Rural Communities
Vibrant rural communities are crucial to economic opportunities, social vitality and the environmental sustainability of rural areas. Prosperous, sustainable agricultural systems and functional rural communities often rely on each other.
In community development, we work with community members to foster the strength and resilience of their community, underpinning the improvement of people’s quality of life and the management of the landscapes they depend on. In agricultural extension, we help rural people and scientists to work together to better manage agricultural enterprises and natural resources.
Rural community development involves working with people and community organisations to identify and mobilise local assets, help sustain communities in the face of change, ensure appropriate engagement of people and help manage conflict. It offers many opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, in collaboration with a variety of other sciences and professions.
Why study rural communities:
Want to understand how your agricultural practice or animal studies can help communities throughout the world? Do you want to help communities and regions to achieve sustainable development? Or do you want to learn how to work well in teams? If so, study and research in rural communities is for you.
Rural communities graduates will find employment in:
- Community engagement and policy roles in government and industry
- Regional bodies for natural resource management
- Rural development and agricultural industries
- Agricultural extension
- Research and development
The School offers students the following study options:
- Bachelor of Agribusiness
- Bachelor of Agricultural Science
- Postgraduate Coursework programs
- Master of Philosophy
- Doctor of Philosophy
Community and regional research being undertaken within the School includes:
- Community engagement, in a variety of industry and government settings
- Community-based planning
- Rural community development
- Social aspects of sustainability and resilience
- Community partnerships in integrated water resources management
- Understanding and managing social-ecological systems
- Collaboration between government and communities
- Indigenous co-management of natural resources
School academics in this field:
- Ms Jenny Bellamy
- Dr Donald Cameron
- Associate Professor Jim Cavaye
- Dr Gomathy Palaniappan
- Professor Helen Ross
Key research collaborators with the School include:
- Department of Environment and Resource Management
- Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
- HealthyWaterways
- International WaterCentre
- SouthEast Queensland Catchments
- University of Manitoba
- University of Otago
- University of Tasmania
- UQ Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining
- UQ Institute for Social Science Research
The image used on this page has been supplied courtesy of the International WaterCentre
