Our Advocacy
As the peak body for the community and stakeholder engagement sector, IAP2 Australasia believes that engagement, when done well, improves environmental, social and governance outcomes and increases trust in the democratic process.
We advocate for all communities to be authentically engaged in decisions that affect them, in alignment with the IAP2 Quality Assurance Standard for Community and Stakeholder Engagement.
Advocacy initiatives centre around the following objectives:
- Influencing key decision-makers,
- Showcasing the evidence of the impact and benefit of authentic engagement,
- Strengthening awareness of authentic engagement, and
- Advocate for engagement to be mandated and defined in legislation and policy.
Media Releases
Latest Advocacy News
Elevating Engagement
In a world of rapid change, effective engagement isn’t just important—it’s essential. Done right, it can transform outcomes, drive trust, and create lasting positive impact across social, environmental, and governance issues. But done wrong? It fuels conflict, delays, and skyrocketing costs. The stakes are high—upskilling Australia’s workforce in engagement is the key to driving productivity.
By navigating complex issues together, and uniting communities to achieve better outcomes, the benefits reach across government, business, and society.
Advocacy Papers
This paper dives into the evolving expectations for community engagement, advocating for practices that enable participation for everyone – regardless of background, ability, or circumstance. By addressing both the barriers and benefits of inclusive practices, this paper offers a roadmap for creating more equitable, accessible engagement processes that resonate across Australasia’s diverse communities.
Government Submissions
Response to Productivity Commission call for pitches
January 2025
The Treasurer tasked the Productivity Commission with identifying practical ways to boost Australia’s productivity, who opened a call for pitches. Our submission highlighted how upskilling Australia’s workforce in engagement is key to driving productivity.
Letter to NZ Infrastructure Minister, response to $3bn investment
February 2021
The New Zealand government committed $3 billion into shovel-ready projects in late 2020. We urged key portfolio ministers to prioritise authentic engagement as an integral part of these projects.
Letters to AU federal and state governments
August & September 2020
We wrote to Australian federal and state governments, calling on them to prioritise authentic engagement as a cornerstone of ‘shovel-ready’ nation-building and critical infrastructure projects.
Research & Benchmarking
2022
Our Research Working Group created a case study template to collect engagement professionals’ insights, supporting future research and advocacy. These case studies will help demonstrate the value of authentic engagement to key decision-makers.
FEBRUARY 2020
IAP2 Australasia partnered with RMIT on a project to investigate ways to advance community engagement professionalism across Australia and New Zealand.
ANU Next Generation research partnership
We’ve partnered with the Australian National University’s Next Generation Engagement Program to advance community engagement in infrastructure.
Solidarity Advocacy
Uluru Statement & Indigenous Voice to Parliament
We adopted a resolution to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. The Voice embodies true engagement, aligning with the IAP2 Australasia’s values of inclusive participation and ensuring everyone is heard for better outcomes.
June 2020
IAP2 Australasia’s Board of Directors sent out a statement encouraging you, our Engagement Institute community, to use your skills to help our Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Maori and Pasifika communities. We believe engagement professionals play an important role in prioritising and advocating for diversity, equality and inclusion.
University fee equality
IAP2 Australasia joined ACAG in their advocacy efforts and encouraged our members also to write to local members and senators to voice opposition and share this opposition on social media. IAP2 Australasia wrote to Senator Stirling Griff and urged him to vote no to the Job-Ready Graduates Package. Sadly in October 2020, the Job-ready Graduates legislation passed in the Senate. You can learn more at acag.net.au/.
Advocacy Resources
Paper: Advocacy Recommendations and Calls to Action
In this position paper we advocate for 5 policy calls to action that we believe are important steps towards all communities being authentically engaged in decisions that affect them.
Guide: Advocacy ethos and approach for members
IAP2 Australasia created this guide to support our members when they advocate for our policy demands.
A history of IAP2A advocacy initiatives
2024
- IAP2A Inclusive Accessible Engagement Policy Position Paper – November 2024.
- IAP2A Submission to Urban Policy Network – July 2024.
- New Zealand | Fast track consenting requires quality engagement – 12 Feb 2024
- IAP2 Submission to South Australian Local Government Participation and Elections Review – March 2024
- Submission New Zealand Fast track Approvals Bill – 19 April 2024
- IAP2 response to the Industry Consultation | People Panel Professional Contractor Services (Phase 3) Survey – 19 July 2024
2023
- Senator The Hon Murray Watt_February 2023
- The Hon Catherine King MP_February 2023
- The Hon Kristy McBain MP_February 2023
- The Hon Linda Burney MP_February 2023
- Letter to Electoral Commissioner_April 2023
- Submission AEIC Community Engagement Review_September 2023
- Submission National Urban Policy_06 Oct 2023
- Summary of email sent to Audrey Marsh_Oct 2023
2021
- Delivering successful shovel-ready projects requires good engagement_4 Feb 2021
- 2020 Core Values Awards winners letters Local Government_19 Feb 2021
- Response_Delivering successful shovel-ready projects requires good engagement_NZ_14 April 2021
- 2021 Core Values Awards winners letters Local Government_Dec 2021
2020
- Response to the Public Engagement Framework VIC – Consultation Draft_February 2020
- Strategic Partnership with RMIT – A review of postgraduate community engagement courses in Australia and New Zealand_February 2020
- IAP2 Australasia provides support for the Black Lives Matter movement_June 2020
- Response to the Implementation of the Local Government Act 2020_July 2020
- Calling for Australian Government support for a United Nations declaration for an International Year of Participation – 2022_ July 2020
– Draft Resolution for an International Year of Participation – 2022 - Encouraging authentic engagement in the delivery of successful shovel-ready projects_24 August 2020
- IAP2 Case Study template launched_September 2020
- IAP2 Australasia joined the Australian Communications Advocacy Group (ACAG) to support university fee equality_September 2020
2018
To find out more
Email us at info@iap2.org.au and our friendly team will be very happy to help answer your questions.
