PIA WA

PIA WA has been busy promoting planning as a rewarding and impactful career as part of the Become a Planner campaign.

Recently, we had the opportunity to connect with students at the Wesley College, Perth Career Expo and Mercedes College, sharing insights into what planners do and how they help shape vibrant, sustainable and well-designed communities across Western Australia.

Thank you Joyce Chung, Adrian Di Nella, Jason Hunt, Ian Humphrey, Jillian Bardos and Rebekah Thompson, who generously gave their time to support PIA WA’s Become a Planner campaign.

The secret is out!

The PIA WA State Conference 2026 is heading to Curtin University - Elizabeth Jolley Lecture Theatre!

For many planners, this will be a trip down memory lane. Some will have great memories of their time at Curtin, while others may be thinking, “I probably should have worked a little harder...”

Either way, this is your chance to return to campus, reconnect with colleagues, and an opportunity to dust off those lecture theatre note-taking skills!

🎟️ Early Bird tickets are now on sale – visit the link in our bio above.

Secure your place today and be part of the conversation shaping the future of planning.

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PIA WA Statement Supporting Planning Professionals

Momentum is building with 70+ already registered for the PIA Regional Conference at the City of Bunbury

Be part of the conversations shaping regional WA and connect with planners from across the state.

Will you be joining them?

Discretion is sought and applied by planning practitioners and local and State decision makers across Western Australia constantly, and despite being firmly embedded in our planning system, is often a source of conflict and controversy.

In recognising the importance of balancing the desire for agility and innovation in the planning decisions with public expectations around consistency, certainty and transparency, the State Government’s Action Plan for Planning Reform included key action items around discretionary powers. Outcomes of that project included amendments to the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 and the introduction of the Development Application Exercise of Discretion Guidelines (Guidelines). The project was recently recognised in the PIA WA Awards for Planning Excellence for its improvement to planning purposes.
This practical course is designed to clarify and improve confidence in those relying on, exercising and communicating discretionary powers. It will take participants through the Guidelines and revisit key principles around the exercise of discretion. Interactive workshop components will allow practitioners to consider scenarios, apply the foundations of the Guidelines and engage with colleagues around the benefits and burdens of this fundamental planning power.

Suitable for
Planning professionals and allied professions, including local government planners, councillors and all planning decision makers, would benefit most from this course.

Learning outcomes
Understand the new Guidelines and their application to decision making.
Understand the principles to consider when exercising discretionary powers, including a review of relevant case law and practical examples.
Improve confidence around the scope and limits of discretionary powers.
Improve the communication of outcomes and decisions involving the exercise of discretionary powers.
Improve connections and networks within the industry through shared experiences and wisdom

PIA WA has recently attended two career expos, connecting with students and future professionals to showcase the opportunities in planning.

Thank you to Reyna Leaw Youn, Lena Jaetschmann, Aiko Syafari, Alyssa Read, Pham Nhu Binh Nguyen for promoting planning to all the students.