Minister’s Planning Awards

The 2023 Minister’s Planning Awards are now open!

We are committed to shaping Queensland’s future — and that means investing in tomorrow’s planners by giving them an opportunity to put their skills, knowledge, and ideas to practice in real-life scenarios.

The Minister’s Planning Awards give planning students the opportunity to submit applications to demonstrate innovative and practical approaches to real-world planning challenges — particularly related to engagement and consultation in planning.

Categories

If you’re studying a planning-related degree at a Queensland university, you could be eligible to apply for one of three awards below:

Wicked Planning Problem

University students are invited to submit a planning issue and proposed solution, individually or in teams of 3, for a “wicked planning problem,” that relates to a real-world planning problem. 6-10 submissions will be shortlisted and invited to give a 10-minute presentation to a judging panel, “shark-tank” style.

Eligibility: undergraduate, post-graduate and masters planning students

Prize: $3,000 cash prize

Female Student in Planning (university nomination)

Submit a 750-word rationale addressing the student’s outstanding planning talent

Eligibility: female undergraduate, post-graduate and masters planning students

Prize: four-week paid internship

*Universities can nominate a maximum of three students for this award.

Indigenous Student in Planning (university nomination)

Submit a 750-word rationale addressing the student’s outstanding planning talent

Eligibility: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undergraduate, post-graduate and masters planning students

Prize: four-week paid internship

*Universities can nominate a maximum of three students for this award

Apply now

Previous winners

Frequently asked questions

  • Submissions must be received by 5pm Friday 29 September 2023.

  • To enter, please complete the online nomination form and submit the required documentation.

    If you are nominating a female and/or indigenous student planner, you will need to ensure that you attach a signed copy of the submission acknowledgement form, when you complete the submission form.

  • Nominations for the 2023 Minister’s Planning Awards are now open.

    This year, all undergraduate, post-graduate and masters planning students are eligible to apply!

    To apply, please complete an online nomination form and submit your documentation.

    Submissions must be received by 5pm Friday 29 September 2023.

    Before you complete the nomination form, please ensure you, and if applicable, the nominee(s), have read, understood and agree to the Minister’s Planning Awards guidelines ( 160.6 KB), including the assessment criteria, and the Minister’s Planning Awards privacy and security statement ( 100.6 KB).

    Please ensure all nominees confirm in writing that their entry is their original, unpublished work, except for any third-party material which is appropriately used, acknowledged and referenced in accordance with standard academic practice and copyright law via a signed copy of the submission acknowledgement form ( 79.9 KB).

    For university representative or lecturer nominations: Note you must attach a copy of each nominee's written confirmation and agreement of their nomination to this form.

  • The Minister’s Planning Awards will be presented at the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Queensland Awards for Planning Excellence on 24 November 2023.

    Prizes include:

    • A cash prize of $3000 awarded for the Minister's Planning Award for Wicked Planning Problem.
    • A four-week paid internship with Queensland's planning department, providing a valuable opportunity to apply your studies in a real-life context and understand Queensland's planning framework.

    Winning submissions and outstanding ideas will be featured on our website, offering a chance to showcase your work for prospective employment opportunities.

    The internships give you an opportunity to see first-hand how Queensland’s planning framework drives economic growth and delivers well-planned, sustainable and resilient communities. There is a variety of work to be involved in including regional and state planning, development assessment, statutory planning, and policy development.

    All undergraduate, post-graduate, and master's planning students are eligible to apply for the awards in 2023.

  • If you are unable to upload your submission via the online form please email planningcomms@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au to discuss other arrangements.

  • The Minister’s Planning Awards will be presented at the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Queensland Awards for Planning Excellence 24 November 2023.

  • Yes. The awards are now open to all undergraduate, post-graduate and masters students.

    Post-graduate students, who graduated from their undergraduate degree in 2022 are also welcome to submit their thesis or research project from their undergraduate studies to the Minister’s Planning Awards (thesis/research project) category.

  • As long as international students are attending an eligible university and have an appropriate visa that entitles them to work in Australia, they can apply for the Minister’s Planning Awards.

Resources

Contact us

For more information, please email planningcomms@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au

Last updated: 17 Aug 2023