Inspired images of people power will be on display at an international conference in Western Australia to celebrate community engagement around the world.

Tackling the Tough Issues – Engaging for Results is this year’s theme behind the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Australasian event in Fremantle, from October 22-23.

To mark the occasion, the IAP2 is holding a photography competition for people to send in images that celebrate public participation and embrace community spirit.

The winning entry will receive a free two-day pass, valued at more than $1,200, to the event while other images will contribute to a vast photographic library epitomising the power of public engagement.

People are invited to upload their photographs before Friday, September 25, to the IAP2 conference website - http://iap2.creativenature.com.au – designed by Creative Nature Communications, Perth-based sponsors of the 2009 conference, in support of the International Association of Public Participation Australasia.

This year’s IAP2 conference features an impressive line-up of international practitioners including the former Western Australian Premier Geoff Gallop, creator of the WA State Citizenship Strategy, together with Dr Janet Hartz-Karp, who is internationally renowned for innovative community engagement practice.

Program topics include tackling some of the tough issues facing communities today, from AIDS and climate change to remote indigenous and multi-lingual diversity.

The program is designed to appeal to people from different walks of life including, government staff and managers, industry leaders, non-government organisations, community engagement practitioners and students.