Professional Recognition Program
IAP2 Australasia (IAP2A) post-nominals for members.
In 2021, following consultation with our members, we introduced a post-nominals program to recognise the professionalism of the work our members do.
Post-nominals are taking us to the next step in evolving professional recognition for IAP2A members. Many associations have post-nominals as they recognise the individual expertise of members. Bringing post-nominals to this profession is one more way for IAP2A to advocate for the engagement sector.
To recap: IAP2A developed a post-nominals framework as part of a broader professional recognition program. We engaged with members on the proposed framework, closed the loop with members and announced that post-nominals are available for eligible members to use.
What is the professional recognition program?
Post-nominals – letters after your name – are a key way for broader networks to recognise your membership of a profession.
The program has been developed through an evidence-based approach, consultation with subject matter experts and significant desk-top research including reviews of other Australasian post-nominal programs.
Post-nominals criteria
Depending on your current membership status and whether you’ve completed the IAP2A Certificate of Engagement (or Certificate of Public Participation), you’ll be able to use one of the following:
- Associate: AIAP2
- Member: MIAP2
- Graduate: GIAP2
AIAP2 | Associate
An Associate member is a student member, or other IAP2 members who have not met the CPD requirements of their class.
The CPD requirement does not apply as a prerequisite for eligibility to admission into, or for membership renewal of the class of Associate.
- Post-nominal: AIAP2
- Class: Associate
- Process: System Automated
MIAP2 | Member
A Member is a current financial member. To be eligible to renew membership with IAP2A into the class of Member, an existing Member must fulfil the CPD requirements of this class.
A MIAP2 is required to achieve 40 CPD points over three years.
- Post-nominal: MIAP2
- Class: Member
- Process: System Automated
GIAP2 | Graduate
A Graduate has successfully completed an IAP2 course, being 5 days of study and includes:
- Certificate in Engagement
- Certificate in Engagement (Advanced)
- Foundations in Public Participation (and predecessor)
To be eligible to renew membership with IAP2A into the class of Graduate Member, an existing Graduate Member must fulfil the CPD requirements of this class.
A GIAP2 is required to achieve 60 CPD points over three years.
- Post-nominal: GIAP2
- Class: Graduate
- Process: System Automated
To confirm which one you’re eligible for, simply login to your IAP2 Community Portal member account, and view your details under My Profile. Contact us via info@iap2.org.au if you are not sure of your log in details.
Following the successful implementation of the post-nominal categories above, we are almost ready to open our pilot program for the Professionals category (PIAP2). There have been some amendments to our previously proposed process so that it is more streamlined for everyone involved.
The Fellows category will be open following implementation and review of the pilot PIAP2 round.
PIAP2 | Professional – applications opening soon.
Admission as a Professional is by application only.
To be eligible for the PIAP2, you must:
- be a current financial member of IAP2A
- have at least five years professional engagement/P2 experience (minimum) at a senior level*
- accept the Post-Nominals Program Terms and Conditions.
Applications will be assessed by a panel appointed by IAP2A, based on published criteria.
During the pilot period, an application fee of $250 will be required with each nomination. Unsuccessful applicants will be reimbursed their application fee during the pilot program.
From time to time the Board may consider automatic entry into the Professional category to recognise exemplary practice and service.
To retain their status, PIAP2 holders will need to reapply every three years, demonstrating continuing eligibility including Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. CPD requirements do not apply for the pilot round.
Applications will open mid-2023.
- Post-nominal: PIAP2
- Class: Professional
- Stage: 2
- Process: Application with fee
*Senior level experience is defined at the Advanced Level of IAP2’s Professional Competency Framework as: Developing and managing engagement practice at a strategic or organisational level. Practitioners at this level are managing processes that are highly complex and are at a large scale, with large budgets and higher levels of risk in the engagement processes. They will lead work groups or departments with larger team structures, lead and build networks strategically at an organisation or industry wide level.
FIAP2 | Fellow
Admission as a Fellow is by nomination to the Board of Directors only and is to include references from three current Fellows (all classes) or current or past Directors of IAP2A.
Fellows of IAP2 are any person who have been eminent in the field of engagement/P2 and who have provided distinguished service to IAP2A. Fellows are required to have been a member for at least the last three consecutive years.
Fellows must demonstrate and maintain they have the required skills, knowledge, experience and good standing and professionalism expected by IAP2 (the Standards).
From time to time the Board may consider automatic entry to Fellow to recognise exemplary practice and service, such as retiring Ambassadors and Directors.
The CPD requirement does not apply as a prerequisite for eligibility to admission into, or for membership renewal of the class of Fellow.
- Post-nominal: FIAP2
- Class: Fellow
- Stage: 2
- Process: Nomination
The Fellows category will be open following implementation and review of the pilot PIAP2 round.
HIAP2 | Honorary Fellow
Admission as an Honorary Fellow is by invitation of the Board of Directors only.
Honorary Fellows of IAP2 are any person who has been eminent in the field of engagement/P2 and who has provided distinguished service to IAP2 Australasia and to engagement/P2 throughout Australasia (Affiliate Region) and/or globally.
Honorary Fellows are required to have been a member for at least the last five consecutive years.
Fellows must demonstrate and maintain they have the required skills, knowledge, experience and good standing and professionalism expected by IAP2 (the Standards).
The CPD requirement does not apply as a prerequisite for eligibility to admission into, or for membership renewal of the class of Honorary Fellow.
- Post-nominal: HIAP2
- Class: Honorary Fellow
- Stage: 2
- Process: Invitation
FAQs
Membership
What happens to current life members?
There are currently two life members. We propose that they are invited by the IAP2A Board to become Honorary fellows (HIAP2).
What if my membership is through my employer?
You will automatically receive Associate, Graduate or Member post-nominals (whichever is relevant to you personally) but you must be an individual member in order to hold Professional, Fellow and Honorary post-nominals (noting that membership is free of charge for Honorary Fellows).
Do I have to be a current IAP2A member to be entitled to hold any of the post-nominals?
If you meet the requirements for a current Student Membership you will automatically qualify to receive Associate post-nominals. You must be a current financial member to receive Member, Graduate, Professional or Fellow post-nominals.
If I am a current Student member and have gained sufficient training to be recognised as a Graduate, will I be assigned the Graduate post-nominal?
No, only current financial members who meet the requirements for Graduate status will be assigned Graduate post-nominals. As Student membership is free of charge, all individuals that fall within this category, regardless of qualifications and training gained, will be assigned Associate post-nominal status.
Ambassador program
What happened to the Ambassador Program? What will happen to the Ambassadors now?
In 2016, we appointed 27 IAP2A Ambassadors for a two-year term as our inaugural Ambassadors. We’ve experienced significant growth and change since then and are very grateful that our Ambassadors continued in their roles in this time.
Having undertaken a review of the Ambassador Program, we now have a better understanding of what members were seeking from it. We also have a clearer vision of how we can support professional recognition of members, and how this can be more strongly aligned with the IAP2A purpose and strategic plan.
The Ambassadors will be invited to apply for Professional post-nominals in the inaugural round of the program.
Professional post-nominal
Where did the 12 competencies come from? Why these 12?
The Advanced Level of the IAP2 Core Competencies has a total of 68 competencies across the seven competency areas. The Australasian Professional Development Committee Chair and its Members, reviewed these and identified the most important competencies to be addressed by applicants for Professional Post-Nominals.
Why is the Professional category being launched in stage 2?
Stage one of the Post-Nominals Program includes Associate, Graduate and Member classes. These are likely to apply to the greatest proportion of members and will be the most straightforward to implement. The more complex, higher order classes of Professional, Fellow and Honorary Fellow will be opened when processes have bedded down for the other classes.
Why is there a fee for the Professional category?
Implementing the program will require additional expert resources to ensure quality assessment and decision-making. The required level of specialist engagement knowledge and time to review applications is beyond the scope of IAP2 Australasia’s staff resourcing. An assessment panel will be recruited to provide this service; the panel will comprise industry professionals who will be renumerated for their time and expertise.
What if my membership is through my employer?
You must hold individual membership in order to apply for PIAP2 status.
What is the role of referees?
Referees will be asked to complete a standard form attesting to your professionalism. Referees must be familiar with your work and may be:
- Your employer or past employer
- Current or past clients
- Stakeholders, community members or other participants of processes you were responsible for
- Current/former IAP2A Director
- An IAP2A Fellow or Honorary Fellow or former Ambassador
- An IAP2 Licensed Trainer.
How much does it cost to apply?
The application fee of $250 applied for the pilot round and will be refunded to any unsuccessful applicants, in recognition that this is a learning process for all concerned. Post the pilot period, the application will not be refunded.
How will applications be assessed?
Applications will be checked for completeness by IAP2 staff then provided to an assessment panel for review and recommendation to the IAP2A Board for final decision. Applicants, staff and assessors will use software to streamline and keep track of application requirements, stage of assessment and outcomes.
How do I nominate someone as a Fellow?
Nominating a colleague as an FIAP2 is likely to follow a similar process to the PIAP2 application. FIAP2 nominations will open after the PIAP2 pilot has been evaluated and ongoing processes established.
How has the process changed from what was announced following engagement on the idea?
- The separate EOI step is no longer required as this eligibility check has been folded into the main application process.
- Suitable knowledge, expertise and competency is now to be demonstrated through submission of a professional statement of practice and either an original case study or pre-existing evidence such as a publication.
Standards
What are the Standards that we are required to adhere to?
The Standards for Professional Recognition set out the professional behaviours that are expected of post-nominal holders of all classes and the professional competencies that must be demonstrated by Professionals and Fellows. There will be consequences for post-nominals when members no longer meet the Standards including dispute resolution and disciplinary processes. These are available for review in the proposed Standards for Professional Recognition along with principles of professionalism and required competencies.
