Planning Institute of Australia is the peak national body representing town planning and the planning profession in Australia. PIA represents approximately 5000 members nationally and internationally. It is governed by a National Board of Directors and managed by a professional administration. It is a member-based organisation with its management complemented by volunteers, who support and contribute to its activities on various levels. PIA runs a number of events at both the National and State/Territory levels, including an annual National Congress, an Annual State Conference in most States/Territories, professional development seminars, and a number of social occasions. PIA also presents State and National Awards for Planning Excellence to recognise and publicise outstanding achievements in planning and design, and has a code of professional conduct to which all members are required to adhere. PIA is closely aligned with a global network of other planning professional bodies throughout the world including the American Planning Association and Royal Town Planning Institute. PIA also publishes Australian Planner, Australia's leading peer-reviewed journal for the planning profession, and the most read and influential planning journal in Australia and the Pacific Region. It is published quarterly, distributed in March, June, September and December each year. The Planning Institute of Australia holds an annual National Congress on a rotational basis between the capital cities.
Background
The Planning Institute of Australia was founded in 1951 and is the only national organisation representing qualified urban and regional planners and other related disciplines in Australia. Originally known as the Regional and Town Planning Institute, it later became the Royal Australian Planning Institute, until 2002 when the current name was adopted.
University affiliation
The Institute works closely Australian universities providing accreditation to town planning courses and programs. The current list of accredited programs includes: ACT
