In my experience, there are only three reasons we conduct ‘engagement’.
Firstly, because there's a project that places an obligation, whether moral, legislative, political or other, to engage with community or stakeholders. Secondly, to mitigate risk, which could be political, reputational, organisational, financial, etc.
The third reason is my area of true interest and informs the first two reasons for an integrated approach: to establish and maintain ongoing relationships built on trust, respect and rapport. This cultivation of goodwill is inherently risk-averse. And from a government perspective, when it comes to delivering or managing a project or managing ‘risk’, relationships are already established, so the conversation about its implementation becomes easy.
Having effective relationships built on mutual trust with Traditional Owners, for example, is foundational to achieving anything real. This approach adopts some of the fundamental principles of community development, including valuing local people, local systems, local processes and local cultures; and applying that professionally as well as personally in my own community.