Two of the award categories celebrate research and education. The Cutting Edge Research and Learning Award recognizes outstanding achievement in planning scholarship, research or teaching; and the Outstanding Student Project Award recognizes exemplary work by a student.
Cutting Edge Research and Teaching
Award: Creating Liveable Cities in Australia (VIC)
Project team: Healthy Liveable Cities Group – RMIT University
Jury comment: The judges commended the project for its provision of a comprehensive baseline measure for urban liveability for all Australian states and territories.
Commendation: Gamification of Planning Education: A Co-operative Multi-player game for Urban Planning Education (QLD)
Project team: Nicholas Stevens MPIA, Johanna Rosier MPIA (fellow), Nicholas Hansen, Christian Jones, Uwe Terton, Ben Rolfe, Laura Boshammer – University of the Sunshine Coast
Outstanding Student Project
Award: Ruby Rushforth PIA (Assoc.) (SA)
Project: Are the master planned communities, Bowden and Lightsview, socially sustainable from an urban design perspective?
Jury comment: The judges commended Ruby’s project for providing a well written and engaging account of an under-researched and often taken-for-granted area – the outcomes of the planning decisions around which our residential environments are structured.
Commendation: Giles Graham PIA (Assoc.) (WA)
Project: How can transport planners maximize mode-shift towards active (bicycle) transit in Perth, Western Australia?
Commendation: Kathryn Weaver (NSW)
Project: Walking with women: A female review of safety in the Sydney commercial district