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Welcome to the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

We’re the state-wide body fighting for the rights and interests of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives.

About

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we work on as the First Peoples of this Country.

Country

Healthy Country means healthy communities. Our work recognises Traditional Owners’ rights and responsibilities to care and make decisions for Country.

Traditional Owner groups have knowledge, rights and responsibilities, stemming from 65,000 years of experience on Country. The Federation works in the following areas to embed Traditional Owner voices in management of Country.

View our work for Country

Community

Community wellbeing means strong culture, people and place.

The Federation’s work recognises Traditional Owner Corporations as authoritative and representative decision-makers with rights and power. Our advocacy and services support Traditional Owners to get on with the business of caring for Country, culture and community.

View our work for community

Economy

Strong and independent economies sustain Traditional Owner communities and enable self-determination.

The Federation’s research, grant administration, knowledge-sharing and advocacy promote rights-based economic development for Traditional Owner Corporations.

View our work for economy

Impact

The Federation’s advocacy shapes the landscape in which Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations do their important work.

We have put cultural fire and cultural water on the agenda for government, sought greater protections for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, fought for a fair place in the expanding native foods and botanicals industry, championed treaty and self-determination, supported a drastic reconsideration of how our cultural heritage is approached at both state and national levels, and worked to have Traditional Owners’ economic development considered as more than just small business grants.

See our impact

About

The Federation is the Victorian state-wide body that convenes and advocates for the rights and interests of Traditional Owner groups while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives.

Founded in 2013 by Traditional Owner Corporations who recognised they could be stronger together, we are by and for Traditional Owners: their advocacy body, helping to enhance their authority on behalf of their communities.

Our strategy

Resources

Discussion papers
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Information sheets
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Publications
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Lisa Hawkins leads the Federation’s new team: strategy, process and delivery. ✊🏽

We’ve spent six months carefully examining our strategy, structure and work allocation – with a changing work environment, Statewide Treaty context, and two large projects of ours wrapping up.

Late last year, we implemented a small reorganisation that collects all of our policy and secretariat work within one new team.

You’ll remember Lisa as our senior advisor in natural resource management, who was successful in an internal EOI process for the team leader position in January. She told us:

“I can’t wait to get started as team leader and to lead an awesome team in helping to shape the Federation’s future direction. This new structure will make us more streamlined, efficient and effective – delivering even stronger policy outputs, consensus positions, and collective advocacy in the best interests of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations.

Learn more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4upNg8d

Lisa Hawkins leads the Federation’s new team: strategy, process and delivery. ✊🏽

We’ve spent six months carefully examining our strategy, structure and work allocation – with a changing work environment, Statewide Treaty context, and two large projects of ours wrapping up.

Late last year, we implemented a small reorganisation that collects all of our policy and secretariat work within one new team.

You’ll remember Lisa as our senior advisor in natural resource management, who was successful in an internal EOI process for the team leader position in January. She told us:

“I can’t wait to get started as team leader and to lead an awesome team in helping to shape the Federation’s future direction. This new structure will make us more streamlined, efficient and effective – delivering even stronger policy outputs, consensus positions, and collective advocacy in the best interests of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations."

Learn more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4upNg8d
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Three days til registrations close! 🔔

We’ve just hit send on a speaker announcement and registration reminder email for the Traditional Owner Treaty Forum.

If you’re a Traditional Owner Corporation staff member working on Treaty and you haven’t seen your invitation – give us a message. 

We’ll close registrations on Monday, 16 March.

This two-day forum is a dedicated space for Traditional Owner Corporations’ frank and strategic conversation about the Treaty opportunity. We’re proud to be joining forces with First Nations Legal & Research Services and The Mabo Centre to co-convene this event, which is free to attend for Traditional Owner Corporation team members.

📍 Melbourne, VIC
📅 31 March and 1 April 2026
🤝🏽 Deep conversation, expert insights and peer learning and collaboration on Traditional Owner Treaty 

Well see you there.

Three days til registrations close! 🔔

We’ve just hit send on a speaker announcement and registration reminder email for the Traditional Owner Treaty Forum.

If you’re a Traditional Owner Corporation staff member working on Treaty and you haven’t seen your invitation – give us a message.

We’ll close registrations on Monday, 16 March.

This two-day forum is a dedicated space for Traditional Owner Corporations’ frank and strategic conversation about the Treaty opportunity. We’re proud to be joining forces with First Nations Legal & Research Services and The Mabo Centre to co-convene this event, which is free to attend for Traditional Owner Corporation team members.

📍 Melbourne, VIC
📅 31 March and 1 April 2026
🤝🏽 Deep conversation, expert insights and peer learning and collaboration on Traditional Owner Treaty

We'll see you there.
... See MoreSee Less

What are your expectations for living entities law?

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action wants to hear from Traditional Owners, and has $20k per group to cover consultation costs.

What are your expectations for living entities law?

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action wants to hear from Traditional Owners, and has $20k per group to cover consultation costs.
... See MoreSee Less

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