Social planning involves planning for the needs and aspirations of people and communities through strategic policy and planned actions that integrate with urban and regional planning, management planning and other planning processes. Social planning is founded on the principles of social justice (i.e. equity, access, participation and rights) and is directed towards enhancing community wellbeing through processes that increase the effectiveness of communities to achieve greater long-term control over their circumstances. (Planning Institute of Australia)

Rockhampton Regional Council is continuing to work on the following projects that aim to provide better information and planning for community including:

• Improving Council's Regional Profile and Statistics
• Priority infrastructure planning for social infrastructure
• Development of the Rockhampton Region Social Planning Group
• Various research projects regarding social issues and needs within the Region

Data and Statistical Assistance for Community Groups

The Social Planning Unit of Council provides workshops and training for community groups to use population statistics and also population projections. Data and statistics are often pivotal in forming grant applications that provide evidence of population numbers and forecasts to funding bodies. If you would like more information about obtaining a training session for your community group or organisation please contact the Social Planning Officer on 4936 8569.

RRSPG - Rockhampton Region Social Planning Group

The purpose of the Group is to:

Foster a collaborative approach to social planning in the Rockhampton Region, with a view to developing a preferred future which integrates with urban and regional planning, management planning and other planning processes.

This Group's focus is about planning for the future. Its focus is on strategic issues impacting the Rockhampton Region and how these can be best addressed through collective thinking, planning and action.

The main objectives of the Group are:

• Establish and progress a Strategic Think Tank Model to enhance Regional Social Planning outcomes in the Rockhampton Region.
• Establish a credible collective voice on social opportunities and challenges and possible ways forward.
• Foster collaborative partnerships with relevant stakeholders and their organisations.
• Build a stronger human service sector to assist the community to strategically address priority issues and trends impacting them and their desired future.
• Enhance planning and coordination across the sector for better resource utilisation and opportunity harnessing (e.g. funding into the Region, corporate enterprise support).
• Encourage better social policy and planning outcomes by way of integrated strategic regional plans and programming.

Click here to access the RRSPG Terms of Reference

Social Plan

Council has developed a Social Plan which sets out community development and social service priorities and how Council will work with the community in addressing these priorities over the next five years. The Social Plan was developed from input and feedback received from the community as well as consideration of other research and planning initiative findings.

The Social Plan aligns with Council's Vision and Strategic Planning Framework. It therefore assists and feeds into higher level plans of Council such as 'Rockhampton Region Towards 2050', the Long Term Community Plan (currently being developed) and the Corporate Plan. Click here to access the Social Plan.

For further information please contact Council's Community Development Office on telephone: 4936 8569, fax: 1300 22 55 79 or email: CommunityDevelopment@rrc.qld.gov.au

Office Location

Social Planning for Rockhampton Regional Council is based in the Community Development Office on the Ground Floor of the School of Arts Building in Bolsover Street Rockhampton. However the Social Planning Officer can attend various Council office locations if required.

Further Information

Phone: 4936 8569
Fax: 1300 22 55 79
Email: enquiries@rrc.qld.gov.au
Address: PO Box 1860, Rockhampton Q 4700