Supporting Professional Learning & Peer Exchange

Engagement Australia

Engagement Australia is the peak alliance of Australian and New Zealand universities focused on developing the engagement agenda in higher education.

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Community Engagement Classification

Carnegie

The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification allows universities to demonstrate their commitment to the communities they serve and to share good practices in the sector.

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ISSUE 8
Where to now for community engagement?

New! Transform Journal

In the editorial and executive viewpoint of this issue, we consider ‘Where to now for community engagement?” in the wake of the Universities Accord and the opportunities and challenges it presents. This is followed by a collection of fantastic articles, book reviews, and case studies that report on, consider, and communicate community-engaged activity in our sector.

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About Engagement Australia

Engagement Australia is an alliance that supports and services its members and their various communities. Our membership includes 70% of Australian universities as well as private colleges, academic and professional Associate Members.

Community engagement allows universities the opportunity to play an important role of social responsibility in the local and broader vicinity they operate within.

Our main objective is to lead and facilitate the development of best practice university-community engagement in Australia. This is done through creating inclusive forums for discussion and development of engagement, promoting practice, fostering awareness, building capacity and developing resources. Through the work of our Board, committees and working groups, EA provides an array of professional development activities as well as networking opportunities to develop engagement knowledge, skills and capacity and build interactive networks, partnerships and other relationships within and between universities, business, industry, government and community-based organisations.

Engagement Australia – Committed to fostering engagement between higher education and communities.

Championing unique role universities have in society addressing contemporary challenges through teaching, research and partnerships.

Latest News

Enhancing Equity Outcomes through Structured Community Engagement | Forum Recap

Engagement Australia’s latest forum, “Enhancing Equity Outcomes through Structured Community Engagement,” brought together thought leaders, university executives, and practitioners in higher education to explore the vital role of community engagement in advancing student equity outcomes across Australia. Hosted at the Australian Catholic University, the forum highlighted best practices, discussed challenges, and paved the way for future-focused strategies aimed at deepening partnerships between universities and their communities.

September 10, 2024

Transform Issue 8 The Universities Accord: Where to now for Community Engagement?

With much fanfare, we saw a commitment to massively expand participation in higher education in the coming years, with equity groups, including those from remote and regional areas being critical to the success of this ambition.

August 29, 2024

The University of Sydney is a proud partner of Story Factory

As the university for all of Sydney, the University of Sydney invests in opportunities to enrich the learning and futures of young people. With youth creative writing centres in Redfern and Parramatta, Story Factory is a not-for-profit organisation that supports young people from under-resourced communities to strengthen their literacy and find their voice through creative writing and storytelling.

August 6, 2024

Yuwaya Ngarra-li Partnership between the Dharriwaa Elders Group, Walgett, and UNSW Sydney

Yuwaya Ngarra-li is a long-term multidisciplinary community-led partnership between UNSW Sydney and the Dharriwaa Elders Group (DEG) in Walgett that has contributed to more than 460 outcomes at individual, community and systemic levels over the past four years.

July 2, 2024

Transform to be indexed in Informit databases

Engagement Australia has signed an agreement to partner with Informit to index all issues of Transform: The Journal of Engaged Scholarship in their databases

June 14, 2024

Charles Sturt University Principals’ Dinners: Fostering Collaboration in Regional Education

Principals, teachers, and career advisors wield significant influence, particularly in shaping higher education outcomes. The annual Charles Sturt University Principals' Dinners serve as vital forums for collaboration and positive change in regional education.

June 10, 2024

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Our Programs

View our range of online resources, live events and seminars and industry updates here. Some of these items are available only to member institutions. If you need a login, please register here. If you would like to become a member visit our member page.

TRANSFORM JOURNAL

EVENTS & SEMINARS

EXCELLENCE AWARDS

RESOURCES

CARNEGIE

Leading the Engagement Agenda

Engagement Australia champions the unique role universities have with society to address contemporary global challenges and trends through teaching, learning, research and partnerships. We do this by:

Providing and inspiring leadership;
Developing capacity and future leaders;
Enabling peer-learning;
Providing practical tools and tips; and
Providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge creation.

Engagement Australia supports the wider contextual standard definition of community engagement, previously developed by the US-based Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, which has succeeded in codifying the core characteristics and principles of community engagement. It defines Community engagement as a method of teaching, learning and research that describes interactions between universities and their communities (business, industry, govt, NGOs, and other groups) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.

INNOVATIVE

SUPPORTIVE

STRATEGIC

COLLABORATIVE

“The hallmark of engagement is the development of partnerships that ensure a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge between the University and the community.” Holland and Ramalay (2008:33).