This course has been designed specifically to give students an appreciation of the issues associated with planning for rural areas, a vital component of land use management in Australia. Rural areas include the agricultural land, natural areas and urban settlements of regional Australia. It introduces students to a range of practical planning documents and instruments, including rural lands studies, rural strategies, Local Environmental Plans and Development Control Plans. Students will also learn about the various policy mechanisms used both in Australia and overseas. The course utilises fieldbased learning and usually involves a fieldtrip to a rural NSW location during which students undertake a rural planning exercise with practical application for a local council.