This unit will explore the immense economic, social and environmental transformation of regional Australia. It is roughly organized into three parts. During Part I, we will examine what rural and regional Australia is defined by policies and scholarships. We will also examine how sustainability is defined and measured in relation to regional development. Part II we’ll use multi-disciplinary perspectives to examine the key drivers and processes of rural and regional development in Australia (globalization, economic restructuring, demographic transition, and environmental change including natural disasters etc.). This involves not only an understanding of the wider changes, but also an appreciation of how these changes are experienced differently by places and people in terms of sustainability. Finally, during Part III we will examine sustainable development at three scales: region, regional city and community through case studies. We will pay particular attentions to sustainable planning and look at different ways regions, cities and communities achieve sustainability. The unit will conclude by considering what is necessary to meet the ongoing challenges to create regions and cities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from UC self assessment

Assessment tasks

Continue maintaining the interactive Zoom sessions for discussing assessment tasks and their alignment with weekly learning content.

Feedback from UC self assessment

Student engagements

Provide weekly online mini-lectures to clarify learning activities and content for the week.

Feedback from Student feedback and UC self assessment

Learning contents

Continuously update the unit's learning materials and uphold authentic assessment components.