Fundamentals of Public Participation & Engagement 

The focus of this course is on understanding and applying the practices of meaningful and effective public participation (P2). The training explores principles, concepts and best practices, and how to design and apply this knowledge to your public participation and engagement work.

Course Objectives: 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Define public participation and engagement and related terms and what makes it unique

• Identify what makes public participation and engagement meaningful 

• Reflect on the benefits, risks and myths related to public participation and engagement

• Identify and discuss IAP2 five core foundations in their application to public participation and engagement work 

• Identify the role that values (seven core values) play in public participation and engagement work and the leadership attributes that will serve them as they practice 

• Understand the IAP2 Spectrum of public Participation and rationale for the increasing intensity as decision impacts  

• Reflect on and apply ethical leadership actions and abilities to public participation and engagement situations 

• Apply the Profiles of public participation and engagement model to public participation and engagement and explore organization-led and community-led engagement and how that impacts the engagement process 

• Reflect on and apply the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and explore the role of power and influence and its impacts on the approach to public participation and engagement

• Apply the IAP2 spectrum to public participation and engagement situations and practice 

• Explore the Practice Framework (design, plan, implement, learn) as a tool for effective planning and process, and assess the quality of the process  

IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts 

The IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts is Level 2 course that sets out the underpinning models and frameworks of public participation and engagement practice as defined by the IAP2 community. Specifically in terms of what it is, who is involved, standards of practice, and why it is important to be practiced ethically and effectively. Participants will explore these concepts and models in contexts that are challenging and will gain skills and knowledge to apply to their work. This course is suitable for practitioners who already have substantial experience in public participation and engagement practice work and are ready to be leading this work with others (2-5 years).

Course Objectives: 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define public participation and engagement and related terms and describe its relationship with communication

• Identify what makes public participation and engagement meaningful and reflect on the benefits, risks and myths related to P2/engagement

• Identify the role that values play in challenging public participation and engagement work and the leadership attributes that will serve them as they practice.

• Reflect on and apply ethical leadership actions and abilities to challenging engagement situations

• Apply the Profiles of Engagement model to public participation and engagement and explore organization led and community led engagement and how that impacts the engagement process

• Apply the IAP2 spectrum to challenging public participation and engagement situations and practice

• Explore the Practice Framework as a tool for effective planning and process

• Reflect on and apply the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and explore the concept of inter-cultural engagement

• Explore the role of power and influence in challenging engagement contexts and its impacts to our work.

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Designing Public Participation & Engagement 

Designing & Leading Engagement is a Level 2 course that introduces practitioners to the design and plan phases of the practice framework, providing them with the opportunity to develop public participation and engagement practice plans. This includes scoping, community mapping, determining purpose and objectives and levels of influence, choosing appropriate methods and managing resources, while considering the needs of diverse audiences.

Course Objectives: 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to design an engagement process and plan for a real-world scenario, including:

• Plan a clear scope of the work, problem or opportunity with identified negotiables and non-negotiables

• Conduct detailed stakeholder analysis, community mapping and equity analysis

• Identify appropriate roles and levels of influence for key players

• Establish clear engagement purpose and objectives and success criteria/measures to suit the scenario

• Identify relevant profiles of engagement

• Conduct a detailed risk/opportunities analysis

• Choose and sequence appropriate methods (in-person and digital) and identify communication tactics to suit the scenario

• Identify key roles for senior leaders and decision makers

• Explore principles and approaches for equity, diversity and inclusion and apply them to stakeholder analysis

• Embed digital strategies, platforms, and methods as part of the plan and process

• Develop an evaluation framework to suit the scenario

• Identify key roles and resources needed to implement the P2/engagement plan

• Develop and apply a suitable pitch to senior leaders that will secure commitment and resources for the P2/engagement plan

• Identify the many different contexts of engagement including the elements present in more complex engagement scenarios

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Applying Methods (Level 2)

Applying Methods is a Level 2 course that focuses on exploring a variety of methods used in implementing public participation and engagement and considers how to design and integrate those methods into the public participation and engagement practice process. Participants will learn to select, assess and create effective elements of methods to work meaningfully with participants.

Course Objectives: 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify a range of methods that can be used for various engagement purposes and processes, and strategies to select the most appropriate method/s for an engagement project/process

• Research, design and test a face to face and/or online method using a range of tools and resources

• Apply the four steps of designing a method to incorporate the eight key components of method design

• Develop rational and experiential aims

• Design an appropriate format

• Design questions and process

• Develop appropriate communications

• Combine methods to achieve engagement goals and objectives and test for appropriate sequencing

• Incorporate inclusivity and diversity principles

• Identify data management needs, evaluation points and measures

• Identify resources required

• Explore a variety of both face to face and online methods/techniques that include a nested structure of different methods (e.g. deliberative processes, Appreciative Inquiry, Open Space Technology)

• Analyze the specific engagement requirements for online and digital methods, identify and select appropriate platforms and tools to meet needs, and strategies to sequence these methods for delivery

• Identify principles for monitoring online activity

• Test the design by running elements of the method and submitting for peer review using a checklist

• Apply methods to achieve engagement goals and objectives including using effective communication skills, and test for appropriate sequencing

• Design key messages and know how to use communication tools that build trust and integrity, and meet the needs of diverse audiences