The cultural significance of geography lies in its contribution to an understanding of the total environment. The geographer's skills also find practical application in the conservation and planned development of resources. Increasing numbers of geographers are employed as professionals in these applications. For instance, geomorphologists and biogeographers are undertaking resource inventory surveys and environmental assessment, and human geographers are engaged as urban and regional planners. The School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences Masters by Research program requires a minimum of three academic sessions of full-time study and preparation of a written thesis. Once completed, the thesis is examined by members of the Australian and international scientific academic community.

Geographers enjoy careers with the many private and public sector employers, both national and international, that are involved in natural resource or social planning, environmental or urban management, environmental research or social policy research. Having the skills to develop and use information-technology and to analyse and interpret social and environmental data makes professionally-trained geography graduates the key personnel involved in decision making processes associated with government, the business sector and community groups. Consequently, geographers are employed by NGOs to organize international aid; by community and welfare organisations to target limited social and welfare resources to the most needy in our communities; by the business sector to advise on management decisions; by governments to assist with the development of urban and environmental policies and the legal framework required for assessment of human interaction with the environment. Alternatively, graduates may continue to study their chosen specialty as postgraduates which can lead to fulfilling careers in research. Postgraduate degrees offered by the School include Graduate Diploma by research or by coursework, Master of Science by research or by coursework, and Doctor of Philosophy by research.