Minister’s Planning Awards

The 2023 Minister’s Planning Award winners were announced on 24 November 2022 at the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Queensland Awards for Planning Excellence.

2023 Winners

The winners in the three categories of the 2023 Minister’s Planning Awards are:

  • Winner—Wicked Planning Problem

    Their project effectively outlines a proposed “Inclusive Homes Program”, which is based on affordable housing modules designed to be accessible to Queenslanders with disabilities and special needs. The judges were impressed with the thorough descriptions and the considered incentives for developers to join the program.

  • Female student in planning award

    Rachael is in her 4th and final year of a double degree in Urban and Environmental Planning and Science at Griffith University.

    She has achieved outstanding results throughout her studies and received multiple awards including selection for the Griffith Honours College that provides mentorship and training opportunities to high-achieving undergraduate students. Rachael is from regional Queensland and is a highly resilient student who has overcome several major challenges throughout her studies, managing her full-time academic studies with a part time student planner position, and volunteer work.

    Her Honours thesis is in transport planning as she has a passion for reducing car-dependency in Australia. It is her hope to contribute to the delivery of world-class public transit infrastructure in Brisbane by 2032

  • Indigenous student in planning award

    Jada Gilbert is achieving outstanding results in urban development through a Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Urban Development (Honours) with majors in Urban and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture at QUT.

    Jada is building connections with the QUT Planning Students Association and Oodgeroo unit and is the first member of her immediate family to attend university. She feels a strong determination to excel in her studies and plans to draw upon the wisdom inherited from her ancestors to guide her planning initiatives, aiming to infuse her cultural heritage into future land development plans.

Previous winners

About the Minister’s Planning Awards

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:

  • 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

    View the 2023 Wicked Planning Problem Submissions

  • 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.

  • 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

Please check back soon for information on the Minister’s Planning Awards for 2024.

Frequently asked questions

  • 2023 submissions closed on Friday 29 September 2023.

    Please check back soon for information on the Minister’s Planning Awards for 2024.

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

    View the 2023 Wicked Planning Problem Submissions

  • Prizes include:

    • A cash prize of $3000 was 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.

    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.

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

    Post-graduate students, who graduated from their undergraduate degree in 2023 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.

  • For further information about the Minister’s Planning Awards or to enquire about internships and graduate opportunities, please email planningcomms@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au

Contact us

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

Last updated: 27 Nov 2023