“I’ve gained practical tools I use daily and grown my confidence to lead engagement in new and meaningful ways.”
In February this year, I completed the IAP2 Australasia Certificate of Engagement thanks to the Engagement Institute’s Nurture Engagement scholarship.
The scholarship supports small not-for-profit organisations in Australia and New Zealand to access professional training in community engagement – something often out of reach for small teams with limited budgets like ours at Health Consumers NSW (HCNSW).
My colleagues Tara Lee and Bella Spongberg also received the scholarships and are currently completing the certificate.
At HCNSW, we work to ensure people with lived experience are involved in designing and improving the health system (services, research, planning and policy) through advocacy, capacity building, training, engagement projects and policy influence.
My professional path to engagement
During the last 10 years, I have helped amplify the voices of people with lived experience across the NSW health system, mainly in a communications role; Creating and curating The Wrap (our newsletter), maintaining and evolving our website and social media, producing publications, leading media work, and launching our Patient Power podcast.
Before that, I worked in community engagement for major water and infrastructure programs and other communications roles, so I’m no stranger to stakeholder management, facilitation, or managing competing interests.
The certificate courses felt like both a return to some of my roots and a leap forward in my career. It came at the perfect time, as my role is evolving.
I’m beginning to take on direct consumer and community engagement projects – working more closely with people and organisations to facilitate community and health consumer workshops and consultations. I’m also proud to lead HCNSW’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), a meaningful milestone that demands listening, reflection, and respectful, inclusive engagement.
What I’ve already applied
This means that I’ve been able to immediately implement what I’ve learned in real projects.
The tools and facilitation techniques shared in the Apply Engagement Methods module were especially valuable. I’ve used approaches like storytelling, spectrum of influence mapping, and dotmocracy to create more inclusive, dynamic sessions.
One insight that stuck with me—and that I’ve consciously embedded in recent work – is the importance of balancing rational and experiential aims in engagement processes. It’s not just about outcomes and decision points; it’s also about how people feel, how they’re treated, and what kind of experience they take away. In health consumer engagement, where trust and vulnerability are ever-present, this dual lens is essential.
Strategic Engagement
In many ways, this scholarship enabled me to learn about specific tools and processes while also reflecting on the engagement norms that are common and mandated in the health sector.
Both must remember the power of meaningful dialogue, co-design, and shared ownership. It’s not enough to inform people – we must include them, be partners, value their voices, make space for their stories and be open to sharing decision-making to shape systems.
I now feel better equipped to explain the ‘why’ behind engagement and participation and to bring others along with us as we advocate for best practice engagement and participation in the health sector in NSW.
Why this matters
Small organisations like HCNSW often punch above our weight, but that doesn’t mean we can afford training, especially at scale. The Nurture Engagement scholarship removed that barrier. It made professional development accessible, not just for me but also for two of my colleagues.
That’s an investment not just in individuals, but in our whole organisation and the communities we work with and represent.
Beyond the immediate skills and knowledge, completing the certificate gives us:
- practical methods we can use in our day-to-day work
- greater confidence to lead, advocate, and facilitate
- nationally recognised credentials that reinforce our credibility.
Looking ahead
I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned more widely, particularly as we begin more engagement for our Reconciliation Action Plan and support partners in co-designing future health services, health degrees and health and medical research.
Final thoughts
The Nurture Engagement scholarship has been more than just a professional development opportunity – it’s been a timely learning experience. I’ve gained practical tools I use daily and grown my confidence to lead engagement in new and meaningful ways.
To any other small organisations out there: if you’re eligible, apply.
The scholarship isn’t just about learning – it’s about unlocking your potential to build stronger, more participatory, and more equitable outcomes for the communities you serve.
Learn more about the Nurture Engagement Scholarship Program here.
