Feeling Heard: What New Research Reveals About Trust and Participation
The 2026 McKinnon Index reveals declining trust in politicians and gaps in how Australians experience democracy. What can engagement professionals take from the findings?
Welcome to the
Engagement Institute
The Engagement Institute (formerly IAP2 Australasia) champions the world’s largest community of engagement professionals and seeks to promote and improve the practice of community and stakeholder engagement globally. As the home of engagement professionals, our mission has always been clear: to drive change through meaningful engagement – building trust, improving decisions and shaping better futures.
Skill up with the
Engagement Institute
The Engagement Institute provides skills-based learning to people and organisations on what they need to know and do, so that they can successfully develop, deliver, and lead authentic engagement processes.
Latest News
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Beyond the Usual Voices: Making Engagement More Inclusive
Are our engagement processes excluding the people we...
Engage. Elevate. Lead. – Highlights From Our 2026 Annual Conference
Three days of learning, connection and fresh perspectives....
Data Centres and Social Licence: What Can We Learn From the Energy Sector?
Join Marion Short, CEO of Engagement Institute, and Sabiene Heindl, CEO of The Energy Charter, for an upcoming Social Licence Community of Practice exploring how early, meaningful engagement can help...
Building AI Infrastructure With Communities in Mind
As Australia considers new national standards for large...
Connecting With Country on Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport
GHD has shared insights from its work supporting...
When Community Feedback Shapes Construction Decisions: Lessons From the Warringah Freeway Upgrade
Explore how community feedback influenced construction planning, toll reimbursement and business support during Sydney's Warringah Freeway Upgrade, recognised at the 2026 Engagement Excellence Awards.
NEW MODEL:
ENGAGEMENT CORTEX
Our next-generation model for contemporary community and stakeholder engagement. Explore the model, supporting resources and opportunities to provide feedback.
Feedback closes Monday, 30 November 2026.
Introducing
EngageMark
Australia and New Zealand’s first certification and maturity assessment tool for the engagement sector developed by the sector to meet contemporary engagement standards.
Engagement
Methods Tool
If you have completed one of the IAP2 Australasia Certificate of Engagement key training modules –Engagement Methods – then you might know and regularly use the Engagement Methods Tool. The Engagement Methods Tool is available for engagers.
