Geography Careers
Geography jobs and opportunities
Geography graduate attributes and jobs
Geography graduates are qualified to understand the world as an integrated whole. They use a powerful mix of geographical and interdisciplinary skills to solve a range of problems. They can analyse and synthesise complex environmental, economic, social, and political information to enable a geographical understanding of humans, environments, and the dynamic relationships between them.
Geography graduates are skilled in a range of research techniques, which can include fieldwork, survey design, statistical analysis, spatial data analysis including Geographic Information Systems, and other forms of qualitative and quantitative analysis. They are proficient at retrieving, synthesising, and communicating information, as well as managing data and drawing on different sources of knowledge. They think critically and creatively and work effectively in teams and on their own initiative.
These skills and attributes can be mentioned in their resumes and make geography graduates highly employable in a wide variety of fields across both government and non-government sectors. Their flexibility is demonstrated in a diversity of career paths.
Fields of employment include, but are not limited to [1]:
- Climate change assessment and planning
- Climatology and meteorology
- Coastal, marine and hydrographic analysis
- Community development
- Conservation, heritage and land management
- Consulting and project management
- Education
- Environmental and social impact assessment
- Environmental monitoring and management
- Environmental science
- Geographic information systems (GIS)
- Geomorphology
- Hazard assessment, mitigation and disaster management
- International development and aid
- Local and regional development.
- Mapping and cartography
- Market research
- Natural resource management and agriculture
- Planning (including urban, regional, environmental, social and transport planning)
- Population analysis
- Public policy
- Public safety, defence and national security
- Real estate and land development
- Remote sensing
- Research
- Social services and welfare
- Surveying and geomatics
- Sustainability
- Tourism management
[1]. In some fields additional qualifications or accreditation may be required (for example, academia, meteorology, urban planning, and surveying).
This statement of geographers’ careers was endorsed in November 2010 by the: Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Geography, Australian Geography Teachers’ Association, Geographical Society of New South Wales, Institute of Australian Geographers, Royal Geographical Society of Queensland, and Royal Geographical Society of South Australia.
Geography employers
Geographers work in many places, including:
- Universities
- Government – local, state and federal government
- Private companies including consultancy agencies
- Non-profit organisations
Study Geography
Why study geography at high school?
Geography encompasses a diverse range of topics and therefore can help you transition into a variety of university courses including:
- Science degrees
- Environmental science degrees
- Law degrees
- Arts and social science degrees
- Health degrees
- Engineering degrees
Australian Geography Study options
Links to Geography in Australian Universities that offer geography degrees.
Meet geographers
Interviews with Geographers
Animal Geographer: Professor Jen Carter
Climate Geographer: Associate Professor Paul Munro
Human Geographer: Professor Phil McManus
Legal Geographer: Professor Robyn Bartel
Social and Cultural Geographer: Dr Michele Lobo
