Want to excel in community engagement? Start here.
Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned professional, the Essentials of Engagement course is a must for anyone committed to meaningful, ethical, and impactful community engagement.
Take it as a standalone course to enhance your skillset, or complete it as the first step toward obtaining the Certificate of Engagement, a nationally recognised certificate.
Upcoming Course Dates
Course benefits
Level up your engagement skills
Learn the key principles and models, tools, and strategies needed to drive meaningful community participation and successful project outcomes.
Grow your network
Connect with engagement professionals from diverse industries and organisations in this highly interactive training, designed to foster meaningful connections and shared learning.
Advance your career
Take the first step towards your Certificate of Engagement, recognised as the benchmark for engagement professionals across.
The bigger picture: Attaining the Certificate of Engagement
While the Essentials of Engagement is a powerful standalone course, many professionals take it as the first step toward earning their Certificate of Engagement.
This certificate is the gold standard for engagement practitioners across Australasia, setting the benchmark for excellence in the field.
Hear what our Trainers have to say
Download course prospectus
Download your course prospectus
Who is this course for?
Newcomers to engagement
Those who are just starting their journey in community and stakeholder engagement.
Experienced Practitioners
Seasoned professionals looking to 1) adopt best practices and/or 2) complete the course as a prerequisite for the Engagement Institute Advanced Certificate of Engagement – and receive formal recognition of their skillset.
Professionals leading or working closely with engagement teams
Professionals involved in engagement roles or working closely with engagement teams, seeking to deepen their understanding and refine their approach with insights from industry experts.
LEARNING Outcomes
- Identify the key elements of quality contemporary engagement practice.
- Understand the role and responsibilities of an engagement professional.
- Apply ethical engagement practices using the IAP2 Core Values, Code of Ethics, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles.
- Understand and apply the principles of the Community Engagement Model (CEM) to clarify leadership and decision-making roles in engagement.
- Use the Practice Framework to successfully Plan, Design, Implement and Review your engagement project.
- Understand the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation and its application to engagement.
- Learn best practices for engaging with First Nations Peoples in Australasia.
Complete the prerequisite foundational course for your Certificate of Engagement.
Hear from our engaged students
What our students are saying!
-
The Most Engaging Online Course I’ve Ever Taken!
April 2025Essentials of Engagement Participant"It was the best online course I've attended and it kept me interested ALL day!" -
Exceeded Expectations: New Confidence, Clear Standards, and Real-World Relevance
April 2025Essentials of Engagement Participant"This training exceeded my expectations, I learnt a lot more than I anticipated. I almost wish I could go back and do all the engagement projects I've ever worked on again. I now feel more confident to guide project leads to better outcomes now that I have critical values and ethics and minimum standards to refer to. It was also reassuring to hear other people from local gov and adjacent industries waxing lyrical about the same issues." -
Refreshed, Rearmed, and Ready: Practical Tools and Real-World Insight for Better Engagement
March 2025Essentials of Engagement Participant"I really enjoyed this course. It was a great refresh for me but I also learned a lot about engagement, particularly in terms of engaging with different stakeholders at different stages during a project and considering community and stakeholder values when engaging. As a result of this training I have more tools in my engagement toolbox that will help me when carrying out engagement in future. I would highly recommend this training. The trainer was great and gave real-life examples that helped link the training material to the real world. He was clear in his delivery, well prepared and extremely personable."
Why learn at the Engagement Institute
The Engagement Institute ensures our training is practical, relevant, and industry leading.
- Hands-on learning with real-world case studies
- Inclusive training blending theory and practical knowledge
- Experienced trainers who are also seasoned practitioners
- Recognised as the engagement standard across Australia and New Zealand
- Contextualised training materials for local relevance
- Flexible learning pathways and pacing
- Invaluable resources, including a training manual and templates
Flexibility to study your way
Complete your training in a way that works for you via:
Virtual
Attend live, interactive classrooms with expert trainers—no passive webinars here!
In-person
Hands-on learning in easy to access locations across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
Onsite
Customised programs tailored to your organisation’s needs and delivered at your location.
- Community engagement professionals looking to advance their career with a nationally recognised qualification.
- Project managers and coordinators who want to lead successful, well-received engagement processes.
- Consultants seeking to broaden their skill set and better serve clients with practical, real-world engagement strategies.
- Government representatives, public affairs specialists and communications professionals wanting to strengthen their engagement practices and communication strategies.
- Non-profit workers and advocacy groups aiming to improve community relationships and make a positive impact through effective engagement.
The cost varies based on:
- The individual courses you choose (Core Pathway or Core + Electives Pathway).
- Delivery method (in-person or virtual training).
- Your membership status.
Discounted member pricing is available to members of the Engagement Institute. Charities and not-for-profits may qualify for Discounted Training Rates or the Nurture Engagement Scholarship Program.
Upon completing the Certificate of Engagement, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion from the Engagement Institute. While you can share that you’ve completed the program, you cannot use terms like “accredited,” “certified,” or “endorsed,” regardless of your membership level or training undertaken.
You’ll receive a digital certificate of attendance for each module. Upon completing the Certificate of Engagement, we will issue you a digital copy at the end of the month of completion.
Yes, Essentials of Engagement is a prerequisite for the Certificate of Engagement and must be completed before advancing to Apply Engagement Methods, Design and Plan Engagement, or any elective courses.
You will need to complete Essentials of Engagement before enrolling in any elective courses.
- Log into your profile.
- Browse the Training Calendar or Events Calendar to register.
- If a course is full, join the waitlist by clicking the button. If a spot opens, we’ll contact the first person on the list. Alternatively, search for dates with availability.
Important: Always login under your own profile to ensure your registration and certificates are recorded correctly.
Log in to the Engagement Institute portal, navigate to ‘My Activities’ (in the top navigation bar or under More), and view your activity history.
Register as early as possible. Your spot is confirmed once payment is made at least 5 working days before the training date.
Cancellation policy
- Cancellations or changes made 10+ working days before the event incur no fee.
- Cancellations or changes within 10 working days will incur a fee equal to the registration cost.
Cancellation, changes and non-attendance for training/events
Within 10 working days of the event:
- Replacement participant: No fee if a qualified replacement is found.
- No replacement: No refund issued.
- Non-attendance: No refund provided.
If your invoice remains unpaid 10 working days before the event, the Engagement Institute reserves the right to transfer your registration to another participant.
The Engagement Institute may waive cancellation fees for extenuating circumstances, such as illness, personal/family emergencies, or religious holidays. Documentation may be required. Waivers do not apply to conflicts like job interviews, career pursuits, personal/professional commitments, or travel.
Within 10 working days of the event:
- Replacement Participant: No fee if a compliant replacement is found.
- 10+ Working Days Prior: 70% refund.
- 5–9 Working Days Prior: 50% refund.
- Less than 5 Working Days: No refund; substitution only.
- Non-Attendance: No refund.
The Engagement Institute reserves the right to adjust policies and will communicate changes as needed.
No, places cannot be held tentatively. Registration is required to secure a spot.
PC/Laptop:
- Expand the audio icon and open the audio settings
- Click speaker option and test speaker
- Once testing, if you still cannot hear, then adjust the volume or select a different speaker from the menu.
iOS/Android Device:
- Ensure your speaker is turned on
- Adjust your volume accordingly on your volume buttons
- Try Headphones
- Reset your device
- Re-Install the Zoom app from the Apple App or Google Play store
Troubleshooting Speaker:
- Open Audio Settings
- Select ‘Test speaker’ and if you cannot hear it, select a different speaker from your menu or adjust volume.
Troubleshooting Microphone:
- Open Audio Settings
- In the microphone section, the green input level bar will move when Zoom is picking up Audio.
- Inside Audio settings you can select another microphone or adjust the input level.
PC/Laptop:
- Make sure all other programs that use your webcam are closed
- Restart the computer or Laptop
- Reinstall latest Zoom version in the Download Centre
- You can also visit your device brand’s support for FAQ’s.
iOS/Android Device:
- Ensure you have checked by tapping the camera icon top of screen for front and back cameras
- Ensure no other open apps are using the camera
- Open iOS/device settings and confirm Zoom has camera access
- Toggle Zoom access to green
If issues persist, then
- Reset your device
- Delete the Zoom app and re-download latest version in the app store
- Double check to ensure the video is working in other apps
If you cannot see the video opening in Zoom, open the video menu to see which camera is currently selected, change if necessary. If a change is required, verify the preferred camera is listed and selected.
Don’t panic! Here’s what you can do:
- Connect from a location with high-speed internet.
- Move closer to your Wi-Fi router or use a wired connection.
- Restart your computer and rejoin the meeting.
- Use your phone or another device with data as a backup.
We recommend having a backup option ready before your session. If issues persist, contact us at training@engagementinstitute.org.au for assistance.
Yes! You can attend New Zealand training if you are located in Australia, and vice versa. Note that the training price charged will be in the currency of the time zone the training takes place in.
For example, if you’re in Australia but attending NZ-based training, the fee will be in NZD, and your card provider will convert it to AUD.
The majority of digital training run by the Engagement Institute is held in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Additional time zones are noted on our website with the following legend:
- NZST: New Zealand Standard Time
- AWST: Australian Western Standard Time (WA)
- ACST: Australian Central Standard Time (SA, NT)
- AEST: Australian Eastern Standard Time (NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, TAS)
8:45am for a 9am start and finish at 4:45pm.
Training is held in the time zone of the location.
No—a manual, notepad, and pen are provided. You’re welcome to bring your own supplies.
Yes! Fees are charged in the currency of the training location. For example, NZ-based training will be charged in NZD, and your card provider will convert it to AUD.
There is no dress code for our training. We recommend that you wear comfortable, semi-casual work wear. You’ll be sitting and moving around throughout the day.
Notify our Training Services Manager at least 3 working days before the training to accommodate dietary needs.
The Engagement Institute does not arrange or recommend accommodation.