Reflective Journal Entries take is entirely up to you, however the Reflective Journal you submit for assessment must be an edited and ‘tighter’ version of the daily journal and should not exceed 2,000 words in length. 

This is an evaluation and report by your supervisor on your project and placement