2026 Engagement Institute Training
Courses delivered by Social Point's Engagement Institute Licensed Trainer, Leanne Robb
Social Point is proud to offer Engagement Institute training, delivered by Engagement Institute Licensed Trainer Leanne Robb.
With more than 25 years’ experience in community and stakeholder engagement, Leanne brings real-world insight, practical tools, and a strong ethical foundation to every Engagement Institute course. These industry leading programmes are designed to build confident, capable engagement practitioners who can deliver meaningful, inclusive, and impactful engagement outcomes.
Whether you’re new to community engagement, refreshing your skills, or working towards the Engagement Institute Certificate of Engagement, these Engagement Institute courses provide a clear, practical pathway to best-practice engagement.
Explore the Engagement Institute course sections below to learn more about each training offering, including learning outcomes, delivery format, prerequisites, and who each Engagement Institute course is best suited to. When you’re ready, you can register your interest using the form on the right. Our team will follow up with Engagement Institute course details, availability, and next steps.
Have questions or want to talk through the right training pathway? Contact Leanne Robb at leanne.robb@openpoint.com.
After submitting this form, our team will contact you with course details, availability, and next steps. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Leanne Robb at leanne.robb@openpoint.com.
Engagement Institute Courses at a Glance
Our training programme supports practitioners at every stage of their engagement journey — from foundational knowledge through to planning, method selection, and applied practice. Courses can be taken individually or combined to complete the Engagement Institute Certificate of Engagement.
Course 1: Engagement Institute Essentials of Engagement
The Engagement Institute Essentials of Engagement course is a one-day programme and the foundation for effective community and stakeholder engagement. It is a pre-requisite for all other Engagement Institute training and an ideal starting point for anyone involved in engagement — from newcomers to experienced practitioners seeking a refresher or formal recognition.
This interactive course introduces the core principles, values, and frameworks that underpin contemporary engagement practice, enabling participants to apply learning directly to real-world projects.
Participants will learn how to:
- Identify the key elements of high-quality, contemporary engagement practice
- Understand the role and responsibilities of an engagement professional
- Apply ethical engagement practices using the Engagement Institute Core Values, Code of Ethics, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles
- Clarify leadership and decision-making roles using the Community Engagement Model (CEM)
- Apply the Practice Framework to plan, design, implement, and review engagement projects
- Understand and apply the Spectrum of Public Participation
- Follow best-practice approaches for engaging with First Nations Peoples
This course is ideal for:
- Those new to community engagement
- Experienced practitioners seeking a refresh or working towards an Engagement Institute Certificate of Engagement
- Professionals who work alongside engagement teams or support engagement projects
Participants will gain:
- A clear understanding of engagement practices and how to apply them
- Insight into the different purposes and uses of engagement
- Practical knowledge of the Community Engagement Model
- An understanding of how engagement benefits communities and stakeholders
- The five essential steps to planning engagement, with immediate application to your own projects
- One-day online course
- 8.30am – 4.30pm (includes morning, lunch, and afternoon breaks)
- No pre-requisites
- Course materials provided, including templates and tools
Course 2: Engagement Institute Design and Plan Engagement
Please note: Participants must complete Engagement Institute Essentials of Engagement before attending this course.
The Engagement Institute Design and Plan Engagement course builds on the Essentials module and supports practitioners to move confidently from foundational knowledge to practical application.
Delivered over two immersive days, the course explores the Design and Plan stages of the Practice Framework, equipping participants with the tools and confidence to develop robust, effective engagement plans that stand up in real-world contexts.
Participants will learn how to:
- Prepare and develop comprehensive engagement plans for a range of programmes and projects
- Apply the Design and Plan phases of the Practice Framework
- Identify and influence the roles of communities, stakeholders, and organisations in decisions and actions
- Design fit-for-purpose engagement approaches
- Integrate monitoring and evaluation into engagement planning
- Apply contemporary best-practice engagement principles
This course is ideal for:
- Practitioners who design, plan, or implement engagement projects
- Professionals who lead, create, or manage engagement activities
- Participants completing this module as part of their Engagement Institute Certificate in Engagement journey
Participants will gain:
- Enhanced skills in developing strong, practical engagement plans
- A structured and adaptable approach to engagement planning and delivery
- Tools to monitor, evaluate, and refine engagement activities
- Opportunities to develop and expand your professional network
- Two-day online course
- 8.30am – 4.30pm each day (includes morning, lunch, and afternoon breaks)
- Pre-requisite: completion of Engagement Institute Essentials of Engagement
- Course materials provided, including templates and tools
Meet Leanne Robb, Engagement Institute Licensed Trainer
Leanne Robb has spent more than 25 years turning conversations into connections and ideas into action. A trusted voice across both the public and private sectors, she’s known for blending strategic thinking with a genuine passion for empowering communities.
From designing large-scale engagement strategies to mentoring emerging practitioners, Leanne helps organisations move beyond consultation towards meaningful collaboration. Her goal is simple: build trust, strengthen relationships, and deliver engagement outcomes that matter.
When she’s not championing community voices, you’ll find Leanne facilitating lively workshops, sharing thought leadership, or dreaming up new ways to make engagement more inclusive, creative, and impactful.
Past Participant Feedback
“Leanne is such an engaging engagement practitioner! She works at such a steady, accessible pace. The content is so powerful and applicable.”
“I really felt the quality of the training was very high and the delivery is well paced and personal.”
“Great content, and wonderful to hear from and connect with others working in the space!”
“As someone who is new to this type of work, I found the whole course very useful. Everything is explained very well, and Leanne was happy to answer any questions.”