Home - Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

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 with Country. The Federation’s policy, advocacy and government relations work helps restore Traditional Owners’ authority in frameworks for managing of Country.

View our work for Country

Community

Community wellbeing means strong culture.

The Federation’s work recognises Traditional Owner Corporations as authoritative and representative decision-makers with rights, power, and responsibilities. Our advocacy and services support Traditional Owners to care 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 rights, 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 policy and advocacy body, helping to enhance their authority on behalf of their communities.

Our strategy

Resources

Discussion papers

Information sheets

Publications

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Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

12 hours ago

"Kick the door down".

That's what we heard this morning from our friends at SGS Economics and Planning – who generously hosted our team and First Nations Legal & Research Services for a broad-ranging chat this morning.

We covered the planning implications and opportunities of Treaty and native title; where the data gaps are (and how many there are!); and how Traditional Owner Corporations can seize the opportunity of the cracked-open door thanks to legal land rights schemes – and kick it down to ask for what's just.

We collaborated with SGS' economists on the Traditional Owner Economic Development Roadmap, and it's always great to sit down, share notes, and continue to build the relationship, so we can provides the deepest, widest, strongest information possible to Traditional Owners.

Thanks for having us! ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

13 hours ago

Thank you National Indigenous Times for this story on Victoria's public land management mistake.

We're quoted in criticism of the new agency Fishing, Hunting and Outdoor Victoria – just-created by legislation that passed parliament yesterday morning.

The law creates a panel to advise the new agency on increasing access to public – Traditional Owners' – land, but fails to include, mention or consult with Traditional Owners.

It's not good enough. And the Treaty era deserves better. ... See MoreSee Less

Victorian Traditional Owners criticise ‘shooting super agency’

nit.com.au

The creation of a 'shooting super agency' has been criticised by Victorian Traditional Owners, who say they were not involved in the process, which 'betrays the commitment of Statewide Treaty'.The Out...

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

1 day ago

A new Victorian agency tasked with promoting access to public land sidelines Traditional Owners' say for Country.

We're disappointed and bewildered: isn't this from the Victorian Government that committed to partnership through Treaty?

We reached out to the Government in June to suggest how Traditional Owners' care and responsibility for Country could be included in this bill, but haven't heard back.

Fortunately, we're prepared to keep at it – and would genuinely welcome the opportunity to sit down with Jaclyn Symes to continue Traditional Owners' collaborative relationship with the environment minister's office and Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

2 days ago

This is a huge step and an Australian first.

The Indigenous-owned energy company we back through our investment company, Federation Enterprises, has secured its Victorian retail energy license!

This rigorous process took a year to complete, and demonstrates Yurringa Energy's financial capability and technical capacity to power Victorian households.

It's the first retail license awarded in Australia to an Indigenous-owned energy company – representing huge potential for growth in an Indigenous business, and showing what's possible when our businesses get backed.

Congratulations to Daniel and the Yurringa Energy team. ... See MoreSee Less