Online Consultant Planner Registration

Looking for a Consultant Planner in your area? Click here to access the PIA Consultant's Directory

Click here for the Need a Planner? brochure

PIA Consultant Planners’ Group
PIA Consultant Directory
For More Information

PIA Consultant Planners’ Group

PIA Consultant Planners is a special interest group recognised by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). It comprises PIA members and associates who work in planning consultancy. The group exists to support and represent the interests of consultant planners. Consultancy firms with at least one principal who is a Member of PIA can also be part of the Consultant Planners’ Group.

Like other PIA Special Interest Groups – Local Government Planning Network and the National Young Planner Network – PIA Consultant Planners primarily operates at a Division (State/Territory) level. Unlike other special interest groups, there is not a national committee or convenor for Consultant Planners, but several States have active groups. Some Divisions have formal committees, while others operate more informal networks. PIA provides guidance and support to each Group locally to the extent that resources permit.

Being part of the Consultant Planners’ Group also provides you with a range of benefits associated with belonging to a local and national network of like-minded professionals. This includes access to events, forums, news, notes and other information relating to the particular aspects of consultant planning. Information relevant to consultant planners is promoted through our website and in national and local PIA member bulletins.

Objectives of the PIA Consultant Planners’ Group

Through the Consultant Planners’ Group, PIA aims to:

• Promote quality consultant planners nationally and internationally 
• Raise recognition of planning consultancy services & member firms 
• Promote the professional interests of members 
• Maintain professional ethical, skill & competency standards 
• Advance skill levels, education & training of consultant planners 
• Develop and disseminate practice-related knowledge & information 
• Provide a forum for exchange of views amongst consultant planners 
• Promote issues of concern to consultant planners to the community, governments, the private sector and academia

How to Join

To register your interest in the PIA Consultant Planners’ Group or to find out more about becoming a PIA Member, please contact the PIA National Membership Officer or telephone (02) 6262 5933.

To find out more about PIA Consultant Planners in your local area, contact the Division as follows:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

PIA Consultant Directory

The PIA Consultant Directory is a tool available for the public to search for consultant planning firms and sole traders across Australia. It is accessed from the PIA website.  People can use the Consultant Directory to assist them in finding a planning consultant in a particular State or Territory, a firm with expertise in a particular area, an organisation offering a particular type of service, or even to identify the principal of a planning consultancy.

For a firm to be eligible to list on the PIA Consultant Directory, at least one principal must be a Member, Fellow or Life Fellow of PIA. Listing in the Consultant Directory provides clients and members of the public a sense of assurance and legitimacy about the planning services a firm offers.

What are the Benefits of Listing?

For a nominal annual fee, consultant planning firms and sole traders are able to be listed on the Consultant Directory for a particular State or Territory.
Listing on the Consultant Directory gives a firm access the following services from PIA:

• A profile on the online PIA Consultant Directory

Each listing includes a range of information about the consultancy, including:

• a description of the firm,
• planning services offered, 
• a summary of relevant experience, 
• the name and details for at least one principal, and
• contact details and website links.

A company logo may also be included in the listing. Organisations listed in the Directory are recognised and distinguishable in the market as PIA Consultant Planners.  People use the facility because they know the planners listed are Members of PIA who have professional skills and competencies and adhere to the PIA Code of Professional Conduct.

The PIA Consultant Directory is an effective and economical way for planning consultants to promote and market their organisation directly to an active audience.

• A listing in the local PIA Consultant Planners promotional brochure (for each state/territory you are listed)

A PIA Consultant Planners brochure (‘Need a Planner?’) is available from, and distributed by PIA in each State or Territory. When this brochure is provided to local governments and other agencies and organisations, it is accompanied by a listing of PIA Consultant Planners from the local Directory. PIA also provides this local information to members of the public in response to enquiries about planning services. 

Being listed on the Consultant Directory also provides the firm with the benefits of belonging to the PIA Consultant Planners Group, and the principal will receive information from PIA about events, forums, news, notes and other information relevant to consultants in professional planning practice.  We’ll keep you posted on the activities of the PIA Consultant Planners Group on the website and in PIA member bulletins.

How Much Does it Cost?

A PIA Consultant Directory listing costs $170 per annum (plus GST) for each state or territory in which a firm registers.  Listings are renewed annually at the end of the financial year (30 June), and a pro rata fee scheme exists for listings purchased during the financial year: 

June, July, August - $170.00 (plus GST)
September, October, November - $127.50 (plus GST)
December, January, February - $85.00 (plus GST)
March, April, May - $42.50 (plus GST)

All listed members will be notified each May of the renewal process for the following financial year.  

There is a $60 administration fee payable for new listings. This fee will only need to be repaid if the listing ‘lapses’ (if it is not renewed annually).

How to List

To list a firm on the PIA Consultant Directory, you need to register online. When you register here you indicate your interest in the PIA Consultant Planners Group, and create your firm’s listing on the Consultant Directory at the same time. 

You will be asked to supply a range of information about your organisation including a description of your firm, the services you offer, any relevant experience, and the name and membership number of at least one principal of the company who is a Member, Fellow or Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia. 

You will be asked to enter a username and password.  These details will enable you to access your company information at any time, and make amendments and changes whenever you need to. 

After registering your organisation you will be sent an email from the PIA National Web Administrator informing you of what you need to do next to activate your listing. 

For More Information

If you have any questions about PIA Consultant Planners or would like more information, or details for a contact in your area, please contact PIA National Office on the details below:

Phone – 02 6262 5933

Email – National Membership Officer