Empowering engagement. Shaping local decisions. Building community trust.
Across Australia, local government plays a vital role in shaping the places we live, work and connect. Whether it’s developing policy, delivering essential services, or responding to community needs, councils are at the heart of public life. And increasingly, they’re recognising what many of us have always known — that meaningful engagement builds trust, improves decisions, and creates stronger, more connected communities.
That’s where we come in.
The Engagement Institute — formerly IAP2 Australasia — is the leading voice for engagement professionals across the region. We’re proud to partner with councils of all sizes, supporting the people and teams who make engagement happen every day.
From boardrooms to community halls, our mission has always been clear: to drive change through meaningful engagement. And now, our name reflects that mission too.
Our members told us it was time for a name that better reflects the language, values and practice of engagement in Australia and New Zealand. No acronyms. No confusion. Just a bold, confident statement of who we are. We listened.
That’s why IAP2 Australasia is now the Engagement Institute.
This change was shaped by our members, partners, and the broader engagement community. Our new name and identity are warm, human and professional – a true reflection of the people and purpose that drive our work.
And while our name has changed, our commitment hasn’t.
We continue to offer the trusted, industry-recognised training local government professionals rely on — including the IAP2 Australasia Certificate of Engagement. Grounded in real-world practice, our training is designed for the day-to-day challenges councils face — from building strategic frameworks to navigating complex community conversations.
But we’re about more than just training.
We’re a thriving hub for connection, innovation, and sector leadership. We help local government build internal capability, embed a strong culture of engagement, and deliver consistent, community-centred outcomes. We offer tools, guidance and a national network of peers — all working toward the same goal: stronger relationships between councils and the communities they serve.
We’re also raising the profile of engagement on a broader scale. Through research, advocacy and policy input, we’re championing the value of engagement as an essential part of modern governance.
Because when engagement is done well, it’s transformative. It brings people together, builds understanding, and ensures that decisions are genuinely informed by community voices.
At the Engagement Institute, we believe better engagement creates better outcomes — not just for councils, but for every community they support.
Whether you’re taking your first steps or leading strategic change, we’re here to support you with practical expertise, unwavering encouragement, and a strong sense of purpose.
Let’s shape the future of engagement, together.
